FanPost

You Guys Overvalue Batum

Let me give a disclaimer before I discover a red dot expertly targeted in my heart region. Batum is good. Hes a good defender at a young age. His percentages were sick last year. I like him a lot and love his potential.

(In the bulk of my post, I might have some incorrect suppositions that you guys can shoot down.)

So lets say this Chris Paul situation is true, a nd Portland is on his "list." Over the years Ive seen a lot of love for Batum, but i think its gone too far in this scenario. This is Chris Paul, a hall of famer barring injury and the best point guard in the league. He offers an amazing arrary of talents plus leadership. And I feel like you guys are hesitant to include Batum in any deal for Paul. What? WHAT? My reaction to this idea is strikingly similary to Chris Farley whence realizing he's drinking Colombian Decaffeinated Coffee Crystals. Nicolas batum is the big road block on your highway to a guaranteed Western Conference Title Berth, possibly a ring?

And this is all because of potential. How guaranteed is it, and how long will it take for that matter, for Batum to become "that guy" with his potential production to put you over the hump? Is he gona do it next season? I doubt it. And with the injury concerns and somewhat inconsistency, is his WARP going to be really that much greater than lets say...WESLEY MATTHEWS? ya know, the guy u just signed to a big contract who plays great D, is young, and can stroke it from deep. Plus, if you have Roy, Aldridge, and by my keystrokes to God's ears Oden, will Batums play stand out enough to the point where youre like "wow, what a giant mistake it would have been had we made that deal for Paul, huh guys?" And aside from Wesley, you guys have Luke Babbitt and Elliot Williams. These guys are rookies with great upside. I dont think it would be farfetched to say that Batums production could be duplicated and maybe even surpassed by one of the aforementioned blossoming or finding a balance that reinforces their strengths. Like with Babbitt and his shooting ability, dont ya think he could be your Mike Miller? Wouldnt that basically be all youd need on such a dominant team that includes Paul? The point is that your other players besides Batum (Wesley especially!!!) combined with Paul's overall impact on the team increases the teams overall quality much higher than it would be with just keeping Batum and not trading for Paul.

Paul would make you guys amazing. Paul would be TREMENDOUS in the area of making EVERYONE on the team better. Like Dave said in the main, dont overthink this one (even tho he did include Batum in your "big 4.")

Lets say the hypothetical trade is this - Paul, just paul FOR Batum, Fernandez, Przy, Andre...would you guys do it? That not even including the supposed necessity of Okafors contract. That trade also works if NO wants to include Posey, which they probably will. Would New Orleans even do this? I dont know. It depends upon the perception of Batum throughout the league IMO. I just hope that if this possibility or a similar one arises, that you guys would be on board. You will never regret it.

((Just imagine, Portland fans, how stunningly beautiful Paul's playmaking abilities would complement Mr Gregory Oden when takes over for camby. I know that may be irrational if some of you have begun to move on, which i hope you havent. I know this is but a fraction of the offensive capabilities we want to see out of Oden, but think of the oops. Those glorious, happiness and adrenaline producing oops.))