No Contract Extension For Blazers F Nicolas Batum
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reports...
----------------------
"Status quo" regarding extension talks between Blazers and Nicolas Batum, source says. No deal expected.
----------------------
Portland Trail Blazers Acting GM Chad Buchanan said via text message this afternoon that the two sides "have been in communication today" but that he had "nothing new" to report.
Update (6:00 p.m.):
Jason Quick of The Oregonian reports...
----------------------
Blazers president Larry Miller says "it looks like we may not get anything done" with extension for Nicolas Batum. We tried... If we don't, which it looks like we won't, he's restricted, so we can always match... He's still an important part of our future plans and we hope to get it done. But we couldn't come to an agreement.''
----------------------
Update (6:10 p.m.):
Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com reports with quotes from Bouna Ndiaye, agent for Batum...
----------------------
"We're still not talking and we're not willing to accept the offer the Blazers have proposed," Ndiaye told CSNNW.com. "The game is about to start and we haven't heard anything. We will not accept the offer that is out there."
"When Batum becomes a restricted free agent, we'll look at the other 29 teams before we talk to the Blazers," Batum's agent Bouna Ndiaye told CSNNW.com. "The Blazers had their chance."
----------------------
Joe Freeman of The Oregonian with more from Ndiaye...
----------------------
"They say they love him, but they didn’t offer him something fair. So that's it."
----------------------
Buchanan said in a text that he will not comment until the 9 p.m. deadline passes. The Blazers are set to tip off here in roughly 90 minutes so unless the Golden State Warriors plan to host a signing ceremony during pre-game introductions this ship has likely sailed.
Update (9:00 p.m.)
The two sides have now passed a 9 p.m. Pacific deadline to reach agreement on a contract extension. Batum is now headed on the path towards restricted free agency in the summer, meaning Portland will have the right to match any offer made to him.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
4 months ago
Ben Golliver
196 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
Probably the smart thing to do. See what kind of offers other teams make Batum in the off season, and the match, but it seems pretty callous.
I guess it’s all a business afterall, and sentimentality has no role here.
He has to spend a year playing with just the QO
He could do that. But that comes with a lot of risk. Also, he said he’d like to stay in Portland, and I’ll take him at face value on that.
Plus, it’s not a Greg situation: Batum is healthy and will have plenty of suitors this offseason. They’ll set the standard for his salary.
i believe most of that... but hwat if portland signs wallace to a long term deal?
That would put him in a pretty bad position. Yes accepting the offer is money, but if the blazers match then hes still sitting on the bench, and stuck in portland… I guess thats the why im asking that question. A lot depends on what they do with wallace.
Hard to say
Though I honestly expect Crash to be traded by the deadline unless they just can’t find a deal. Not sure why I think that, but I’m not convinced Wallace is part of their long term plans.
i would agree, except if he truly wasn't then why is he starting over their "future"
if batum is really the direction you are going why aren’t they starting and giving him more minutes?
What I took from the talks with wallace were these points (correct me if i mis heard these things)
-he wants to play the rest of his career in portland
-he wants one more long term contract before he is finished (4-5 years)
-the only way he can get that contract with the blazers is to opt out this year and resign with the team.
I’m gonna throw out an odd situation I thought of the other day. Since we have some assets in europe that should be close to coming over (claver for example) could you see the team doing this:
-trading/letting batum go after this year
-resigning wallace to his 4-5 years
-signing claver (or another) to a rookie contract (nice cheap contract)
-Letting them develop under wallace, and take over for him when he retires, and its time for their contract extension.
Unless they get really good value, it seems like a waste of all the work they put into Nic.
For the main question:
if batum is really the direction you are going why aren’t they starting and giving him more minutes?
Honestly, I think it’s because as of now, Crash is the better player. I would hope that the Blazers openly discussed this with Nic (who surely understands the concept of a SF outplaying the incumbent to keep the starting position).
I think the Blazers are simply using their assets as best they can, and don’t want to waste Crash. As a bonus, I’m sure it doesn’t hurt to show him off to potential suitors.
I guess we all will figure out what will happen way later....
and on the bright side at least we have a well connected GM in place right.
"he wants to play the rest of his career in portland"
No matter where he has to go to cash in, Gerald Wallace wants to get paid next summer.
For that, I can’t blame him. This is a business and he’s a professional. Professionals get paid, too.
"I Am Mine"
he wants to get paid, but i honestly believe him when he says that
I only say that because i remember he was ready to play his whole career in charlotte. He was upset when they traded him. Who wants to play their whole career in charlotte? charlotte fans don’t even want to spend their whole life cheering for that team. Hes a small town guy, and i think he likes the size of portland. I think i remember reading he brought his family up to go to school up here. that sounds like a guy that wants to spend more than just this season here.
"Hes a small town guy, and i think he likes the size of portland."
He’s also a Southerner. All else being equal, I think Portland would be near the bottom of his list of preferred cities with the likes of Minneapolis and Milwaukee.
"I Am Mine"
he seems to have taken a liking to it though.
Not many guys in their last year of their deal would move their family and enroll them in schools and stuff. especially being a shortened season. So when he says he likes it here and wants to finish here, i believe that.
most players don't usually uproot their kids though from what ive see
unless they have a multi year deal that they will be at for a while.
and im not saying he has something in the works with his contract
i just think he was sincere in his comment to want to stay here
What new contract? He refused to talk to the Blazers
about a new contract. He wants a 4 year deal and won’t get it here.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 25, 2012 5:27 PM PST up reply actions
like i said he doens't have one in the works
but you do know he refused because the max the blazers could extend him is another 2 years i believe. With him opting out they can offer up to a 5 year deal. It would have been a very poor decision for him to do an extension during the year.
Exactly, he can get a longer deal by opting out and resigning using his Bird rights this offseason
I don’t understand why BSF thinks the Blazers won’t do it. Maybe they SHOULDN’T do it, but that has no bearing on whether or not they will.
We would have traded him to NJ if the FO really thought they weren’t going to resign him. Saves us money this season, gives the Nets SOMETHING if they whiff on a Howard deal, can still sign Howard in the offseason, and gives us something for a player we don’t plan on keeping.
I know I tend to be irrationally optimistic, but this is definitely a case where BFS1970 is being irrationally pessimistic.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
"We would have traded him to NJ if the FO really thought they weren’t going to resign him."
I’ve got a strong inkling that rumor was exaggerated.
"I Am Mine"
I know, but Orlando pulled out
I meant to suggest that NJ and Portland still could have done the trade (with benefits to both sides), but I didn’t make that clear.
But, you’re probably right that it was greatly exaggerated. Still, to the best of our knowledge, Orlando and Portland balked at that trade, and the Blazers are also playing it safe with Nic Batum. That makes it seem unlikely that Gerald Wallace is not in the long term plans.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
But the trade needs Orlando to take Crash.
Orlando smartly pulled out to make one last run with Dwight, which was understandable.
"I Am Mine"
My point was that NJ could have taken Crash
They would have had the same assets to get Crash, and they could have teamed D-Will with a decent player.
But it’s just one hypothetical, I guess. The important part is that we balked at trading Wallace, and we’re being cautious with Batum. That seems to suggest, to me at least, that they see Crash as a part of the future and can play it safe with Batum. I could be wrong. The NJ part is just tangential.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Say what?
I don’t understand why BSF thinks the Blazers won’t do it. Maybe they SHOULDN’T do it, but that has no bearing on whether or not they will.
Whether they SHOULD do it or not, has EVERYTHING to do with whether they will do it or not. The shouldn’t do it precisely because he wants too long of a deal. That’s why he wouldn’t discuss an extension. His effectiveness is going to roll off as he ages. Batum should get better as he ages. We can’t keep both of them because we have other positions to fill this summer. Wallace is the one that should go, and we should trade him now before he walks away for nothing this summer. Unless of course you think this team is going to be a contender this year with him (which isn’t going to happen).
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 25, 2012 8:49 PM PST up reply actions
Since when has this franchise given you the impression
that what they SHOULD do has any bearing on what they do do?
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Batum's a southerner?
South of France?
by neutroticblazerfan on Jan 25, 2012 6:25 PM PST up reply actions
A few reasons why Wallace could be starting over Batum
1. The team is showcasing Wallace to get more value for him (like Timmy! said) at the deadline – which I agree with.
2. McMillan has no idea how to use his players. This I think this is the most likely scenario. It should be obvious to everyone that Batum would (as he has his whole career until Wallace got here) be more effective with the starting lineup, where there are much stricker all inclusive sets run by people willing to share the ball. Especially Batum’s 36% from the three point line would help spread the floor more for Aldridge – helping him out, and removing Wallace (the poor shooting option) from being ignored by his defender when he lines up at the arc somewhere. As it is now, Batum comes in with Crawford (is assigned a corner to stand in, or a path to cut through) and never gets the ball because Crawford shoots it five times before he passes it once. Batum’s first shift last night was seven minutes and he got the ball passed to him one time. I think if you’re giving a self-minded player like Crawford all those touches, it makes sense to pair the more erratic player (shooting I think in the 20’s for threes since he got here) with him, instead of with the more cohesive group. As I’ve said – go NBA Jam. Also, this gives you another post option when Aldridge isn’t in the game.
3. Batum is a much easier person to tell that he’s going to the bench. If you remember in the interview after the fist game Wallace played for Portland last year (when he came off the bench), the first thing he said was that he couldn’t wait to start starting again, and ever since that first game he has.
Looking at the averages per, it is pretty close to a wash between these two right now, so this is what I’ve got.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 25, 2012 5:31 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
or 4. wallace is the better player right now (as timmy! said)
I can’t call their stats a wash:
GW: 13.8 PPG 1.5 steals .5 blocks 2.3 assists 7.4 rebs
NB: 10.8 PPG .6 steals .8 blocks .9 assists 4.2 rebs
How exactly are those stats a wash?
You forgot minutes played
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 25, 2012 5:38 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Last I looked at the pers, maybe a week ago, Batum was averaging more rebounds than Wallace. You can do a lot in five minutes if your not counting on Crawford to pass you the ball.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 25, 2012 5:43 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I thought we were talking about actual stats put up on the floor
every 5 mins batum is averaging .84 rebounds, so add on another 5 mins and his total average per game would be about 5 rebounds a game at 30 mins. I know you may not like that math but thats a logical way of doing it.
See my comment below
You’re wrong. Timmay’s response is the only area where there is room for discussion.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
That's not a fair comparison
You should be using per 36 numbers to make your point
GW: 14.3 pts, 7.7 rebs, 2.4 ast, 1.5 stl, .6 blks, 2.2 TO, .549 TS%, 15.8 PER
NB: 15.6 pts, 6.1 rebs, 1.5 ast, .9 stl, 1.1 blks, 1.5 TO, .570 TS%, 16.7 PER
Nic scores a little more, and more efficiently, rebounds almost as well, blocks more but steals less, sets up fewer assists, but turns it over less (i.e. probably just an indication that Nic handles the rock less).
Stats are basically a wash. The difference right now lies in non-quantifiable elements.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Those stats also don't account for Wallace playing against the other team's starters more
Not to mention, if he pulls out of his road funk, the averages will jump further.
Batum could be better than Crash, but he’s not there yet.
I know, that's why I qualified the stats with my comment about non-quantifiable factors
But the stats are basically a wash, that’s all.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
They also don't account for Batum playing alongside Crawford and Craig Smith (who I really like)
But who still hasn’t passed the ball back out of the post once since he got here.
And let’s talk about that road funk, and 2011 playoff funk. What does that tell you when an energy guy (of all things) slumps on the road? Chris Mullin called him out on that the other night saying “that is really surprising coming from a veteran player”, and I agree. Additionally, what Wallace gives you most is more determination than other players. That us the asset that evens out the most when you play in the playoffs, because everybody brings it then.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 25, 2012 5:53 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Let's not forget exactly how much Wallace stat-racked during garbage time of those games the Blazers were behind by 20 in
Had off nights in games 1-5, and finally brought it in game 6, before he left with the injury. Much o what you see in those statistics is garbage production.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 25, 2012 6:00 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Numbers also don't account for Nic's inconsistent role
and consequential inability to develop a rhythm, or the fact that he has to come in cold off the bench.
But they also don’t account for Wallace’s superior defense (aside from the steal numbers). Nor do they reflect the likely future production of either player, or their locker room influence.
You can make all kinds of arguments, but no one can really answer them.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Additionally,
If playing Wallace increases his value, perhaps not playing Batum lowers his value, and he’s the real target. Batum’s RFA offers would probably be lower for as a 20 minute bench guy as opposed to a 30+ minute starter.
Good call
I forgot that devious, dangerous angle that I wouldn’t put past this front office for one second.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 25, 2012 5:41 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
im not sure this even deserves a response
but Nate playing Wallace over batum is something 100% of nba coaches would be doing.
by skott75 on Jan 25, 2012 5:56 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
But with how terrible our guard play has been
If I was Nate I’d definitely start Nic over Wes. Nic is a better defender and shooter and he would thrive in the running style of that first unit.
by vanillagorrila on Jan 25, 2012 6:24 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
What?
I take the time to lay out a very thorough, well thought out argument, that nobody can deny. Then someone throws an unfounded blanket statement over it just to undermine it, and you rec that? You should be placed on rec restriction. : )
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 25, 2012 6:44 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
your argument is based on the fact that other players "wont pass batum the ball"
Pro athletes aren’t bullying playing out there. They want to win the game, and if they felt feeding him the ball would win them the game, they would do so. Blaming everyone else on the team for batums lack of production isn’t an argument worth debating. I don’t see Rhino having trouble getting teh ball while playing with crawford, or kurt thomas, or even wallace when they play together.
Wallace is the better player right now
FWIW I agree that your #1 point is probably a good idea. If we do end up trading Crash off then showcasing him is just good business.
Crash is a veteran former All-star. I can’t fault Nate or any other coach for not starting him over Nico. I would.
That's sound reasoning
I agree Wallace deserves a lot of respect. Getting in front of Gasol last night was emblematic of how much he deserves. One of the best takes I’ve ever seen. Still, if it’s better for the team to have him come off the bench (you don’t have to play him any less, just with the other group), then that’s what you should do. Taking that as some kind of disrespect at that point would just be selfish. I think we just disagree that the team is better off with Batum playing with the starters. It’s an intersting comparison, and fun to see everyone take such a stance on it.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 25, 2012 7:37 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I dont think wallace would come of the bench
I think it would create other issues, and they want to get whatever they can out of him now
The tensions are so high because the stakes are so low!
I could see him having an issue with this
If i felt i was a better player i would be upset to starting on the bench
"But that comes with a lot of risk."
Exactly, it’s too much of a risk for him.
Since Batum won’t have a QO amount the level of Ben Gordon in 2008 and is of a higher profile than most fifth-year former first-round picks who take the one-year QO — such as Marco Belinelli this year — I don’t see him settling for the one-year QO next summer.
"I Am Mine"
Right, Batum's QO is only about $3M. He isn't going to take that when he can 2x as RFA.
The Blazers can always match. The issue with not extending him is that it makes him less valuable to trade. But if the Blazers have decided to keep him next summer and let Wallace walk, which is what I think they will do, then it doesn’t matter. Just wait till next summer and be prepared to match.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 25, 2012 5:14 PM PST up reply actions
correct me if I'm wrong...
but doesen’t the wait-and-see what the RFA market does approach open us up to some team making a semi-toxic offer, and us having to match that?
It's hard to make a toxic offer to Portland.
At least, much harder than with a team that doesn’t have disposable funds. Not impossible, but not as easy.
Yeah, true
It’d be similar to Golden States play with DeAndre Jordan this past offseason. The Clips were still able to use their capspace on Butler and Billups, then matched the offer.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
I wouldn't be surprised
if Utah offers him something crazy just for the payback of the that Millsap fiasco a few years ago!
by vanillagorrila on Jan 25, 2012 6:29 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Yep, they're just going to let him be an RFA
Smart move. Everyone covets him as a trade so they can unload a crappy contract, but it will be interesting to see how much someone is willing to sign him as a FA.
At the start of the season, we were told Batum was a definite part of the future.
Either something has changed, or Batum’s agent is driving too hard a bargain.
It was said by his agent that PT would be a big issue with Batum
At the time being with Wallace and Matthews playing time can’t be guaranteed.
hg
I've said it once and I'll say it again.
Less Matthews, more Batum.
However, I admit that I don’t really know anything.
dont see it happening
we haven’t even heard of any numbers being thrown out to the media yet, so i don’t think they’re very close.
no real pressure on the blazers to make a deal now, anyway. it would slightly benefit the team to hold on to some of that capspace this summer (his caphold is only like 5 mil).
PHILLY!
I doubt this very much
More than likely they just aren’t telling us as usual
I dont, it's typical.
When the season started, Batum was " part of the future " .
Now that its time to actually make a move for the future, and lock him up, its wait and see AGAIN.
Because, they have a roster full of guard mess, and Oden on the books still. Then added Wallace. All the while, knowing Nico needed an extension, and that KT and the Rhino were NOT the long term answers to back up LA.
They arent telling us, because they dont know, and again will let the other teams set the value and over pay. DOUBLE FACEPALM !
just win baby !
sounds like he's asking for too much
This may just be a case where not extending him is the smart thing to do. I’m more interested to see if he pouts if he isn’t extended. His agent sounded…hurt.
Making a deal for a deal's sake is a bad deal
All deals impact our future as a franchise. If the choice was between a bad deal now and no deal (with the potential of a better deal down the road with RFA looming), I’ll take the latter 10 out of 10 times.
I like Batum but it would suck to overpay for him and fall in the trap that past GM’s have led us into.
And let’s also stop reading into the lack of communication. You don’t know anymore than anyone else.
9pm will come and go,
with no extention. i would be shocked if they extended. The Blazers will get market value out of him by RFA. I’m sure we will match as Wallace(as much as i like him) will be gone.
Everytime Wallace does something i yell “DARKNESS” at the TV. Wallace reminds me of Charlie Murphy, who reminds me of Dave Chapelle who reminds me of RICK JAMES * heheh. Wallace is Darkness.
Blazersedge- Where oversharing happens lol
See that line behind you?
It’s the TMI Line. And you just crossed it.
by unblindloyalty on Jan 25, 2012 4:54 PM PST up reply actions
Wait wait....
Does that mean that Gerald Wallace has shot hoops with Prince? Did they have pancakes after?
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they're not.
by conspirator5 on Jan 25, 2012 5:06 PM PST up reply actions
they had pancakes
And then proceeded to bathe themselves in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
by except_andrew on Jan 25, 2012 5:32 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
At some point
Chad Buchanan will have been acting GM longer than Rich Cho was GM.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 25, 2012 4:54 PM PST via mobile reply actions 10 recs
I know everyone is just reccing this
but ill just say it – LOL (and a rec)
Rip City Baby...People have no idea what is coming.
Follow my twitter @PDXBlazersFTW. Lots of random Blazer Posts from links I find around the blogosphere.
No need to sign him to an extension.
Let the market decide his value as a RFA.
If it gets too rich for Portland’s blood this summer, then ship him off in a sign-and-trade deal. Until then, just sit and wait patiently.
"I Am Mine"
dont think so
in order to match an offer, the team will have to sign the player, and technically, a signed player can’t be traded until like december in a normal year.
PHILLY!
Work out a sign-and-trade beforehand.
In 2005, Joe Johnson was an example of that.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2120960
"I Am Mine"
Sure they can, but the player has to agree to the deal.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 25, 2012 5:28 PM PST up reply actions
yup
i can see the team throwing 5-6mil/yr offers right now, tbh, because that’s about what his caphold will be as a RFA this summer. the team needs to now see if they can get him for cheap. if they can’t, then there is no point to giving him a big offer and lose capspace this summer.
PHILLY!
I think this is wise.
This summer doesn’t seem like it’s gonna be another bonanza like ‘09-’10. Teams will have cap space, but I don’t foresee the kind of overpaying that led to Outlaw’s deal. At worst, some team will pull a Portland on us with a front-loaded deal, but at the end of the day Batum will get a fair and manageable deal.
Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers
by Adam Randall on Jan 25, 2012 5:24 PM PST up reply actions
Hopefully the Spurs do us a favor and extend an MLE-sized offer sheet.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Dangit, they've got $10 mil in capspace
assuming Timmy retires. And only one tiny cap hold. Plus they’re draft pick, so a little under $9 million. Good bye Nic, have fun with Tony. Keep an eye on your GF.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Their. No, the Spurs are not a draft pick.
Facepalm.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
sign and trade for kawhi leonard?
"Wide, girthy. Just like a Rhino. Sometimes my horns are visible."
I'd soooo do that.
But I might ask for one of their other pieces, just cuz I’m greedy. Not Blair, since Batum isn’t worth that, but more likely Anderson, Green, or Neal.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
haha, the Spurs wouldn’t trade a young cheap productive guy for a guy who needs to get paid. That’s 1/2 the reason they traded George Hill for Kawhi in the 1st place.
i keep dancing on my own.
by atomiccafe on Jan 25, 2012 6:41 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
if they're paying for batum, they probably won't need kawhi since they play the same position.
"Wide, girthy. Just like a Rhino. Sometimes my horns are visible."
But the point is they won't go pay Nicolas Batum.
Just like they weren’t going to pay to keep George Hill.
"I Am Mine"
yeah batum is exactly the sort of player they would trade away
not trade for.
i keep dancing on my own.
Yeah, this isn't a mismanaged team like Minnesota.
However, it’s possible San Antonio could extend Nico an offer sheet in free agency if R-Jeff gets amnestied.
Even then, though, the Spurs wouldn’t trade Kwahi Leonard, who’s cheaper and has more upside than Batum.
"I Am Mine"
that's probably true,
though if I remember correctly, the Spurs wanted Batum a while back.
"Wide, girthy. Just like a Rhino. Sometimes my horns are visible."
Everybody settle down.
He’s going to sign the contract at halftime, just before the 9pm deadline. He will sign for 4 years, one million per year for every point he has by then.
Luke Babbitt: Trending worldwide.
by IsWesleyMatthewsForReal? on Jan 25, 2012 5:27 PM PST reply actions
Let the record show
that Batum had 11 points at the half.
"He said what he desire clearly in media day and he cannot say it again and louder because the NBA already fined him, but is clear which are his sensations." -Rudy Fernandez' European agent in a letter to the Portland media
by IsWesleyMatthewsForReal? on Jan 25, 2012 10:43 PM PST up reply actions
The only players Portland will have under contract going into the summer are:
LA, Matthews, Thomas, Smith (2 of them), Williams, and Babbitt. Wallace and Crawford will opt-out.
That’s one starter, one backup that starts, the oldest player in the NBA, one Rhino, two 2nd year players, and a Chalupa.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 25, 2012 5:37 PM PST reply actions
Hes gotta try to get some sort of endorsement
You can just see the catch phrases now “taco bell, even those overpaid eat here”…. “taco bell, 4th meal after your 4th min of game time”…. “taco bell, even pretend athletes eat here”
Both Storyteller and ShamSports have Rhino on a one-year deal
Not a big issue, though.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Dang. A one year deal for the Rhino? All hope may be lost for the Blazers.
Yep, you’re right. I didn’t remember that correctly.
But seriously folks – he’s given the Blazers some pretty good minutes lately. No expectations, so I can’t complain about the uni-horned one.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 25, 2012 6:40 PM PST up reply actions
probably the prudent thing to do
Nic will feel he should get paid based on the level he’s played in his A+ games this year with extended run, while the Blazers want to see more consistency over the rest of the season before dropping down the greenbacks. Let the rest of the season decide.
i keep dancing on my own.
He's probably feeling that he should close to what Gallo got today
and I really don’t think the Blazers want to pay him that much.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
I don't know why he would think that
Gallos’s been a foul drawing machine, consistent scorer and + defender since the trade.
i keep dancing on my own.
No, it's not.
If his agent wants to be a blowhard, then so be it. That’s his prerogative.
As it is, the fact remains that Nicolas Batum didn’t earn the contract extension he thinks he deserved.
"I Am Mine"
Yeah, big talk....
…but I doubt Batum lets him talk to 29 other teams before Portland. In fact, depending on big this guy’s mouth gets, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Batum fire his butt to avoid what his pal Rudy went through.
Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers
by Adam Randall on Jan 25, 2012 6:42 PM PST up reply actions
Different scenarios.
Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers
by Adam Randall on Jan 25, 2012 8:30 PM PST up reply actions
That's exactly what I thought after ready these quotes.
He sounds quite overly dramatic, if Nic loves the Blazers so much as we hear, why would he talk to all 29 other teams before even looking at the them. Sounds like agent B.S. to me. Which leads me to believe he over-valued his client. Nic doesn’t seem to be an active part of the talks letting his agent figure it all out.
by JamesInDigital on Jan 25, 2012 9:58 PM PST up reply actions
I don't like this move unless the Blazers plan to trade Batum or Wallace this season
Otherwise, this could blow up around Batum’s (lack of) minutes. His agent sounds like a temperamental guy, too. If the plan really is to extend him in the end, why risk team chemistry to save a few million?
Or, maybe PA was serious about tightening the purse strings?
Good move
he needs to show us what he really can do before we commit big dollars to him. Let this season play out for him
WITH ODEN ON OUR SIDE
Does his agent understand what restricted free agency is?
i keep dancing on my own.
by atomiccafe on Jan 25, 2012 6:42 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
He's not starting on this team and he probably wants starter $
If Martel wasn’t hurt he wouldn’t have started. He hasn’t played consistently enough to justify putting him in the starting lineup since.
Was hoping something would get done, just so Batum could relax and play
I thought Gallinari getting his deal done earlier today at 4 years $42 million might help set the market value for Batum a little bit.
Obviously not to give Batum that amount of money, because Gallinari is much better and a true centerpiece for the Nuggets, but just to show what is reasonable for Batum. All along I have thought 5 years for $35-37 million would be on the reasonable, but slightly high side just to get the deal done. Guess not.
How much better is Gallo?
2011-2012 per 36
Gallo 18/5/3 ORTG 119 DRTG 101
Nico 16/6/1 ORTG 114 DRTG 101
"i prefer the eye test"
Nothing worse than that.
Nothing at all.
It’s faulty as heck and leads to confirmation bias like a mother.
"I Am Mine"
There's pitfalls on both sides..
Statistical analysis has finite limits and your choice of model imposes biases of one form or another. If your decision making is purely driven by your statistical model, then you’ve baked in uncorrectable defects. Blended statistical models don’t solve the intrinsic problem. So the “eye test” has validity.
The problem is “the eye test” is a hackneyed phrase that doesn’t really describe the cognitive skills being employed to evaluate players. Fans probably aren’t the people best equipped to describe those skills or what the trained eye is looking for… but don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they're not.
by conspirator5 on Jan 25, 2012 7:09 PM PST up reply actions
Wow, that's a lot of big words for no point.
That was equivalent to “you’re wrong”.
That's not the only thing I said.
The short version is that you need both stats and a critical eye to properly evaluate a player, and I was making a specific, logical argument to back that up. Since I’m disagreeing with AK, the “you’re wrong” part is built in.
Which means of course, you’re wrong too. :-)
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they're not.
by conspirator5 on Jan 25, 2012 8:17 PM PST up reply actions
"The short version is that you need both stats and a critical eye to properly evaluate a player"
That’s fair.
"I Am Mine"
PER by itself is worse than that
Depending on how many basketball games you’ve watched, you can probably pick out the talented ones with only numbers on their backs.
rel smart play, buddy;
“When Batum becomes a restricted free agent, we’ll look at the other 29 teams before we talk to the Blazers, the Blazers had their chance.”
you know it’s time to fire your agent when he plays that card.
sounds like what it would be to deal with a hot tempered 12 year old
funny
he doesn’t have to talk to the Blazers at all to end up back in red and black next fall. Just sign an offer sheet with another team.
i keep dancing on my own.
You are restricted free agent. Why would you not see what 29 other teams have to offer?
You already established the Blazers offer is lower than what you want. So you go get the best offer and the Blazers can match if they want. What’s the big deal?
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 25, 2012 6:55 PM PST up reply actions
I think this is more about his agent's bluster than his actions
Of course he’s going to talk to the other teams, but running around announcing that doesn’t really gain you anything.
Fair enough, but this might just be language issues.
I never get what I order in a Paris.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 25, 2012 6:59 PM PST up reply actions
^^ order in Paris. How'd that "a" sneak in there?
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 25, 2012 7:01 PM PST up reply actions
"but running around announcing that doesn’t really gain you anything."
It is entertaining, though. For that, I thank him.
"I Am Mine"
Without knowing the Blazers offer, it's hard to say.
If it was truly lowball, then Batum’s agent has a point given how Buchanan/Miller keep talking about Batum as a definite part of the future. If it was a reasonable offer, then yeah that’s overreaction.
Considering the agent didn't release the numbers as an anonymous source to Canzano...
If it was truly outrageous, we would have known already. I’m guessing it was in ballpark but agents know they can try to play the fans and media against the Blazers in this town as long as the details aren’t out there.
Regardless of the agent issues, or anything else
I can’t help but feel like the Blazers have completely fumbled the Batum situation in every possible way this season.
"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave
specifically
contract negotiations, his role, playing time, future status with team. anything missing?
"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave
Since he hasn't been injured, they couldn't have fumbled his rehab...
So I think you covered your bases. Maybe his development? But I think that falls under playing time and role…
I don’t know if the contract negotiations is a fumble, yet. If someone offers him a huge deal, we don’t match, and he becomes the next Pippen somewhere else, then yeah. We still have to see how this plays out.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Nate had Crawford come in
and has been dealing with trouble with his PGs and weak depth at center. Nic is definitely the forgotten Peter Brady child here, but Wallace is also so much better in tgis lineup you can’t sit him.
I’m more miffed at Nate for subbing in Jamal at PG. He’s an instant train wreck if he’s not making his shot. That’s bad.
Come on, let's all hug it out.
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 25, 2012 8:48 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Larry
Miller just woke of from his nap and still hasn’t realized cho is gone.
Speaking of Cho
I wonder how much he liked Nico while here and if he would make a Mathews-esque offer for him
I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Sean in Vancouver on Jan 25, 2012 7:28 PM PST up reply actions
i don't think it has personallly
"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave
Everyone knows
Batum is asking for 9 mil a year right? 9 mil a year, still waiting for all that potential to pan out? Sorry Nic, but if you don’t lower your asking price it’s gotta be good riddance
i'd be curious to see where the two sides are.
if Batum is at 9, and Blazers are at 6, then I would fault the Blazers for not coming up close to the 8 million range. if the blazers are at 7 or 7.5 and batum’s agent is holding firm at 9, then yeah, I’d tell him see you next summer.
"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave
4/28 is fair to me.
But no way Nic would take that.
This stalemate was bound to happen.
"I Am Mine"
by AK1984 on Jan 25, 2012 9:53 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I assumed his agent was asking for 10-11.
But 9 is still pushing it. 7-8 seems likely based on the market and his play so far.
Credt to Scott Boras.
Yet, I can’t blame Mike Ilitch, 82, for ponying up the cash.
By the time Prince’s contract is an albatross, he’ll be dead.
"I Am Mine"
Yeah, 4/28 is the most Portland should've offerred.
I bet Nic wanted something like 4/40 or 4/44 instead.
That, of course, is a no-go. He ain’t worth that dough.
"I Am Mine"
it wouldn't surprise me
if the Blazers totally low balled Batum. The FO is like a 16 yr old driver. Over correcting everytime they turn the wheel. It reminds me of the ROY contract negotiations because they talk big to the media and my money says that they’d rather have Crash than Batum. Not sure they can afford both. If you are just going to keep Batum and trade Crash, then this makes no sense at all.
I think this is a play to let Crash now that we are serious about keeping him around. Honestly, I’m not sure that Batum is worth 9 mil. Personally I love the guy, but he disappears in the corner most of the games I’ve watched this season. It’s really up to him to get involved in the offense, it’s not like Crash has plays called for him all the time either.
Either way, I’ll be majorly bummed if the ends up on another team and then explodes as a starter in a motion offense.
Get busy livin', or get busy dyin'. -the shawshank redemption.
This is flatout stupid!
Danilo Galinari just got $10 mil a year, someone is probably going to offer Nic the same. There is a lot of money out there this offseason, and teams are going to use it under the new CBA.
Just another reason I hate Paul Allen. He doesn’t know when he has a good thing and overvalues garbage. Hell they extended Martell and Travis Outlaw, & they’re not gonna extend Nic. Stupid.
well, if we could have had him for 8 millino now and we pay 10 next summer
then we look pretty stupid.
we just don’t know if the first part is true.
"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave
Nic's market value isn't easy to determine.
10 million is a lot of cap space for a guy who can barely dribble though. Nic is nice, but the Blazers can’t just hand the dude a blank check.
Come on, let's all hug it out.
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 25, 2012 8:44 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
No numbers available from either sides.
We can only speculate. It’s all just idle chatter, really.
You don’t pay role players like stars though. I’m happy to see the Blazers playing this one shrewdly. Cap space and flexibility are critical in nabbing a star quality perimeter player to go alongside Lamarcus.
Come on, let's all hug it out.
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 25, 2012 8:40 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I like that the Blazers aren't going to overpay Batum.
If his agent doesn’t like it, too bad. Batum is still getting a long ways on potential right now. If he wants paid like an eight million dollar player, then he should play like an eight million dollar player consistently, not just every third night. If he does get consistently good, then by all means, break out the pocketbook for him. But this is his fourth season. He’ll be a restricted free agent. Match any reasonable offer. Take the space if it’s too steep. We can replace a bench player.
I do hope Batum does good and gets it all together. I hope we have to pay him some large sum to keep him in town. I want him to succeed. But I’ve been down this road too many times with Blazer players.
"Anybody might guess beforehand that there would be blunders of the ignorant. What nobody could have guessed, what nobody could have dreamed of in a nightmare, what no morbid mortal imagination could ever have dared to imagine, was the mistakes of the well-informed." - G. K. Chesterton, The Common Man
Blazersedge.com || New to Blazersedge?
Actions -> Rec and Flag. Blazersedge works right when you use these two things.
by T Darkstar on Jan 25, 2012 8:47 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Agreed. He's a great backup
or solid starter. Never a playmaker.
He’s just not worth upper small forward money unless a team is desperate.
Come on, let's all hug it out.
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 25, 2012 8:50 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Meh. I'm sure the market would bear around 8-9 mill/year
and he may very well get those offers, and more power to him.
But I can pretty much guarantee a team that spends all its money on players who are worth and can get 8-9 mill/year will never win the title.
The cap is somewhere in the 50-60 million range. Good quality vets who are slightly better than average but sub-allstar level (say around 18-20 PER) get contract offers of 8-12 million per year. If you have 3 or 4 of those guys, you’ve got a very solid team that’ll never win titles tying up all your cap. You’ll win 40-50 games per 82 game season, you’ll maybe have a hot streak and pull out a series in the playoffs, but you’ll never come anywhere near the title. And you’ll never come anywhere near a top 5 lottery pick that you need to get a superstar or two.
This is what we pretty much have now—a solid but unspectacular allstar, plus four or five really solid vets who earn 7-12 mill/yr. We’ll get our wins, we’ll have fun nights in Portland, but we won’t be playing in June.
Contending teams that can’t afford to pay tens of millions in luxury tax build around a couple of great superduperstars who are worth way more than the max, then fill out the squad with serviceable cheap vets and young guys, or pay tons of tax.
by howlingfantods on Jan 25, 2012 11:06 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
NBA Playoffs Content Module
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Behind the Box Score, where the Boston Celtics are moving on to the conference finals
- NBA Playoffs Fan Fiction: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- The Indiana Pacers? Gone till November
- Shaquille O’Neal is in a Chinese beer commercial, too (VIDEO)
- ‘Deep Thoughts’ and Cheap Thoughts: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
