Darren Wolfson of ESPN1500.com reports that the Minnesota Timberwolves have still yet to make an offer for Portland Trail Blazers restricted free agent forward Nicolas Batum. ---------------------------------- According to a source with intimate knowledge of those discussions, Batum is the Wolves' Plan A in free agency -- and he told the Wolves he has legitimate interest in coming. Financially, the Wolves know where Batum stands, so a verbal agreement in advance of July 11 -- the first day free agent contracts can be signed -- could come very soon. But as of Monday night, with Batum no longer in the Twin Cities, a verbal agreement had not been reached. ... The team source said there's a far better chance that Batum would come via a sign-and-trade, because outright landing a restricted free agent is too tough. ---------------------------------- Here's my quick-hit read between the lines on it. -- Ben Hat tip: Blazers.com ed: text edited, bumped to front page