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The guy calls himself an insider, but apparently doesn't understand restricted free agency or salary cap limitations.
Sounds like an off-season article
http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingbl...32&feedID=5212
Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 5:55am
The number I'm hearing Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum will command this off season is $10-11 million per, according to a few league executives when Batum becomes a restricted free agent.
And, I'm being told by multiple sources that the San Antonio Spurs will make a hard push to attain the promising small forward. If that ever came into fruition, Batum, 23, would love to play for coach Gregg Popovich and his structured system. Keep in mind that Batum thought he was going to be a Spur until the Houston Rockets took him at No. 25 in the 2008 NBA draft, to Batum's surprise.
“ I was shocked,” Batum told CSNNW.com. “I thought for sure I was headed to San Antonio. I was talking with Tony (Parker) and the guys and then Houston drafts me out of nowhere. I never worked out for them. They had T-Mac (Tracy McGrady) and (Shane) Battier at that time, and I was confused. Then I was traded to Portland and I was like 'okay, that's better'.”
Tony Parker is one of Batum's closest friends and teammate on the French national team and they've been playing together for years. On paper, Batum on the Spurs would be an ideal fit.
Batum sat out last night's 35-point loss to the Spurs nursing his sore left knee, but took time afterwards to talk about how the Spurs handle business and the uncertainty of his future in Portland.
“ The Spurs play well together. They share the ball and do everything the right way,” Batum said. “I don't know what's going to happen with my situation and I'm not worried about it right now. Everything will play itself out.”
The Trail Blazers had a chance to extend Batum's deal at the Jan. 25 deadline, however Batum's agent Bouna Ndiaye and Trail Blazers management couldn't come to terms on a deal.
Negotiations got so heated that it prompted this response from Batum's agent: "When Batum becomes a restricted free agent, we'll look at the other 29 teams before we talk to the Blazers," Ndiaye told CSNNW.com. "The Blazers had their chance."
Back then, Batum's agent was demanding less than what he'll seek for his client this time around. Also, those talks were before Batum was inserted into the starting lineup and became easily the second best player on the team.
The Trail Blazers took a gamble, and it appears that Batum will come out on top when it's all said and done.
Now the question will be, are the Trail Blazers willing to spend that much on Batum?
The other question is, can the Trail Blazers afford not to spend that much money on Batum?
With the way this season has played out, letting go of one of your most likable players can't be a good thing going forward.
What would you do?
The guy calls himself an insider, but apparently doesn't understand restricted free agency or salary cap limitations.
Apparently Batum's agent doesn't understand restricted free agency either.
got damn even I know that
Batum won't be a Spurs for at least 3 reasons:
1. Kawhi Leonard rise.
2. Spurs likely can't have enough capspace to get him after the Jack trade.
3. Blazers want to keep him and re-build their team around Aldridge, Batum and Matthews.
All of which are things that came to my mind when I read this.
No one would love to see Batum in a Spurs uniform for than me - but that was before this season. Now, I believe the drafting of Kawhi Leonard and the late addition of Stephen Jackson has firmly solidified the Spurs SF position for both the present and the future.
There just isn't that much money to go around.
So much fail in this article. A proper GNSF NASF take.
/thread
Cue the Jax + 1st-rounder for Batum threads in 3,2,1...
Can Batum play SG effectively ?
I can see a sign & trade scenario very easily involving Green + Jack for Batum + salary filler, if he really wants to be a Spur, and the Spurs really want him.
C'eût été à peu près dingue de voir les Spurs débuter avec 3 gars du pays
Portland has already shed their salary dead weight and Batum is a far better player than Green & Jack.
Tbh, Batum just isn't worth $10+M per season. He's overrated defensively and lacks much variation on offense. Don't get me wrong, he's a good young player who could possibly get much better but that would be a poor investment at this point. Over the last couple years, he hasn't shown too much growth (in fact, I'd say he's regressed on D). I think Batum would actually work next to Leonard but I wouldn't advocate it if he costs more than about $7M ... which he will.
his just another player posting up meaningless stats on a bad team...i think i pass
our SF rotation is already set and cheaper
I just wonder how much of Batum's regression has to do with the instability of the Blazers organization - including the many incoming and outgoing players, lineup changes and front office upheaval. While he's virtually played his entire career under the coaching of Nate McMillian, he's been yanked in and out of the lineup and now has changed positions. And who knows what type of offseason instructional program he's gotten? Obviously, it's the player's responsibility to get better, but I wonder if Batum would've been further along in his development had he been with a more stable organization?
I love Batum but for the umpteenth time can we address our bigman problem first? Leonard is incredible, and while Jax is not a long term solution he has certainly earned a solid spot in the rotation and has 10million on the books next year. I love Diaw and I always thought he would be great next to Duncan, but our bigman rotation is still our weak point. That being said if we could get him on a discounted proce or backloaded contract I would be all in favor. I know he is friends with Tony, but I would go after Tim's friend Hibbert first.
Jack makes +10M next season, the Spurs would need to dump his salary before signing Batum, which would be risky because the Blazers can match any offer. That being said, if the Blazers know he doesn't want to play there, they won't match a big salary that may have to be written off later.
It's still too early. For Batum and Blazers, their season are over and it's natural for them and their local media pondering about it.
But for us, let's concentrate on getting the championship. If we can win this year, it's hard to imagine that Pop would trade away anybody in the top 10 rotation. On the other hand, if we lose early, it's natural that they will try to trade away Jack and/or anybody, or even one of big two. (I can't imagine that Tim is playing elsewhere, although retiring is possible if we got beat badly again.)
Anyway, drive for 5.
For 7 mil, Portland will claim him, or whatever picking RFA option is called, and be thankful for quick rebuild.
I am not a racist, but I wouldnt trust my future with guy named Bouna Ndiaye.
were we going for batum in the 2008 draft?
it's pretty weird how portland swoops in and takes him 1 pick ahead of ours (draft day trade with houston). did he even workout with them?
oh well. we picked george hill, which eventually lead to leonard. YAY
Smokescreen.
Well, the key is a mutual uber interest beetween Batum & The Spurs, with The Blazers being willing to facilitate the deal, while getting a cheaper young role player (who's developing very well in a contending team) and an end contract which perhaps can be bought out.
A long shot and unequal trade indeed, but if Pau Gasol can be traded for bags of burritos, everything goes.
Agreed, though with the current CBA, the gambling won't be that punishing if things don't pan out the way they were expected. Heck, he might give the Spurs discount if it really is his destination, while giving the opposite to the Blazers to force their hand in trade. LOL, ok daydreaming much.
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