Batum is disapointed

[Spurtacus]

Can Batum flat out say he only wants to play for the Spurs and demand a trade to them? Maybe the Spurs can trade their 09 picks?

Any thoughts on this?

[Mr. Body]

Interesting stuff. Really pisses me off about Portland here. What assholes. I mean this as someone who likes Batum, regardless of whether the Spurs were after him or not. At this point I think he can stay out of pro basketball a year and make his draft rights vanish, am I right? Or is that just 2nd round picks? All he can do now is threaten never to play for the Blazers and hope for a trade. For my part, I hope the Spurs still try to acquire him. Even yet another young player on the roster, it'd be a great pick-up.

[Spurtacus]

Bonner + 2 '09 second round picks + the Phoenix money for Batum.


I can dream.

[Mr. Body]

Bonner + 2 '09 second round picks + the Phoenix money for Batum.


I can dream.

Bonner isn't included, because Batum doesn't have a salary at this point. The rest I'd do in a heartbeat, but reading the article it seems Pritchard is set on doing what he will with the player.

[Harry Callahan]

It's pretty clear Portland is piling up assets to use down the road. I hope they do alienate Batum in Portland. It sounds like they screwed up his best situation. Maybe they have to unload him for pennies on the dollar in the future. Their GM seems to be an attention anyway.

[A.H 21-50]

very bad situation for him
the only good thing if he didn't play is that he could be traded more easily

having a player like batum and not playing him sucks

i hope for him to play or to be traded in a team where he can show his talent as san antonio

[Man of Steel]

Interesting stuff. Really pisses me off about Portland here. What assholes. I mean this as someone who likes Batum, regardless of whether the Spurs were after him or not. At this point I think he can stay out of pro basketball a year and make his draft rights vanish, am I right? Or is that just 2nd round picks? All he can do now is threaten never to play for the Blazers and hope for a trade. For my part, I hope the Spurs still try to acquire him. Even yet another young player on the roster, it'd be a great pick-up.

I agree totally.

I thought there was a precedent for a player to just openly refuse to go to a certain team that drafts him. Does anyone recall?

[A.H 21-50]

I agree totally.

I thought there was a precedent for a player to just openly refuse to go to a certain team that drafts him. Does anyone recall?

Steve Francis

[Spur-Addict]

I agree totally.

I thought there was a precedent for a player to just openly refuse to go to a certain team that drafts him. Does anyone recall?

Francis did something when Vancouver drafted him. I don't remember if they just said w/e and just traded him. Or, if he had some sort of case.

[Mr. Body]

Danny Ferry just went to Europe for a year or so. I don't think Batum has the same clout as these guys.

Portland has already bought the pick outright from New Orleans, then traded it with an early 2nd round pick (Joey Dorsey) to get Batum. I doubt they sell him off after that.

[SPURSGOAT]

wonder if his agent can do anything bout it... probably not...

[Man of Steel]

I forget the guy's name--from last year (or the year before)--the oriental player who flat out refused to play for the team that drafted him. What ever happened in that situation?

[Mr. Body]

I forget the guy's name--from last year (or the year before)--the oriental player who flat out refused to play for the team that drafted him. What ever happened in that situation?

Uh, oriental is not the prefered nomenclature, dude.

... anyway, Yi Jianlian has been traded to the Nets now, probably a better market for him.

[Spurtacus]

Bonner isn't included, because Batum doesn't have a salary at this point. The rest I'd do in a heartbeat, but reading the article it seems Pritchard is set on doing what he will with the player.

Doh. I wanted to move Bonner for Batum.

[angelbelow]

the TE could do it too right? i mean batum is a late first rounder, how big is his contract?

[koriwhat]

kobe refused and got traded.... yep. right?

[DPG21920]

Don't use my stuff Mr. Body! I'm not lebowski, I'm the dude. I need a Caucasian

[DPG21920]

Why is everyone so high on Batum. I mean, I have not seen anything (physical play or projected numbers) that lead me to the conclusion that he would step in and play.

[Mr. Body]

Why is everyone so high on Batum. I mean, I have not seen anything (physical play or projected numbers) that lead me to the conclusion that he would step in and play.

Not right away, but he's a good kid with exceptional physical gifts and a real skill set already (good court sense, defensive-oriented, outside shooting) at a position we've been desperate to fill since Sean went down.

[Spurtacus]

Not right away, but he's a good kid with exceptional physical gifts and a real skill set already (good court sense, defensive-oriented, outside shooting) at a position we've been desperate to fill since Sean went down.

And he wants to win. This isn't about money. He recognizes how great the Spurs organization is.

[SenorSpur]

And he wants to win. This isn't about money. He recognizes how great the Spurs organization is.

Obviously. And Batum sees how beneficial the organization, the team infrastructure and opportunity to develop has been to his countryman - Tony Parker.

[Mr. Body]

It is interesting that after an interview where Batum says he'd rather play for a 'Phoenix type' faster offense than a 'Spurs type' slower paced offense he pulled out all the stops to get on the Spurs. Alas.

[Spurtacus]

Obviously. And Batum sees how beneficial the organization, the team infrastructure and opportunity to develop has been to his countryman - Tony Parker.

and hopefully Mahinmi will follow!


the trio...Fearless Frenchman. Maybe something more creative than that.

[Mr. Body]

and hopefully Mahinmi will follow!


the trio...Fearless Frenchman. Maybe something more creative than that.

Uh... Three Musketeers, of course.

But we only have two.

[timaios]

Uh... Three Musketeers, of course.

But we only have two.

...and the 3 musketeers were 4 !!!
Athos, Porthos, Aramis & d'Artagnan.