Freeman: Blazers F Nicolas Batum "Good" With No Extension
Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reports that Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum has come to terms with not receiving a contract extension...
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"I’m good with everything," Batum said, expressing relief that the extension deadline had passed. "The toughest part was that I don’t know what was going to happen. But now I know. And, OK, it’s bad because we didn’t reach a deal. But I’m good because I’m finally done with it. I don’t care about it now. Free agency is in July. We’re in January, so I don’t think about it right now."
"I know I can do much more," Batum said. "I’m not really satisfied by myself right now."
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A recent national report indicated that Batum was "not happy" with the failure to reach a contract extension agreement with the Blazers before last Wednesday's deadline. Batum's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, also said that Portland's offer to Batum wasn't "fair."
Here's what Blazers Acting GM Chad Buchanan had to say on the failed extension talks on Wednesday night.
Batum had 14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 27 minutes during Friday night's blowout win over the Phoenix Suns, a game in which he played some first quarter minutes at the two guard position.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
4 months ago
Ben Golliver
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If he plays like he did last night his value would come up
And he would benifit. So all is not lost in being a RFA.
hg
Just last night?
Batum currently ranks in the top 10 of all small forwards in terms of PER. PER isn’t the end all be all of composite stats – but Batum’s performance across the board this season has been very good – well above average.
He states – and most of us agree – that he can be even better. However, that shouldn’t take away from the fact that he has been good this season – very good.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 28, 2012 1:17 PM PST up reply actions
kudos to Nate Dogg for
Sicking Batum on Nash. That was a fun thrashing to witness, last night.
Yeah - liked yesterday's rotation a lot
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 28, 2012 1:37 PM PST up reply actions
National reporting
Oh, big surprise, a national reporter going without sources. I don’t even mind David Aldridge—suppose he’s just trying to keep up with the lowly likes of Woj, Bucher, etc.
That aside, sure Batum was frustrated.
"I just, by default, presume Batum’s agent was the source."
Yeah, agents are a key source for national reporters with connections.
"I Am Mine"
Yep. And he's the one that's been making a public stink about this.
So it just seems like a reasonable assumption.
what exactly have crawford and felton done to "earn" minutes?
this is just more of the same, ridiculous double standards that nate has held during his tenure in pdx.
blake over miller
jack over blake
magloire over aldridge
etc etc.
PHILLY!
Well
We traded our starting PG for Felton. Felton has proven more in the NBA then Nolan has, I would say Felton deserves the starting PG spot over any other PG on the roster. Crawford is a different story. Sure he has proven he is a great 6th man, with 6th man of the year awards. However he isn’t the only non rookie at his position, I would imagine after sucking it up Nate might start leaning towards other options. Of course even if Nate wanted to do that. He gets no practices to try new things out.
Nate may not do exactly what you want the moment you want it
but I sincerely doubt most of us fans pick up on stuff faster than he does or know more about coaching an NBA team. For one thing, most of us fans scream completely different solutions to the same situation.
If you are better than Nate then print out your resume and get Larry and Chad on the phone. You should be getting paid the big bucks.
Appeals to authority are logical fallacies
Saying that we have no valid basis for questioning McMillan because he is more of an expert than we are doesn’t make McMillan right and anyone questioning him wrong.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 28, 2012 1:20 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
True.
But reality itself might make Nate a better NBA coach than anyone on BEdge.
Same fallacy
Nobody is arguing that they are a better NBA coach than McMillan. McMillan’s coaching is a valid topic for discussion – and no opinion here is invalid simply because we aren’t NBA coaches.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 28, 2012 2:36 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
This is correct
We don’t abide by the “you can’t comment on [topic x] unless you know more than [person y]” concept. Pretty much all internet discussion would end within minutes under that rule.
It’s perfectly ok to discuss concerns about Nate (and Larry, Paul, Nic, etc) even if you couldn’t send in a resume to replace them.
The point here is that
…just because something is presented in a form that is fallacious, it doesn’t automatically mean the assertion is wrong.
The very defintion of fallacy
is that it does not present a valid argument….Fallacies do not assert – they presume and misconceive.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 29, 2012 1:19 PM PST up reply actions
That is completely true.
an opinion is just a opinion no rights or wrongs about it. If the opinion is proven Right then it is a reality or a law and no longer an opinion. If an opinion has been proven wrong then that opinion is absolute and an invalid opinion, but an opinion in itself is not either right or wrong.
hg
agreed
but much of the criticism Nate is taking is usually random and narrow sighted. The guy has faults for sure but we freak out over every rotation, minute and lack of of desired adjustments when there is certainly more at stake than what we perceive. The player component gets severely understated.
It can’t be coincidence that just about every fan base in the NBA does the same with their coaches too. You don’t expect a coach to be perfect. You expect him/her to be solid and keep improving. I’ve seen Nate improve massively in the last couple of seasons and I know he has a good head for basketball.
He may not react as quickly as some fans want him to but he’s flat out-coached other coaches on more than one occasion. Including half time adjustments.
Every man/woman is entitled to their opinion but VDN will be up for a job soon and the Clippers will be begging guys like McMillan to apply. We’ll scream blindly about everything Nate does or doesn’t do until the day we end up with VDN or some rookie while Nate rides a solid team to contention for the WCF.
And then we’ll scream about everything the new coach does…
by poorwebguy on Jan 28, 2012 4:34 PM PST up reply actions 7 recs
unless for if that rookie coach turns out to be a thibadeau
"Wide, girthy. Just like a Rhino. Sometimes my horns are visible."
Too late for that
I wanted the Blazers to pursue Thibs for years while he was an assistant in Boston, but everyone was saying Nate’s the bomb and Tom was unproven
McMillian’s post season record speaks for itself. If it wasn’t for the Seattle/Vulcan connection he’d have gone the way of Carlesimo, Dunleavy and Cheeks by now
When reached 40+ years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
You wanted Portland to hire Tom Thibodeau as an assistant to Nate, which wasn't a ...
realistic option. For Thibodeau, his options back in 2010 were either a head coaching gig — such as the one he got in Chicago — or to stay in Boston as Rivers’ lead assistant. He was never leaving the Celtics for another assistant coaching gig.
And here are the links — one and two — to verify those discussions.
Anyway, the next man in line who’s from that mold (i.e., defensive-minded lead assistant) is Michael Malone. It’ll be interesting to see if Malone gets himself a head coaching job in the near future. For now, though, he’s in Oakland caddying for the inept Mark Jackson.
"I Am Mine"
you mean "wasn't a realistic option"
for the current owner of the TBs, who remains a Mr. Sonic fan
When reached 40+ years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
"but everyone was saying Nate’s the bomb and Tom was unproven"
That’s nonsense, man. Pure, unabashed nonsense.
I’d use a stronger word than nonsense, too, but yeah.
In reality, plenty of people here were pro-Tom T. before he landed the Bulls job. To claim otherwise is false.
"I Am Mine"
disclaimer
“everyone outside of AK1984”
When reached 40+ years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
rec rec rec
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Jan 28, 2012 10:43 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
i dont feel too good about this
If we don’t make a second round appearance and the future doesn’t have us in the WCF in a few years I see GW going to a contender for more money and somebody’s gonna throw ridiculous money at nic, don’t think for a second that Nicolas isn’t the number one RFA on some teams list and yes, we can match but when a team like New Jersey gives the trout as much money as he got, people will over pay for nics potential stardom, so hopefully there is either a blockbuster trade in the works or we might just screwed on this deal
by trax639 on Jan 28, 2012 12:38 PM PST via mobile reply actions
yep, the more I think about it the more I wish we could have gotten a deal done.
I’m still not worried about it though. If PA want’s to keep Batum then he is going to. Can’t help but think he’ll be making to much money though.
by hoodieNation on Jan 28, 2012 1:24 PM PST up reply actions
In order to build a solid roster
under the new CBA, FOs are going to have to stare down agents whose role player clients want star money, even to the point of losing a player now and then because of their decision not to overpay. There’s always another train leaving the station. There’s going to be a lot of second guessing if we don’t sign Batum but I am happy to see the FO’s discipline.
Nic
as a #1 option on anyone’s list is a long shot. Sure he is on peoples list, but I HIGHLY doubt he is #1 on anyones, even the Blazers.
Que Sera, Sera...
It doesn’t sound to me like Batum is so unhappy or disenchanted with The Blazers that he is going to sign a qualifying offer simply to become a free agent in a year. So? Whatever will be, will be. I don’t blame Batum or Batums agent. They have to work in their best interest, which means communicating to the league that they will be solicitating and looking at every opportunity and offer possible.
The Blazers will be forced to make a decision, once a contract value is established, unfortunately by a competing team.
I think the worst thing that could happen would be Batum going the Oden route, and signing a 1 year qualifier. But since that doesn’t seem to be the approach Batum is taking? Let the open market set the value, and then The Blazers can decide…
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
Not really an open market for Batum
Batum’s QO is relatively low ($3M?) – which combined with RFA status, means the Blazers are still likely to get good value for Batum since teams are much less likely to compete with the same energy they would for a UFA.
It does bring up an interesting question on how many RFA’s have signed overvalued contracts. Also, I wonder if the Blazers are vulnerable to some sort of toxic offer that would make it difficult to match an offer sheet?
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 28, 2012 1:25 PM PST up reply actions
I don't think...
Batums RFS status will in any way temper the offers he is likely to receive. Infact, just like us with Wesley Matthews and Paul Millsap, I would think any team tendering an offer will make it as agressive as possible. Call it a toxic offer or whatever, but I’d expect Batum to be looking at a lot of zero’s.
I think it ultimately might be a tough decision for The Blazers, but it will ultimately be their decision.
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
All it takes is
A spurs amnesty on Jefferson
by TheShougPanther5 on Jan 28, 2012 1:47 PM PST via mobile reply actions
except jefferson's playing pretty well right now
hopefully he keeps it up?
"Wide, girthy. Just like a Rhino. Sometimes my horns are visible."
And all it takes
is for us to match what ever offer they send his way.
Interesting move by NATE
By playing Nic at the two last night he showcased him in a line up with Wallace at the 3, showing Blazer brass that it works and that he (Nate) wants them to re-sign Nic.
"Coach said to always be careful around Greg, because Greg costs a lot and even the slightest amount of basketball can damage him." -- The Onion
It's too late
By the time the box is empty and you are farting an onion smell? It’s too late to make it a cheese burger.
If McMillans “plan” was to showcase Batum as a subversive way of angling for his re-signing, the correct timing would of been BEFORE the deadline passed.
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
They’re going to have to pay more to keep Batum now. Have to believe that if the Howard trade (involving Wallace) would have gone through they would have extended Batum. This is an unfortunate repercussion of still having Wallace on the team. No way you could extend Batum now, think of how Wallace would react. He would demand a trade and the team would lose out on some of the value they’ll still get for him at the deadline. Again, bad move to trade for Wallace in the first place.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 28, 2012 4:47 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Absolutely not.
They won’t have to pay more for Batum now. That is not a guaranteed outcome.
Batum is now slotting in for some 2 guard minutes to play even more with Wallace in addition to their previous time together at 3 & 4, so extending him now would have sent no message to Wallace.
Wallace has never asked for a trade in his life, and he wouldn’t ask for one now because he has a player option for next year and would not jeopardize his FA position by going a to a location that might not showcase his abilities.
Wallace was traded for a minimum level type player that is always available in FA, a player whose career was over, and a mid 20s pick. That is never a bad move for a starting quality player that is at bare minimum a #3 option.
Your post is sorely misguided and not based on reality.
dinasour type of guys choir boys
by mittsabishy on Jan 29, 2012 12:44 PM PST up reply actions
I don’t believe anyone thinks that both players are going to resign here. That’s pretty unrealistic, so is thinking the 30 team market will drive Batum’s cost lower and not higher. When Wallace gets traded at the deadline, that’ll be your reality check.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 30, 2012 7:04 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
No reality check involved.
I definitely could see Wallace being traded at the deadline. That was never the question.
Your assumption on player personalities is just totally out of left field.
Also incorrect is your insistence on the value of Batum’s contract.
dinasour type of guys choir boys
I’m just going by the fact that Wallace ended his time at Alabama with such bad feelings that he asked the NBA if they would announce his High School instead of the University of Alabama during pre-game introductions. Then there was his public outcry, saying he felt "betrayed" by Charlotte for trading him from one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference to the 5th best team in the Western Conference. I would say, given this history, that assuming he might have a problem with the other small forward on the team getting a (say) 4 year, 8/9 million dollar a year extension, is within reason.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Jan 30, 2012 2:50 PM PST up reply actions
Haha.
Guy doesn’t want to go to college, and his mom makes him.
Guy is told he is their centerpiece for the future and is traded the next day.
You turn that into understanding his psyche and making declarations about his mentality.
I’ll do the same: Judging from Wallace’s past predilection to intense loyalty, he won’t have a problem with whatever happens in Batum’s negotiations.
dinasour type of guys choir boys
I would never say an offer isn't fair. He's getting paid millions to play a game and he isn't even a star. I wouldn't say getting paid more
in a year than most people make in a life time isn’t “fair”.
Really? You can't put it in the context of the market he is competing in?
I would also wager the English as a second language card could be played here. He probably could have chosen a better way to express the deal wasn’t what they thought it should be.
PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04
I know it's not the be all end all
but as far as Hollinger’s PER the good players seem to gravitate to the top and the best players to the very top. I also know there would be players ahead or behind other players that should rank differently in time and situation either better or worse. There seems to be quite a lot of change year yo year. Jordan Farmar is the best example of that that sticks out to me as he is ranked really high at #48 overall and #14 for PGs with a 19.57 PER. PER would not be a good indicator for a specialist like Camby who is there to clog the lane, rebound and pass. Given all that though I would still think that based on those numbers that Batum should not even have to ask for thirty plus minutes a night he has already earned them. I would think Craig Smith has also earned some more time.
Blazers:
- Aldridge PER 23.47 Rank 13 overall 5 for PFs
- C Smith PER 19.03 Rank 59 overall 17 for PFs
- Batum PER 17.50 Rank 82 overall 9 for SFs
- Wallace PER 16.00 Rank 115 overall 15 for SFs
- Crawford PER 15.13 Rank 133 overall 20 for SGs
- Matthews PER 14.11 Rank 158 overall 30 for SGs
- Camby PER 12.93 Rank 187 overall 34 for Cs
- Thomas PER 11.48 Rank 226 overall 42 for Cs
- Felton PER 10.89 Rank 244 overall 45 for PGs ….and rising (used to have a PER of 8)
The rest not enough minutes.
Maybe we should get Farmar LOL! He’s been knockin’ down those treys!
by XBlazerfan on Jan 28, 2012 7:15 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
It's not personal, it's just business
the only thing to be concerned about is another team making Nic a toxic offer like Portland made to Milsap. Hopefully Portland won’t get a taste otheir own “medicine” in July
Batum is a keeper. for whatever amount the market decides he’s worth. Not too many guys can defend Nash as well as stretch 4s
When reached 40+ years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
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