Batum's importance

[Fez Hammersticks]

Two-part question:

*With his emerging offensive game and being able to guard four positions, is he the second most important Blazer after Roy?

*How would you feel if Batum is packaged for CP3?

IMO, I'd be absolutely fine if he's packaged for Chris Paul but would not support the idea of packaging him for Parker.

 

[J~Rush]

I feel Batum is the 4th most important blazer after Oden, Roy, and Lamarcus

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Lebron Yes
Paul Yes
DHoward Yes
Dwill Yes
Wade Yes
Durant Yes
Rondo Yes
Granger Yes

Everyone Else NOOOOOOO

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Granger? I wouldn't when you consider age. Nic is nearly six years younger than Granger.

 

[Mediocre Man]

If he was used correctly by his coach, he'd be amazing. There should be zero excuses for him not playing 35+ minutes this season, and have multiple plays run for him.

He is easily the second most imprtant Blazer....right now, and IMO, he's not the far behind Roy

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Granger? I wouldn't when you consider age. Nic is nearly six years younger than Granger.

Im still amazed i could only come up with those players i would trade him for....ive never been one to overvalue our players, but maybe i am now???

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

And to be honest, i would trade him for Kobe too, so we could win the championship next year

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

IMO, with what's allegedly available, to me it's CP3 or bust!

 

[THE HCP]

I thought this was a thread about Nic not being able to get it up!!!!

 

[THE HCP]

Nic is going to be a star. His D is what still impresses me the most. Down the stretch last season in 4th quarters he would always guard the key player late in the forth. Remember his work on Dirk in our 2nd win down there............. CP3 in NOLA............. and Durant on the road at OKC. Amazing! And on the O, he averaged 11 points a game without Nate running one play for him! Can't wait to see him healthy on the court next year!

 

[Minstrel]

I feel Batum is the 4th most important blazer after Oden, Roy, and Lamarcus

In terms of current value, I agree. In terms of long-term value to the team, I might move Batum ahead of Aldridge.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't really know where he ranks, I'm just fairly certain he's very, very important ... If the new GM comes in and trades his ass for anything less than D-Will or CP3 I'm going to be super pissed. I might even hold a rally.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Does everyone really think he can guard power forwards effectively? I think he can with some players on occasion.. but I think it's being a little generous to state that he can guard 4 positions.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I think so because of his length and very high basketball IQ on both ends of the court.

LINK

[video=vimeo;9118007]

 

[Minstrel]

Does everyone really think he can guard power forwards effectively? I think he can with some players on occasion.. but I think it's being a little generous to state that he can guard 4 positions.

I agree. I think he can match up with certain power forwards (like when he famously gave Nowitzki fits this past season), but he certainly can't be reliably expected to check power forwards. Most are just way too powerful for him.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I think so because of his length and very high basketball IQ on both ends of the court.

I agree. I think he can match up with certain power forwards (like when he famously gave Nowitzki fits this past season), but he certainly can't be reliably expected to check power forwards. Most are just way too powerful for him.

Yeah, when I said certain players, I was thinking of that game against Dirk. But with power forwards that actually have post games... I don't know how I would feel about that.

 

[alex42083]

I put Nicolas right behind Roy and the health of Oden next season. If he can expand his offensive game even more, that'd be huge. And with Martell gone, he's gotta see 30-35 mins a game.

But I would give Nicolas up for CP3.. not Tony Parker though.

 

[Drttimmy]

Two-part question:

*With his emerging offensive game and being able to guard four positions, is he the second most important Blazer after Roy?

*How would you feel if Batum is packaged for CP3?

IMO, I'd be absolutely fine if he's packaged for Chris Paul but would not support the idea of packaging him for Parker.

No chance is he the second most important player. The Pryz/Oden/Camby three-headed monster still takes that prize. Batum and Oden are my two favorite players, but Batum is far from indespensable at this point. His ceiling is sky-high, but his actual impact is still somewhat low. Still you have to consider the potential. I wouldnt package him for Parker.

Paul...of course.

 

[Rhal]

Batum is so good and he is still so young. He is going to be a star for a long time. I defiantly put him ahead of Aldridge in terms of value to the team. The only players I would give up Batum for is CP3 and Lebron. But I am a huge homer for Oden/Batum so I value them way to high.

 

[craigehlo]

While I like Batum of course, fans project insane expectations on him. Talk of him becoming the next Pippen or Prince are WAY TOO premature. His defense will likely get there, but I don't see the offensive aggressiveness and handle of those other two players. I think the comparisons are lazy because he has a similar frame of those two guys, but the similarities end there in many respects.

Sure he's an important piece of this team, but he's not untouchable by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Minstrel]

Talk of him becoming the next Pippen or Prince are WAY TOO premature.

Pippen and Prince aren't remotely similar in ability. It's like saying "talk of <player> becoming the next Jordan or Jason Richardson is way too premature."

Prince wasn't anywhere near Pippen in ability or value and Batum already isn't far from Prince. Prince was never a star. He was, at his prime, an excellent complementary player. Batum lacks the consistency (which, I agree, is due to aggressiveness) that a prime Prince had...but he's only 21. I don't think it's at all premature to project at least a Prince-like prime (which is still 5-6 years away). Comparing him to Pippen is certainly very premature and I think there's close to no chance he'll ever be that valuable...but an (IMO) top-25 player of all-time is a high bar. I think Batum is likely to approximate someone like Gerald Wallace (but with better health) in his prime.

I think the comparisons are lazy because he has a similar frame of those two guys, but the similarities end there in many respects.

He doesn't have a similar frame to Pippen...Pippen had significantly more muscle to his frame. And the similarities don't end there. He has the possibility of being a point forward (as evidenced by him replacing Tony Parker at point guard for the French team, and by his passing skills in the NBA), he has the ability to slash and shoot that both guys had, he has the uber-athleticism of Pippen and he has the great defensive versatility that both guys showed (Pippen much more so, of course).

 

[LameR]

I put Nicolas right behind Roy and the health of Oden next season. If he can expand his offensive game even more, that'd be huge. And with Martell gone, he's gotta see 30-35 mins a game.

But I would give Nicolas up for CP3.. not Tony Parker though.

This.

 

[maxiep]

What is impressive and valuable about Batum is that he doesn't need the ball to be effective. You don't have to involve him in your offense and he can still make a huge impact. I see him more like a Kirilenko with a jump shot. He's more likely to end up with the quintuple quintuple (points, rebounds, steals, assists, blocks) than be a Pippen-type that puts up 16-20 ppg. He just allows everyone else on the court to be a better player.