Nic Batum does not want to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to an NBA source close to the situation. Batum, a free agent who visited the Minnesota Timberwolves this week, is said to have told the Blazers Tuesday that he does not want to return to the team under any circumstances. Minnesota has reportedly offered Batum $45 million over four seasons but is said to be willing to negotiate a sign-and-trade deal with the Trail Blazers for a package that might include players and future draft choices. Batum's agent tried to negotiate a contract extension during the season but believes the team low-balled him with an offer estimated around $6 million. "Batum never wants to play in Portland again," the source said. "And has determined that Minnesota is the best for him and his family." Apparently he has a relationship with Wolves point guard Rickey Rubio and while in Minnesota this week developed a relationship with the team's coach, Rick Adelman. http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingd...nts-no-part-of-t=1&blockID=735074&feedID=8351
They certainly made room for him to letting go of Beasley and Randolph. I wonder if Derrick Williams is on the market, now.
Blazers need to surround a team around their in his prime franchise player. Martin, White, Livingston, and Brockman for Batum would fill a lot of those roster spaces. Dragic/Lowry Batum, Lamb Parsons, Jones, Morris Scola, Donuts, Patterson Asik, Leuer
Blazers should take that same 6m,which is really his worth and offer it to beasley. Howis 6m lowballing batum? Most he should get is 8m,but wolves offering 12? That's crazy
I'm sure he could move to the 2 with ease. Wasn't he supposed to be TMac 2.0 going into the year Batum was drafted?
I overlooked the 12 mil /yr. That's a lot for batum. Is Adelman in on this too? I can't help thinking this is a power struggle signing between Kahn and Adelman. Kahn trying to put his stamp on the team. He's a SG. The position he prefers and played after the trade deadline.
2 things: 1) The hell does everyone see in this guy? He wasn't that impressive when I've seen him play and his stats are VERY unimpressive. 2) The Rockets drafted him with no interest in keeping him because we wanted ARTEST. That trade was a GREAT trade. Had Tmac not been a little b*tch, the Rockets had a decent chance at the title. Hell even with Tmac being a b*tch, had Kobe not run into Yao's knee the Rockets may have won the title anyways.
One T-Wolves fan is not pleased: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Batum acquisition is T-Wolves offseason priority A according to team reps.That is why they are arguably worst franchise in pro sports.</p>— Andrew Zimmern (@andrewzimmern) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewzimmern/status/220001557738029058" data-datetime="2012-07-03T03:50:33+00:00">July 3, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
yet he's more informed than some lazy journalists trolling our interwebs. I wonder what adam richman has to say about the signing of the great wallace in brooklyn.
