Draft Prospect: Nicolas Batum

[Spurs da champs]

Even though i get the draft prospect threads whats the point of posting draft picks that we're not going to get?

[K-State Spur]

So is the possibility of knee injury.

Compared to most guys - yes. But Rush is coming off an ACL tear (more recently) himself.

[Mr. Body]

Compared to Rush, Walker's a better athlete and has the ability to create his own shot.

He doesn't have as good a jumpshot and is not an equal defender (although both tend to lose their focus on that end of the floor), but he does bring some skills to the table that Rush does not.

Also his ceiling is WAY higher.

Do you think his character issues are not a concern? I think he's fine off the court, but on the court he has Rasheed Disease where you don't know if you can count on his head not to explode. It really hurt K-State late in the season.

[K-State Spur]

Do you think his character issues are not a concern? I think he's fine off the court, but on the court he has Rasheed Disease where you don't know if you can count on his head not to explode. It really hurt K-State late in the season.

A concern? Absolutely. Something that should drop his stock much? I doubt it.

His major attitude issues were finished by the halfway part of the season (and it should be noted that he respected the coach's authority in all cases).

He still picked up the occasional frustration technical, but the majority of those would have been let go by NBA refs. Officials in Big 12 Country (especially Ed Hightower) like to put the young guys 'in their place.'

I'm not sure where his attitude hurt K-State late in the season. He had some terrible games (one could make the argument that NOBODY in college basketball played a worse game last year than he did against UT), but he was improving his demeanor as the season progressed.

I think he'll compare more to Stephen Jackson (without the off court issues) on the court than he will Rasheed Wallace.

[AFBlue]

Why do you think Walker is on the Spurs' list ahead of Rush or Batum? His on-court issues with losing his cool and focus alone put a big question mark by his name.

The supposed "character" concerns surrounding Marcus Williams didn't stop them from drafting him ahead of guys like Dominic McGuire or the kid from Vandy.

As I said in my intial post though, it's just a hunch. And as K-State pointed out, he has more potential than either of the two you listed.

[SenorSpur]

http://www.realgm.com/src_fromtherafters/185/20080613/draft_report_nicolas_batum_of_le_mans/

Nicolas Batum has a slight build, but he already has great balance, broad shoulders and extremely long arms. He is already wiry strong and will grow into his body gradually and will eventually have the ideal body for an NBA wing.

I don’t usually like to compare players, but his offensive skill set is highly reminiscent of early Latrell Sprewell.

His pre-dribble moves are effective and he consistently utilizes them; a strong jab step often sets up a dribble step back jumper and ball fakes that he gets defenders to bite on.

He then has a quick first step on a crossover dribble he uses to get into the lane.

He will be phenomenal at shooting off the dribble on the perimeter; he prepares the rest of his body for the shot while his hand is palming the ball. He is currently better when dribbling into his shot with his right than his left, though he likes going left a little bit more.

Batum still is developing as a perimeter shooter, but he looks like he’ll eventually become a very good one as soon as he works on his streakiness issues. He has extremely consistent mechanics, readies his hands as the ball is on its way, has really good lift from his lower body and a high release point.

His shot is fluid, pretty, quick in a subtle way and he also has good range. Batum rarely misses to the left or right and though he doesn’t get a whole lot of arc on his shot, it is soft and with nice touch.

Also impressive given his age is how comfortable he is shooting when tightly contested.

He is brilliant at slashing into the paint and will get a lot of easy layups and dunks in this area of the floor. His instinct for finding space in the key during the halfcourt offense also proves useful on the offensive glass. He easily slides in position and gets a lot of highlight reel put back slams and tips- his timing is as sophisticated as it gets.

Batum also has a really quick second jump, which combined with great length to the ball, how he keeps the ball high and noticeable effort, makes him incredibly effective on the offensive glass.

But his other off-ball movements are lackluster and are why he inexcusably disappears. He is an easy cover offensively when he doesn’t have the ball because he’s a sleepy mover though he does drift into openings on the perimeter well.

Without question he would get many more open looks if he worked a little harder without the ball.

He does come off of screens really well but that’s probably because he realizes his number is about to be called. He will come off a screen for a catch at the left elbow, take just one dribble and make a great layup on the right side in one fluid motion. He has really good ability in this part of his game.

He is very athletic and extremely graceful in the air. He glides beautifully in the air like the one they once called The Gylde. He also does the one-handed Dr. J take to the rim and has great coordination jumping off of either food.

Batum is a extremely gifted player in transition, with fast closing sped to the bucket and he’ll complete a lo of alley-oops simply because he out-hustles everyone down the floor and has the kind of athletic ability to capitalize.

Another reason why he is so elusive, primarily in the open floor is because of his length; he is able to turn runners from seven or feet away into pseudo-layups.

As Batum increases his strength, he will be extremely dangerous in the post. He has a nice little baby hook out of the block and will be able to slip past and get to the rim against just about any defender that plays him too tight because of really good footwork technique.

Batum also has a great up and under move in the mid-post that he can finish off the glass from about 10-feet out.

He seals his defender smartly in the post when the ball is swung and has excellent hands for the catch.

Batum has very good vision in the post to find cutters and spot up shooters.

In the post and on drives, Batum loses his great balance when he gets bodied and that immediately affects his decision making, but that should diminish as his body matures.

On the perimeter and in the open floor, Batum has a long ways to go as a passer. His decision-making is frequently bad and his basic technique and fundamentals are below average. He sometimes makes soft uncoordinated passes, will leave his feet to pass and also attempt ill-advised one-arm passes, all of which make him turnover prone when he is giving the ball up.

He has some work to do on the defensive end, though he will make an impact from the beginning strictly based on his length and quickness.

His long arms are really active on-ball and he will get a lot of deflections defending the passing lanes. He is also a good shotblocker for a swing man, flying through the air aggressively.

But he is susceptible to getting screened, as it is tough for him to fight through to keep up with his man.

Batum was initially believed to be a top-five pick in this draft and his talent is as immediately palpable as anyone’s; but unlike the first few picks who will very likely become successful regardless of the situation, I expect Batum’s destination and the type of chance he’s given to prosper to dictate a significant portion of his career’s outcome.

[Mr. Body]

Courtney Lee has become my favorite at 26 but if by miracle Batum falls there's no way you pass on him.

[SenorSpur]

Courtney Lee has become my favorite at 26 but if by miracle Batum falls there's no way you pass on him.

Isn't Lee a bit shorter than we would like for a 2-guard?

[Mr. Body]

Isn't Lee a bit shorter than we would like for a 2-guard?

I think he's about 6'5", reportedly about his listed height. That's not bad for a 2.

[Pistons < Spurs]

Here's a little 5 minute interview w/ Batum:

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Video-Interviews-with-Nicolas-Batum,-Bob-Hurley,-Rob-Meurs-2922/

[Big P]

Booo..the interviewer asked him if he would want to play for the Spurs & the half court game, or Phoenix with the run & gun..of course he said Phoenix.

[Pistons < Spurs]

NBA Comparison: Rudy Gay

Strengths: Very long and versatile wing player … Explosive leaper possessing a nice first step … Extremely quick off the floor, especially on his second and third jumps … His big strides allow him to run the floor with the best of them and his length allows him to finish on difficult drives … Is most effective shooting one or two dribble pull ups from midrange … A high release and great elevation make it difficult to contest his shot … His moves out of the triple threat are hard to defend because his jabs are so long and they get the defenders off balance with regularity … Stays within himself, rarely getting out of his element to force plays … Possesses a great feel for the game and sees the floor exceptionally well, especially for a player his age … Delivers well timed and precise passes showing off his mature decision making … Defensively, has all the tools to become great … A player possessing his type of length and athleticism to go along with great lateral foot speed is a rarity … Could eventually become a defender capable of guarding all 5 positions on the floor …

Weaknesses: Did not have the type of season that was expected of him … Had some good games, but was too inconsistent … Is still a few years away from being ready to contribute at the NBA level … His frame is frail looking and he needs to put on weight and add muscle … He is easily thrown off balance by the slightest contact, making his finishes that much more difficult, as a result he shies away from contact and settles for jumpshots … Lacks confidence handling the ball with his left hand and also struggles finishing on that side of the hoop because he always tries to switch the ball back to his dominant right hand … He dribbles the ball too high and becomes an easy strip victim in traffic … Does not have the best rebounding numbers, his length and athleticism are negated on the boards because he gets pushed out of position too easily … He is a rhythm and flow kind of player, when things are going well, look out, but when he’s off, his game goes downhill fast … Gets overly passive and defers to his teammates too often … At times he seems to be coasting and he gets lost in the action … Reacts defensively as opposed to anticipating, leaving him out of position, but with more experience that should change … There is concern about his inability to play as well away from home, particularly how difficult it will be for him to make the adjustment to moving to the US and adapting to the NBA game ... Landing in the right situation will be crucial for his career ...

Borko Popic - 6/13/2008


http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/nicolasbatum.html

[ducks]

Booo..the interviewer asked him if he would want to play for the Spurs & the half court game, or Phoenix with the run & gun..of course he said Phoenix.

porter:lol

[SPURSGOAT]

Booo..the interviewer asked him if he would want to play for the Spurs & the half court game, or Phoenix with the run & gun..of course he said Phoenix.

I dunno if Porter will keep that same kinda style that D'Antoni was running...especially with Shaq and an older Nash who is slowing down... they might try for the half-court too...

[tav1]

Givony pronounced his name as Nick-O-Lie Baw-TOOM. Is that correct?

[Spur-Addict]

He looks like a young T-Mac to me.

[timvp]

Nicolas Batum was supposedly playing very well until he got hurt mid-way through.

http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jonathan-Givony/

[TheProfessor]

Batum cancels workouts; agent says he 'feels fine'

LINK (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3454367&type=story)

French swingman Nicolas Batum, projected to be a late first-round NBA draft pick, stopped participating in a workout with the Toronto Raptors earlier this week after a stress echo test -- a treadmill test that measures the health of the heart -- came back in the "borderline" area.

"There is an issue with Batum, and nothing is clear," his agent, Bouna Ndiaye told ESPN.com on Friday afternoon. "The number [the score on his stress echo test] could be a borderline problem if he had a family history of heart problems. But I talked to Nicolas's mother and she said his father didn't die of a heart problem. His team in France and the French national team test him regularly and said they've never seen any indication that he had a heart issue."

A Sports Illustrated report in February said that Batum's father, Henry, suffered a "massive heart attack" and died at the free throw line while playing pro basketball in France when Nicolas was 2 years old. According to Ndiaye, Batum's father died of an aneurysm, not a heart attack.

Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo, was reached by phone, but refused to comment on the situation.

Batum was scheduled to be in the three-team workout in New Jersey on Friday, but didn't play. He did take a physical, and Ndiaye said results were similar to those in Toronto. Ndiaye said Batum will undergo another test over the weekend and, if it goes well, he'll be able to begin workouts again next week.

Batum has also canceled an open workout in New York scheduled for Saturday.

"He feels fine," Ndiaye said. "He wants to workout. He's been doing great. This morning he really wanted to workout with Joe Alexander. This is disappointing. I really don't think this is a real issue."

It's unclear whether the issue will affect Batum's draft status. It does come at a bad time. After wowing NBA scouts at the Nike Hoop Summit in April of 2007 his draft stock has been on the decline. His play in the French league this year wasn't stellar. Neither was a brief appearance at this year's Reebok Eurocamp.

However, he's had some strong individual workouts for teams and was projected as a potential pick somewhere between 17 and 27.

[NicolasBatum]

Givony pronounced his name as Nick-O-Lie Baw-TOOM. Is that correct?

Perfect !

[Bruno]

Let's hope he has nothing serious at his heart.
The best case scenario would be nothing serious but it hurts a little his draft value and he ends up at #26. ;)

[TheProfessor]

Let's hope he has nothing serious at his heart.
The best case scenario would be nothing serious but it hurts a little his draft value and he ends up at #26. ;)
I think this could torpedo his draft stock, fair or not. Especially the disputed information about how his father died.

[Bruno]

Givony pronounced his name as Nick-O-Lie Baw-TOOM. Is that correct?

It's nick-o-la ba-toom.
In French, unlike in English, you don't put stress on a specific syllable of a word.

[timvp]

It's nick-o-la ba-toom.
After this information about his heart, he better rethink telling people his last name is pronounced "Ba-Tomb".

If he's available at 26, Batum is a pretty good pink. I think he's a bit overrated in general because the biggest reason why he's a first round pick is because of his one game at the Nike Hoops Summit last year, however he's probably the only perimeter player who could be available at 26 that could eventually turn into a star. The bad news is he'll probably need two full years in the D-League before he's ready to even think about contributing.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

this is quickly becoming the fucking GAYEST summer of all spursdom time

prahps guys
you pick euro crap for 7 years straight and now we're up a shitcreek begging for peanuts to fall to us

[Spurs da champs]

^I agree,Better start drafting players from here so they can actually play! Also those euro players get payed much more then they do in the US, So no real point of drafting a euro guy.

[Marcus Bryant]

Spurs don't need that much this summer, other than for Ginobili to not screw his ankle up more.

Plus the Spurs are bringing in a piece of Euro crap that is better than most bigs in this year's draft anyways.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

If you're talking about Mahinmi, Chumpdumper has watched this guy on team play more than anyone else, and if you'll notice he has been selective in his Ian comments...

[oligarchy]

Even with the news, does anyone expect him to drop much?

[TheProfessor]

Even with the news, does anyone expect him to drop much?
If his agent can show it's a non-issue, probably not. But there's very little time to do that. And his draft stock was spiraling a bit before private workouts anyway. Could go late first or early second now.

[AFBlue]

Even with the news, does anyone expect him to drop much?

Not me. He plays at a position of relative weakness in this draft and that will push his draft stock up.

Unfortunately for the Spurs, it's pretty clear that the position of strength in this draft is PF, which is not necessarily a top need. So the Spurs could see some pretty good or projectable PFs drop but might not have any luck getting a wing player.

If Batum does fall, he fits a definite need....but in the end I don't expect him to be there when the Spurs pick at #26.

[SPURSGOAT]

Batum cancels workouts; agent says he 'feels fine'

LINK (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3454367&type=story)

French swingman Nicolas Batum, projected to be a late first-round NBA draft pick, stopped participating in a workout with the Toronto Raptors earlier this week after a stress echo test -- a treadmill test that measures the health of the heart -- came back in the "borderline" area.

"There is an issue with Batum, and nothing is clear," his agent, Bouna Ndiaye told ESPN.com on Friday afternoon. "The number [the score on his stress echo test] could be a borderline problem if he had a family history of heart problems. But I talked to Nicolas's mother and she said his father didn't die of a heart problem. His team in France and the French national team test him regularly and said they've never seen any indication that he had a heart issue."

A Sports Illustrated report in February said that Batum's father, Henry, suffered a "massive heart attack" and died at the free throw line while playing pro basketball in France when Nicolas was 2 years old. According to Ndiaye, Batum's father died of an aneurysm, not a heart attack.

Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo, was reached by phone, but refused to comment on the situation.

Batum was scheduled to be in the three-team workout in New Jersey on Friday, but didn't play. He did take a physical, and Ndiaye said results were similar to those in Toronto. Ndiaye said Batum will undergo another test over the weekend and, if it goes well, he'll be able to begin workouts again next week.

Batum has also canceled an open workout in New York scheduled for Saturday.

"He feels fine," Ndiaye said. "He wants to workout. He's been doing great. This morning he really wanted to workout with Joe Alexander. This is disappointing. I really don't think this is a real issue."

It's unclear whether the issue will affect Batum's draft status. It does come at a bad time. After wowing NBA scouts at the Nike Hoop Summit in April of 2007 his draft stock has been on the decline. His play in the French league this year wasn't stellar. Neither was a brief appearance at this year's Reebok Eurocamp.

However, he's had some strong individual workouts for teams and was projected as a potential pick somewhere between 17 and 27.

His stock will probably drop now.. but I bet the Spurs will pass on him as well if he falls to us because of this. I would still like to get him with the 26th pick if he does drop...

[Marcus Bryant]

If you're talking about Mahinmi, Chumpdumper has watched this guy on team play more than anyone else, and if you'll notice he has been selective in his Ian comments...

Chump always does that shit.

[Spurs da champs]

Spurs don't need that much this summer, other than for Ginobili to not screw his ankle up more.

Plus the Spurs are bringing in a piece of Euro crap that is better than most bigs in this year's draft anyways.

There is no guarantee that Ian will turn out good.

[exstatic]

There is no guarantee that Ian will turn out good.

...nor anyone in this draft.

[angelbelow]

its becoming more and more obvious that batum will be more of a project pick than a immediate contributor pick. if thats the case, can the spurs afford to pass him up?

[Tully365]

If the Spurs were able to land Batum in the draft and Pietrus in free agency, just imagine all the frenchie bashing we'd get to hear, having 4 French speakers on the team. The Spurs could paint giant portraits of Lafayette, Montaigne, and Rimbaud around the spur at center court and play Edith Piaf during timeouts. If nothing else, it might help Pop land a nice French Pinot Noir commercial endorsement and free champagne for the next championship celebration...

[kobyz]

if Nicolas Batum falling to #26 pick, do you choose him consider the heart problem?

[Bruno]

Batum will be checked in depth on Monday in Cleveland.
Even if the results shows nothign serious, his draft stock could be hurt if his agent don't do a great job at communicating on that.

Baring Batum's heart is OK, he would be a dream pick for Spurs. If they can get him, it's a no brainer.

[timvp]

Batum will be checked in depth on Monday in Cleveland.
Even if the results shows nothign serious, his draft stock could be hurt if his agent don't do a great job at communicating on that.Yeah his draft stock could fall. Even if a team believes he's fine, not being able to get insurance on his contract could scare owners away from him. I still think chances are someone will take a chance at him before 26, however you never know.

His agent's initial reaction of saying Batum's dad died of an aneurysm was pretty weak when it says everywhere that Batum's dad died of a massive heart attack while on the free throw line.


Baring Batum's heart is OK, he would be a dream pick for Spurs. If they can get him, it's a no brainer.Hopefully you are right. I worry that his stock is artificially inflated due to his one good game in the Nike Hoop Summit. Without that game, would Batum even be considered a first rounder with a perfect heart? I can't confidently say yes.

Since you've watched him more than me, how long do you think it would take for him to become a contributor? A year or two in Austin before he's ready or would he be able to step in right away a la Julian Wright? I'm leaning more toward the D-League route but maybe he's further along than the videos I've seen of him.

[Bruno]

Hopefully you are right. I worry that his stock is artificially inflated due to his one good game in the Nike Hoop Summit. Without that game, would Batum even be considered a first rounder with a perfect heart? I can't confidently say yes.

Since you've watched him more than me, how long do you think it would take for him to become a contributor? A year or two in Austin before he's ready or would he be able to step in right away a la Julian Wright? I'm leaning more toward the D-League route but maybe he's further along than the videos I've seen of him.

Between the French league and the Euroleague, Batum played something like 100 professional games these last 2 years. He wasn't a bench warmer during these 100 games. Last year he played about 15 mpg and this year 25-30mpg.
Despite his young age, he is a more experienced player than most of the NCAA players.
I don't think he is a couple of years away to be a NBA contributor. He is a couple of years away to use his full potential but even without playing at his full level, he can be a solid role player.

I don't put Batum in the same category than a player like Saer Sene, that is to say a player who comes out nowhere and who gets hype mainly because the Nike Hops Summit. Batum was seen as "the next big thing" in France for years. And Batum played the Nike hoops Summit one year ago. If NBA teams still judge him on that while he has played 60 games with a higher level since that game, they are really stupid.

[mathbzh]

As I already said, Batum was the top scorer, top passer and 3rd rebounder of Le Mans this season. His Euroleague and playoffs game were disappointing but I still believe he had a great season for a 19 yo player.
I don't know how he will perform in the NBA, but he is as experimented and talented as almost anybody in the draft.
This make me think about the draftexpress "by the numbers" comparisons... even after a pace adjustment how can you compare the young players performance in the NCAA and Euroleague?
This sounds like comparing Mahinmi's numbers in the D-League to Horford's rookie stats and conclude Mahinmi is the best of the two.

[JP le Requin]

Pick Him!!!!!

[Admidave50]

he's the next big thing after TP and Boris Diaw!

[Bruno]

This make me think about the draftexpress "by the numbers" comparisons... even after a pace adjustment how can you compare the young players performance in the NCAA and Euroleague?


These "by the number" articles are as bad as the Hollinger ones.

[timvp]

It's going to be really interesting to see if the Spurs take Batum if he's on the board at 26. I'm not too sure they will just because having a player that the Spurs can't get insurance on would probably be against Holt's orders. If Batum's heart isn't 100% healthy, I doubt any insurance company will touch him since his died specifically died playing basketball.

I'd say it's 50/50 whether he's a first round pick. I guess his re-evaluation on Monday will tell a lot.

[objective]

the new mock of June 22nd today at draft express has Batum falling to the 3rd pick of the 2nd round. Once the hype ball gets rolling, positive or negative, it snowballs.

re: his agent

Same agent as Ian Mahinmi who the Spurs have a good relationship with. If there's anyone who might be prone to giving serious considerations to the agents contradicted tales of family history, it would probably be the Spurs.

[SenorSpur]

If the Spurs were able to land Batum in the draft and Pietrus in free agency, just imagine all the frenchie bashing we'd get to hear, having 4 French speakers on the team. The Spurs could paint giant portraits of Lafayette, Montaigne, and Rimbaud around the spur at center court and play Edith Piaf during timeouts. If nothing else, it might help Pop land a nice French Pinot Noir commercial endorsement and free champagne for the next championship celebration...

:whine :toast :lol

[Bruno]

Right now, it's impossible to project where Batum will be drafted. It will depend on what doctors will say on Monday.
Depending on the result, Batum could be again a lottery pick (or close to the lotery) or be undrafted.

[jag]

Right now, it's impossible to project where Batum will be drafted. It will depend on what doctors will say on Monday.
Depending on the result, Batum could be again a lottery pick (or close to the lotery) or be undrafted.

Batum is all over the board as far as mock drafts are concerned...Ian Thompson has him going 13 to the Blazers in the new SI.

[ducks]

the new mock of June 22nd today at draft express has Batum falling to the 3rd pick of the 2nd round. Once the hype ball gets rolling, positive or negative, it snowballs.

re: his agent

Same agent as Ian Mahinmi who the Spurs have a good relationship with. If there's anyone who might be prone to giving serious considerations to the agents contradicted tales of family history, it would probably be the Spurs.
the same agent helps him
spurs should get the truth from the agent because they could hold it against him when ian deal is up

[Spurs da champs]

...nor anyone in this draft.

Thats very true.

[timvp]

-Nicolas Batum will go a series of tests at one of the top Cardiological hospitals in the world in Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, his agent Bouna Ndiaye told DraftExpress this weekend. Batum has stopped conducting private workouts for the time being after tests in Toronto and New Jersey revealed potential reasons for concern possibly hinting at heart problems. Ndiaye is concerned with the fact that teams are jumping to conclusions about this being a heredity issue (which would make it much more serious) and is working on disproving the notion that Batum’s father died of a heart attack. He believes that after Monday he will be able to show teams that Batum is in good health and that he will be able to conduct workouts immediately after.

http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jonathan-Givony/


Damn, that's bad news for Batum. Dad dies on the basketball court and now his heart tests show some issues with two different teams. I don't see how his stock can stay in the first round.

I really don't see the Spurs drafting him if he's on the board at 26. Holt won't go for a player who likely won't be able to get insurance for his contracts going forward.

[exstatic]

Any word on his eval?

[Bruno]

Batum's eval has gone well and he has been cleared for the draft.

[Tully365]

Batum's eval has gone well and he has been cleared for the draft.

Where'd you get the info?

[exstatic]

Where'd you get the info?

Bruno = source for all basketball things French.

There will still probably be a few teams scared off by this.

[objective]

the latest at draftexpress confirms the clean tests and says that Batum will work out in San Antonio on Tuesday and Cleveland on Wednesday.

[SenorSpur]

Provided he has a good workout and is on the board, there's no reason for the Spurs to pass this guy up.

[Pistons < Spurs]

-Great news for Nicolas Batum—he’s been cleared to continue working out for NBA teams after a long day of extensive testing with one of the world’s top doctors in Cleveland. He is flying out to San Antonio to work out tomorrow, and then will be in Cleveland the following day. His agent Bouna Ndiaye tells us that he will be sending out the full medical report at 9:30 AM tomorrow to us and every NBA team.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Word-on-the-Street-Rounding-Up-2940/

[timvp]

Good for Batum. Hopefully he's 100% healthy and it was just a false alarm.

I'm also hoping he impresses the Spurs tomorrow. Batum isn't the perfect pick but he's a very good value at 26. Almost everyone agrees he would have been a top ten pick last year if he would have stayed in the draft.

[ShoogarBear]

Very interesting. I wonder what other tests were done? Don't believe they would have gone all the way to a catheterization, but maybe.

[jcrod]

Same thing being reported at ESPN.



It looks like French swingman Nicolas Batum is ready to hit the workout circuit again. Batum's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, told ESPN.com (and every team in the league) that Batum was cleared this morning by the respected Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute.

As we reported late last week, Batum ran into some trouble during stress echo testing -- a treadmill test that measures the health of the heart -- in Toronto and New Jersey, raising fears that he may have a heart issue.

Ndiaye said teams will get a full medical report on Tuesday morning detailing his physical. If teams are satisfied with the results, it should put Batum (who slipped to No. 33 in our last mock draft) back into the first round.

He works out for the Spurs in San Antonio on Tuesday.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=Draftnotes-080624&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2fdraft2008%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumni st%3dford_chad%26page%3dDraftnotes-080624

[angelbelow]

yikes, things are really looking bad for batum. maybe we can get him with the 45th now that hes dropping so fast.

[Bruno]

Batum working out for Spurs is quite interesting.

Batum has or should have worked out with 6 teams with a pick between 12th and 21st. He will also work out for Spurs that have the 26th pick.
I haven't seen a report of him working out for another team.

I don't think that Batum's workout has been scheduled after his heart troubles. Have Spurs told him that they want to see him because they try hard to move up in the draft ?

If you add Spurs being interested in Donté Greene, the rumor about Spurs trying to trade up has some legs..

[timvp]

Fran Fraschilla: If he's available, look for the Spurs to take a long look at 6-8 small forward Nicolas Batum, a 20-year-old from France.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=21206


The team that seems like it could really use Batum is the Portland Trail Blazers. Before this heart issue, I thought Batum would go to Portland at 13. If this heart issue has scared off the Blazers at 13, the next most likely landing spot is Toronto at 17. If he gets by Toronto, I think there's a good chance he drops down to around Seattle at 24 or the Spurs at 26.

We'll see though. I can imagine him going anywhere from 13 to 36.

[MoSpur]

Wow. If he slips to #26, the Spurs have to draft this guy.

[Marcus Bryant]

I could see him at 26 if Chalmers has been already taken. What's his current contract situation with Le Mans and do the Spurs project his upside high enough to pass on some of the bigman talent that will likely be available there?

[AA2120]

what time is he gonna be in san antonio?

[Mr. Body]

Yeah, I'd nab him at 26.

[Bruno]

What's his current contract situation with Le Mans ?

He has one year left on his contract with a $500K NBA buy out.

[Marcus Bryant]

He has one year left on his contract with a $500K NBA buy out.

So the Spurs could give him the $ to buy that out and sign him for next season.

[Bruno]

So the Spurs could give him the $ to buy that out and sign him for next season.

Yes. There isn't a buyout problem with Batum.

[SenorSpur]

On the other hand, maybe Le Mans will give him a renewed contract offer that he can't refuse and one in which the Spurs, or any other team for that matter, cannot match.

[mathbzh]

Teams in France don't have enough money to make this kind of offers

[SenorSpur]

Teams in France don't have enough money to make this kind of offers

That's a relief.

[Marcus Bryant]

Perhaps they can procure another 1st round pick for someone like Batum or Greene and use their #26 on Hendrix. That would be a good draft night.

[SenorSpur]

Perhaps they can procure another 1st round pick for someone like Batum or Greene and use their #26 on Hendrix. That would be a good draft night.

If they did, I would be happy that they had the "balls" to pull off such a "double dip". HoltCat doesn't strike me as the type of owner who would want to pay 2 first round selections in the same year. So that would be quite a coup.

[T Park]

Hendrix at 26 would be a little high for them wouldn't it?

[T Park]

If they did, I would be happy that they had the "balls" to pull off such a "double dip". HoltCat doesn't strike me as the type of owner who would want to pay 2 first round selections in the same year. So that would be quite a coup.

If they wouldn't pay the luxury tax he would be all for it.

By all means though, keep spouting that myth.

[Marcus Bryant]

If they did, I would be happy that they had the "balls" to pull off such a "double dip". HoltCat doesn't strike me as the type of owner who would want to pay 2 first round selections in the same year. So that would be quite a coup.

Well, the contracts wouldn't be that large (neither would probably exceed a $1 mil starting salary). Plus they shouldn't be anywhere close to the lux tax this summer after free agency.

[Joe Schmoogins]

any word on how the workout went?

[peacemaker885]

any word on how the workout went?

The way rumors are going, looks like it didn't go well.

[SenorSpur]

The Spurs, and many of us fans, have whined and moaned about the acquisition of a "long-three" for some time. Doesn't this guy fit the bill?

[Marcus Bryant]

The Spurs, and many of us fans, have whined and moaned about the acquisition of a "long-three" for some time. Doesn't this guy fit the bill?

Sure. How long would they have to wait for him?

[SenorSpur]

Sure. How long would they have to wait for him?

Therein lies the rub

[Bruno]

All the results of his exam in Cleveland were normal. Reasons given why results weren't good in Toronto and New Jersey were stress and tiredness.

I don't know what will be teams reactions to that. Will they be relieved that nothing serious has been found or will they be worried that no specific reason have been found for Batum's so-so results ?

If Batum slips to #26, it will mean that some teams are worried about his stats. Why would Spurs be less worried about Batum than other teams ?
Spurs will need to be quite high on him to pick him.

[SenorSpur]

All the results of his exam in Cleveland were normal. Reasons given why results weren't good in Toronto and New Jersey were stress and tiredness.

I don't know what will be teams reactions to that. Will they be relieved that nothing serious has been found or will they be worried that no specific reason have been found for Batum's so-so results ?

If Batum slips to #26, it will mean that some teams are worried about his stats. Why would Spurs be less worried about Batum than other teams ?
Spurs will need to be quite high on him to pick him.

At this time of year, many GMs and teams tend to overthink the obvious. If this kid is this talented and has a projected high ceiling, this seems like a no-brainer to me - assuming, of course, he fell to #26.

[Marcus Bryant]

All the results of his exam in Cleveland were normal. Reasons given why results weren't good in Toronto and New Jersey were stress and tiredness.

I don't know what will be teams reactions to that. Will they be relieved that nothing serious has been found or will they be worried that no specific reason have been found for Batum's so-so results ?

If Batum slips to #26, it will mean that some teams are worried about his stats. Why would Spurs be less worried about Batum than other teams ?
Spurs will need to be quite high on him to pick him.

Do the Spurs ink a guaranteed contract with a player with a potentially major health issue?

[Bruno]

Do the Spurs ink a guaranteed contract with a player with a potentially major health issue?

With insurances, the fact that his contract is guaranteed isn't a that big deal.
However if insurances aren't ready to cover Batum's heart, it could be more problematic.

Whether or not Batum contract could be insured, I really wish Spurs will take him if he is available at 26. Batum is a stud. I find it crazy that he has dropped that low. I wonder how a NBA team can consider to take Ajinça before him.

[Marcus Bryant]

With insurances, the fact that his contract is guaranteed isn't a that big deal.
However if insurances aren't ready to cover Batum's heart, it could be more problematic.

Whether or not Batum contract could be insured, I really wish Spurs will take him if he is available at 26. Batum is a stud. I find it crazy that he has dropped that low. I wonder how a NBA team can consider to take Ajinça before him.

Well, a guaranteed contract would be an issue if the coverage isn't available.

[timvp]

Nicolas Batum: Blazers at 13, Suns at 15, Raptors at 17, Magic at 22, Sonics at 24, Rockets 25, Blazers at 27, Blazers at 33. Some teams love him. Some teams hate him. Word about a heart condition hurt his stock, but now that it appears to have been cleared up, he is back in the first-round mix.

For what it's worth, Ford doesn't even have the Spurs as a possible destination for Batum.

[DPG21920]

This is too tough, I do not think he will slip that far though, do yall? I mean, I would really be shocked if a team that liked him banked on the fact that he would slip, talk about an all-in, he reminds me of a Danny Granger (I would love that cat on the Spurs)

[DPG21920]

I happen to know that Popovich loves Danny Granger as well...

[MoSpur]

I doubt the Spurs would let anyone know that they're interested in Batum or anyone for that matter.

[timvp]

One guy I can tell you about is Nicolas Batum. Teams are apparently worried about drafting Batum because of a possible heart ailment; I'd recommend avoiding him for other reasons -- like the fact that he can't play, for instance.

His numbers project to 9.6 points per 40 minutes, 39.8 percent shooting, and an 8.89 PER. It's not like this was an off-year either -- his 2007 numbers are nearly identical. I understand that he's only 19, so perhaps there's some value in using a late second-round pick on him and stashing him in Europe to see if he grows, but that's about as strong a recommendation as I can muster.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3460365&name=hollinger_john


I want to see who wins this battle of Bruno vs. Hollinger. :hungry:

[T Park]

Wow so Batum is gonna be an all star.

First round pick anyone? :lol

[Bruno]

I want to see who wins this battle of Bruno vs. Hollinger. :hungry:

:lol

[Bruno]

I can't believe how stupid Hollinger is.

To judge if a player is a good or bad prospect, he just look at his tats and use a crappy formula.
It's amazing that someone with this level of stupidity has a BB related job, even if it's at ESPN.

[timvp]

I can't believe how stupid Hollinger is.

To judge if a player is a good or bad prospect, he just look at his tats and use a crappy formula.RC once used that same formula . . .
























http://www.hoops4thesoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/cherokeeparks.jpg

[T Park]

Oh dear god, for him?

I can see why he stopped using it...

[Marcus Bryant]

I can't believe how stupid Hollinger is.

To judge if a player is a good or bad prospect, he just look at his tats and use a crappy formula.
It's amazing that someone with this level of stupidity has a BB related job, even if it's at ESPN.

I'd have to agree. You need a pretty good sample of players who've played in the one league and then the next to come up with a significant prediction.

[mathbzh]

For what I know, Batum numbers in the French league are similar with TP's number during is last season, and better than Diaw's numbers... With an analysis of these numbers (instead of the Euroleague one's) Hollinger would probably conclude Batum is a future borderline All-Star.

[mathbzh]

Batum Pro A numbers per 40 minutes: 16.5 pts 6.8 rbds 5.5 ast shooting 59% 2Pt% and 35 3pt% 74FT% 1.3 stl 1.3 blk The pro A is not a strong league but it is pro ball... with these numbers Batum would probably be a PER wonder.

Hollinger should realise how competitive is the Euroleague and that most player in the draft would barely play in this league and that even less would be able to put decent numbers against Euroleague defenses.

[AA2120]

RC once used that same formula . . .
























http://www.hoops4thesoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/cherokeeparks.jpg

man who is that..i remember seeing him play when i was a kid..lol:lol

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

man who is that..i remember seeing him play when i was a kid..lol:lol

Cherokee Parks

[BOHOLANO#21]

SPURS should take BATUM if he's still available in #26...

[objective]

Toronto was often speculated as a likely landing spot for Batum. If the trade with Indy goes down DX speculates on Indy taking a big man with that pick. Could help Batum slide to the Spurs.

[objective]

ruh-roh :)

looks like the physical that Batum's agent promised to send out the past morning to teams never got sent.

DraftExpress speculates that the Spurs promised Batum to take him at 26. (http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Word-on-the-Street-Denver-trades-20-pick-to-Charlotte-2946/)



... Batum traveled to San Antonio immediately after and was supposed to work out for Cleveland today. Some teams openly are wondering whether San Antonio gave Batum a promise and asked him to not distribute his physical around the league, which would make him very likely to slip to 26. . . . He appears to be fully healthy, but it appears that only the Spurs and the Cavs currently have his physical. Multiple calls to Batum’s agent Bouna Ndiaye were not returned.

[objective]

maybe I'm beating a dead horse, but i think it's worth repeating that Batum's agent Ndiaye has played ball with the Spurs before, hiding Mahinmi from other NBA teams.

[angelbelow]

hoepfully batum is playing "weak" on purpose so he can fall to the spurs =)

[Marcus Bryant]

Where is Batum’s Physical?

Multiple teams reached out to us today wondering whether we have gotten a hold of Nicolas Batum’s physical yet. Batum underwent a series of heart tests in Cleveland on Monday and was cleared for workouts immediately afterwards, but still his physical is nowhere to be found. Batum traveled to San Antonio immediately after and was supposed to work out for Cleveland today. Some teams openly are wondering whether San Antonio gave Batum a promise and asked him to not distribute his physical around the league, which would make him very likely to slip to 26.

Batum is obviously a great fit in San Antonio, as the team already has two French players on their roster (Tony Parker and Ian Mahinmi) and sport a very aging perimeter with wing players such as Michael Finley (35 years old), Brent Barry (36 years old) and Bruce Bowen (37 years old) who will soon be clearing up plenty of playing time for an athletic, unselfish, defensive minded prospect such as Batum. He appears to be fully healthy, but it appears that only the Spurs and the Cavs currently have his physical. Multiple calls to Batum’s agent Bouna Ndiaye were not returned.

link (http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Word-on-the-Street-Denver-trades-20-pick-to-Charlotte-2946/)

Imagine that.

[DPG21920]

That is some filthy CIA 'ish, lmao............

[DPG21920]

Do you think he would be able to come in and get any minutes, or is he more primed for the Toro's

[Spurtacus]

RC once used that same formula . . .























http://www.hoops4thesoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/cherokeeparks.jpg


Why are my eyes burning...

:wow

[oligarchy]

I think many would be happy with Batum at 26.

[angelbelow]

Do you think he would be able to come in and get any minutes, or is he more primed for the Toro's

IMHO a year with the toros.

[T Park]

Wonder if his agent is any relation to the player.


An unselfish defensive minded small forward.

Sounds interesting.

[Marcus Bryant]

Goddam this is just like Xmas.

[T Park]

I'm wondering if there is any grainy drunken Frenchmen filming video fo batum playing over there.

[Spurtacus]

If Spurs take him, give him some playing time next season. We can't wait 1-2 years to get younger! Put our second rounders on the Toros.

[GSH]

I'm wondering if there is any grainy drunken Frenchmen filming video fo batum playing over there.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/nicolas-batum/70292130

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Eo5QtGPO0PY

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fgcDNhAtFpk&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=akr4jxCARXk

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rn6EfgzgbeE&feature=related

[SPURSGOAT]

Goddam this is just like Xmas.

:lol :hungry:

[T Park]

Those are some horrible videos.

One just shows him freaking passing off to shooters :lol


Thanks for the videos though I apreciate it!!

[TDMVPDPOY]

are we better off drafting this guy

or takn a look at the available FA's? at that positon....

[GSH]

Those are some horrible videos.

One just shows him freaking passing off to shooters :lol



That's sort of what I thought... those are the highlight reels? I couldn't find any grainy, drunk, French video. (Not of basketball, anyway.) I looked in some places where I sometimes find buried clips, but the cupboard was pretty bare. Then again, he only averaged 8.5 ppg in the Euros. The camera probably wasn't following him a lot.

[Bruno]

The info we can draw form DX report is that Batum hasn't send his medical report to every NBA teams.

There is an interview of Batum in today's French newspaper where he said that there are some teams he want to play for and these teams still likes him. He is also saying that he doesn't really care about where he is drafted as long as he is a first round pick.
I think his agent has only send the medical report to these teams and that Spurs are one of them.

Batum also said that he has badly owned Alexander, Greene and Arthur during workouts. :smokin

[Man In Black]

The guy looks like French Tayshaun LITE. At 26, that's not a bad thing at all.

[Russ]

Those are some horrible videos.

One just shows him freaking passing off to shooters :lol


Thanks for the videos though I apreciate it!!

Click on the video on this draft profile page:

http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/nicolasbatum.html

Offensively, this guy plays so much like George Gervin (and I never thought I'd say that about anyone) it's scary. :)

[SPURSGOAT]

Damn I sure hope he falls to us and we get him...

[Joe Schmoogins]

Batum also said that he has badly owned Alexander, Greene and Arthur during workouts. :smokin

awesome... I'd love to hear some details about that!

[Bruno]

awesome... I'd love to hear some details about that!

He said that he constantly dominate them and was considered as the better player after workouts against them.
He also said "je leur marchais sur la gueule".
I don't know exactly how to translate that but word by words it means "I walked on their faces". You should get the idea with that...

[timvp]

That DX rumor is really interesting. If the Spurs did a CIA maneuver to get Batum, that'd be pretty damn impressive.

Although I'm guessing Batum probably gave his results to five or six teams just to be safe. I have a feeling he ends up in Portland . . .

[Bruno]

Although I'm guessing Batum probably gave his results to five or six teams just to be safe. I have a feeling he ends up in Portland . . .

The workouts where he said he dominated Alexander, Greene and Arthur where the Kings' and the Blazers' ones.

[timvp]

The workouts where he said he dominated Alexander, Greene and Arthur where the Kings' and the Blazers' ones.

:hat

[mathbzh]

I am not surprised Batum constantly owned the world top prospects he faced in young competition for the last 2/3 years. As I said earlier be careful when you consider his Euroleague performance. Imagine Kevin Durant playing a playoff series this season (I am not comparing the talent level) against a top team with a great defense (let say the spurs give him a Bowen treatment). How great do you think he would look?

[Joe Schmoogins]

He said that he constantly dominate them and was considered as the better player after workouts against them.
He also said "je leur marchais sur la gueule".
I don't know exactly how to translate that but word by words it means "I walked on their faces". You should get the idea with that...

that's just awesome. I'm really quite sold on drafting Batum... but I refuse to get my hopes up.

[objective]

if the Spurs are able to land Batum, I'll pretty much forget all about the Splitter debacle for at least a little while.

I'll be the happiest man on earth.

I'll dream that Pop needs to coach the summer league team in order to understand the talent he has with Mahinmi and Batum.

I'll be irrationally exuberant and unable to objectively analyze anything beyond homerish declarations.

*fingers crossed*

[SenorSpur]

Batum looks like a really good fit for this team long term. I love his earlier comments on how he "owned" Alexander and Greene. I like that spunk mainly because I've read a couple of his profiles on various sites and they've labeled him as occasionally passive on the court.

If the Spurs can land this guy, it WILL be quite a CIA coup.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I like Batum, but I think it's easy to get carried away with him. He's a slightly less athletic Iguodala without the court vision or ball handling abilities. Is that a good thing?

Batum doesn't have a 1-on-1 or dribble drive game yet, which is fine (he can be a finisher and spot up shooter for now). And his jumpshot can be retooled (he seems to have similar problems to Tony about not extending his arms). But he hasn't really shown any indication that he is a consistently heady or aggressive player. A player can have tons of problems, as long as he has the drive to fix them...and drive/motivation questions have followed Batum.

I'll take him in a heartbeat, but I'd keep in the back of my mind that Pop and company demand 100% dedication, and Batum isn't exactly known for his motor.

[mathbzh]

Not a bad comparison except Batum is known for his outstanding court vision.
I am not even sure he is a great passer. But when he plays he looks like he always know what will happen and how to find the open man.

[timvp]

The skinny: Batum went into a workout with the Spurs on Wednesday and then disappeared off the grid. His medical reports never came out. His agent didn't return calls. I think the Spurs may have wrapped him up.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-080626


Chad Ford is on bandwagon too now.

[MannyIsGod]

Chad Ford is all over the fucking place. I'd much rather have Batum than Ryan Anderson.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Chad Ford is on bandwagon too now.

Saw that, too. Seems realistic to me.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Not a bad comparison except Batum is known for his outstanding court vision.

I've read as much, but I haven't seen it. What does he do well? I know he's not a terrific passer, but a capable one. I've only watched a few of his games and I didn't see anything special on that front.

[mathbzh]

As I said (after editing my message), he is not a terrific passer but he knows exactly how to find his teammates. This his probably why he can average 4 apg despite not being a great passer.

[MaNu4Tres]

If we were to draft Batum, I'm willing to bet he will get stashed overseas for a year or two maybe three.

[bobbybob0]

If we were to draft Batum, I'm willing to bet he will get stashed overseas for a year or two maybe three.

I think he has clearly stated that he wants to come to the NBA now.

Bruno, could you confirm this?

[A.H 21-50]

I think he has clearly stated that he wants to come to the NBA now.

Bruno, could you confirm this?


he said several time that he wants to come now to the nba
he'll not play another year in france and his club Le Mans is agree

i hope the spurs could take him , he's a very promising guy

bruno do you have a link or the name of the french newspaper to see batum's itw? thanks

[024]

i've been following this forum for the spurs draft and i thought you guys might want to see part of batum's workout with the blazers. i'm not completely sold on batum because he looks very raw and lacks maturity, making him unable to contribute in the near future. in this video, his defenders force him to take a few awkward shots.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Eo5QtGPO0PY

here's another video of the same workout. you can see batum on the left at the beginning. and then during the middle you can see joe alexander abusing batum:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5_FdP4T_nME

and here's another showing batum guarding donte greene:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_uKWbWQJEGk

[mystargtr34]

The only abusing i really saw was Alexander abusing Green but Batum obviously isnt polished on the defensive end.

[Spur-Addict]

The only abusing i really saw was Alexander abusing Green but Batum obviously isnt polished on the defensive end.

Exactly, joe is a flat out beast. Batum obviously needs improving physically, but that can be worked on.

[picnroll]

Somebody's going to get a stud in Alexander.

[timvp]

i've been following this forum for the spurs draft and i thought you guys might want to see part of batum's workout with the blazers. i'm not completely sold on batum because he looks very raw and lacks maturity, making him unable to contribute in the near future. in this video, his defenders force him to take a few awkward shots.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Eo5QtGPO0PY

here's another video of the same workout. you can see batum on the left at the beginning. and then during the middle you can see joe alexander abusing batum:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5_FdP4T_nME

and here's another showing batum guarding donte greene:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_uKWbWQJEGkWelcome to the forum.

Yeah, those videos aren't too flattering of Batum. He had no shot against Alexander. He obviously needs to get stronger to survive in the NBA defensively -- but that's not surprising considering how young he is.

His jumper has nice form and he seems at least willing to compete. Like CDR, I'd say Batum is more of an "in game" player rather than a workout wonder. When I've watched him play, I actually like his passing the best. Good court vision and makes the smart pass.

[AA2120]

quick question...is it BA-TUM or BUH-TOOM

[bobbybob0]

quick question...is it BA-TUM or BUH-TOOM

BA-TUM or maybe BA-TOOM, depends.

[A.H 21-50]

BA-TUM or maybe BA-TOOM, depends.

the pronunciation is ba-toom ;) most of the time in france

[AA2120]

haha okay thanks

[Bruno]

bruno do you have a link or the name of the french newspaper to see batum's itw? thanks

It's in today's l'Equipe.

[Steve-O-Matic]

It's "buh-TOOM"...and he'll make a good Austin Toro.

[A.H 21-50]

It's in today's l'Equipe.

thanks i'll read it