Imagine Shane Battier with longer arms, athletic ability and 10 years younger. That's Nicolas Batum in a nutshell. As A_3PO mentioned I don't think his shoulder is fully healed. The dude has the intangibles, athletic ability and knowledge of the game to make a huge impact for many seasons to come. I think he's going to play a huge role on a championship team before his career is over.
Question: Do you watch much basketball? Have you never seen a couple of young players who's stats are roughly similar where one guy clearly has a huge amount of upside and the other probably not? If not, then I get it. Just know that looking at stats doesn't always tell you much about what young players can be. I also just said that it is NOT about what Batum is now, it's how he's developed and the what you can project him doing on the floor in the future. Watch 10 or so Blazers games. If you still don't think Batum's future is any better than Chandler's, so be it. If you still think he's just another Shane Battier, fine and dandy. You can't use stat lines to see a players potential, you have to actually watch them play. Not to makes excuses for him, but I seriously do think Batum's shoulder has been hurting again and he's playing through it. Something isn't right. Asian Sensation, put me in the group that says Batum would excel in another system besides Nate McMillan's. He's done a very good job there but it may be time for both sides to move on.
Why do you keep saying Batum has such huge upside while Chandler doesn't have much upside left? Its not age, Chandler's only 1 year older. Its not because Batum is some athletic monster because they're basically the same size and Chandler is also extremely athletic. Certainly not production because as you keep saying Batum is extremely raw right now and is producing at a much lower level. LOL what is it then? I've seen a couple of Blazer games and while I agree he will be a very good player in the future I don't see the second coming of Lebron James. Maybe you aren't watching NY's games and think Chandler's just some nobody on the Knicks squad. 17.8 pts, 6.4 rebs, 1.5 blocks in only 35 mins per game. For a third year player that's lottery pick production right there.
I can say the same thing about Wilson Chandler. He's also 6'8, young with athletic ability coming out of his ears. Unlike Batum though he hasn't suffered a major injury yet. I'm not saying he won't be very good, just that someone like WC is a better player IMHO but doesn't get the hype and noise he does.
You also have to factor in the playing style of the teams they play on. Chandler plays in an uptempo so he is going to have more points while Batum plays in a half-court set.
Blazers are considered to play at one of the slowest pace in the league, at like 28 out of 30, while the Knicks play at one of the fastest. Everything is not told in stats. Both Batum and Chandler have great potential, Chandler is probably better now but Batum shines with his maturity/composure. Not sure who will be better in the long run.
