Batun's extension and minutes - very interesting

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HailBlazers said:
I know, and he was right for doing so, the system is pretty crappy.

Regardless, I still believe he's one of a few owners willing to spend, Especially in a Championship window.
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You really don't see the disconnect in your statement do you?
 
Treaty_of_Batum said:
I'm a huge Wallace fan and was against trading him for mid to late round draft picks. But if this new CBA has the effect it is intending, it would be a mistake to commit to a big money long term deal with Wallace.

I could see an offer of big money for 1-2 years ,but Wallace will probably be offered a long term deal from some team who wants him bad enough. It is a tough situation for the Blazers, but smart contracts are going to be a big asset for organizations. Signing Nic to a long term deal would be smart, signing Wallace to a long term deal would not be, IMO.

I don't think they should trade Wallace unless this year falls apart, but I think they should be ready to let him walk at the end of the year (if what he is looking for is the biggest contract).
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I think you have captured very well the "essence" of the situation
 
Nikolokolus said:
You really don't see the disconnect in your statement do you?
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What I'm saying is that I believe he was mainly posturing during the lockout. He has always, and will always spend if he sees a unique opportunity to do something special. With the current roster he has that opportunity unlike ever before.
 
Goodness people! Have you watched these games!?!?! Crash has killer instinct Batum does not!! Crash brings energy and assertiveness, Batum does not. LA and Batum are both "AW SHUCKS GUYS" good nice players, but they need a train conductor who attacks. That what Wallace brings. Batum can tear it up in the Euro leagues all he wants but in the NBA it's a mans league and here he's shown to be a deer in the headlights to often. You either have it or you don't, Wallace does Nick, not so much...
 
Ghost Pepper said:
Goodness people! Have you watched these games!?!?! Crash has killer instinct Batum does not!! Crash brings energy and assertiveness, Batum does not. LA and Batum are both "AW SHUCKS GUYS" good nice players, but they need a train conductor who attacks. That what Wallace brings. Batum can tear it up in the Euro leagues all he wants but in the NBA it's a mans league and here he's shown to be a deer in the headlights to often. You either have it or you don't, Wallace does Nick, not so much...
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When Crash has a bad night; the team loses.
 
Brock said:
ghost pepper is on the $
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Depth is the most important thing to winning in this, the toughest league in the World. As Steve Kerr put it having Batum come off the bench is an amazing "Luxury." Here's to PA keeping the luxury tour alive.

:cheers:
 
That may be true but Batum isn't even relevant enough out there to be a game changer and Crash as you've said is! That pretty much answers who needs to be traded. Nic will have some nice nights don't get me wrong but he not a leader, Crash is!
 
I wonder what a slightly more bulked-up Batum might yield?
 
w_maxey
a starting gig + the french connection with tony parker. expect the san antonio spurs to ante up for batum if blazers don't lock him up.
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The Spurs writer believes SAS would be interested in getting Batum.
 
magnifier661 said:
Well that just sums it up. Guess he needs to be traded.
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LOL, your going to let a media hound sum it up for you?

How bout some perspective please:

BilboBaggins said:
Come on Chris. You're better than this (I think). Being new to Portland it's a good time to set a precedent and not go down the sensationalistic rat hole too many other PDX media members inhabit. It was quite clear the the old dinosaur Jaynes was attempting to stir up the pot and get some "big news" that he could trump up for ratings. Despite repeatedly being asked the same leading questions from the big white whale, Batum calmly said he, "needed to earn" his playing time, and that Gerald Wallace was the second best small forward in the WC behind Durant so he understands the situation. Yet, the tabloid trash commentators could only hang their hats on the out of context sound bite trying to create controversy. A decision that at the least attempts to undermine the Trailblazers efforts to build team first-unity and winning first, and at worst may compromise the team's ability to resign Nic... You're new to town and there's no better time to show you're better than the usual tripe that masquerades as "media" here. Man up and resist the temptation to be a gutter dweller. Start a new trend of honest reporting, journalistic integrity and responsibility. The public is staved for this and you will be rewarded if you do. Do the right thing and break the cycle of BS now brother.
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Thank You.
 
If Blazers do not extend Batum, this summer the Blazers will have to make huge decisions on Wallace, Batum and Felton. I'm guessing all will get interest from other teams.
 
mook said:
Probably the best time to sell on Batum was right after his great summer in Europe when his stock was at its highest. The second best time is probably right now.

For whatever reason he's got a little Kirelenko-itis. A guy whose flexibility and talent allows him to be The Man in a thrown-together Euro team, but can't really translate that success into being The Man on an 82 game NBA team.
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When did we ever see him given the opportunity? He was never asked to play that role in the NBA - and quite frankly, just as we have seen with Aldridge - you actually need to give that guy that role to see if he can fit it before you announce him unable.
 
SantaDora said:
When did we ever see him given the opportunity? He was never asked to play that role in the NBA - and quite frankly, just as we have seen with Aldridge - you actually need to give that guy that role to see if he can fit it before you announce him unable.
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He started for 40+ games last season; didn't he?
 
Batum will never be the man with Aldridge here, so why does this matter?
 
magnifier661 said:
He started for 40+ games last season; didn't he?
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Was he asked to be the man on any of these games? Was he even asked to be the #1 perimeter guy in any of these games? Last year we had Roy, Andre and Wes being the focal point of the offense from the perimeter before him, this year we replaced Andre with Gelton and even off the bench - we got Jamal to chuck shots.

What we have seen from Batum was that when given his own team in the Europleage - he actually won player of the week twice in about 8 weeks of play... and there are some pretty good players playing there, many of them much more established than him.

I do not know if he can or can not - but making ones mind that he can not when he is never actually given the chance to do it - when he is obviously capable of scoring in bunches in this league, even in secondary or 3rd option roles - just does not make sense.
 
SantaDora said:
When did we ever see him given the opportunity? He was never asked to play that role in the NBA - and quite frankly, just as we have seen with Aldridge - you actually need to give that guy that role to see if he can fit it before you announce him unable.
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We've never given Babbit an opportunity either. He can average 30ppg in college and D league, maybe he can be a great scorer if the team will just let him get comfortable with regular minutes on the court.

We don't know what will actually happen until the team tries dangit.
 
Draco said:
We've never given Babbit an opportunity either. He can average 30ppg in college and D league, maybe he can be a great scorer if the team will just let him get comfortable with regular minutes on the court.

We don't know what will actually happen until the team tries dangit.
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The difference of course is that Batum is an athletic freak even by most NBA players comparison - with his speed, length and control. Babbit very much not so...

One of them has the tools and have shown to be able to super-efficient at the NBA level as a 4th or 5th option on offense. The other, not so much.

for the 2nd unit, I would like to see a lot more Batum Shakalaka than Jamal Chuckalaka for example... - We have seen Batum, as a 2nd year player coming off injury getting a post-player like TS% of 0.65 - which is mind boggling good for a perimeter player. Sure, it was only for 37 games - but this kid has all the physical talent to be an amazing player - and he is not a dumb chucker or headcase. This team needs to really feature him more to see if he can really take the next step - because if he can - this team can be super hard to deal with for years to come.
 
SantaDora said:
Was he asked to be the man on any of these games? Was he even asked to be the #1 perimeter guy in any of these games? Last year we had Roy, Andre and Wes being the focal point of the offense from the perimeter before him, this year we replaced Andre with Gelton and even off the bench - we got Jamal to chuck shots.

What we have seen from Batum was that when given his own team in the Europleage - he actually won player of the week twice in about 8 weeks of play... and there are some pretty good players playing there, many of them much more established than him.

I do not know if he can or can not - but making ones mind that he can not when he is never actually given the chance to do it - when he is obviously capable of scoring in bunches in this league, even in secondary or 3rd option roles - just does not make sense.
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Comparing Aldridge and Batum's careers is laughable. Since Aldridge first got healthy and regular minutes in his second season he has always been the best or second best player on the team. Yes his role expanded when our #1 option left, and he improved dramatically, but he was never in the realm of averaging 8ppg during a playoff series with Steve Nash guarding him.

Batum has never been the second best player on this team for any extended stretch of play. He has been a valuable role player, but not much more. Role players are not handed bigger roles, they earn them. Gerald came off the bench for many games until he proved he was the second best player on this team. When he became that valuable he forced the team to start him because he was so damn good on the court. Batum hasn't ever played at a high enough level to force the coaches to expand his role.
 
Draco said:
Comparing Aldridge and Batum's careers is laughable. Since Aldridge first got healthy and regular minutes in his second season he has always been the best or second best player on the team. Yes his role expanded when our #1 option left, and he improved dramatically, but he was never in the realm of averaging 8ppg during a playoff series with Steve Nash guarding him.

Batum has never been the second best player on this team for any extended stretch of play. He has been a valuable role player, but not much more. Role players are not handed bigger roles, they earn them. Gerald came off the bench for many games until he proved he was the second best player on this team. When he became that valuable he forced the team to start him because he was so damn good on the court. Batum hasn't ever played at a high enough level to force the coaches to expand his role.
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There's a point in there, but part of his minuscule production offensively in that series is that Nate never schemed to take advantage of that mismatch.
 
I have seen strides from him this season. He has been more aggressive coming off screens and shooting. In the past Nic would just set up shop in the corners and bomb threes. Now he's actually moving without the ball. I'm still not sure if he's really a legit second or first option on offense, but he has intangibles that teams want. I just don't know if I want to see the team sink a long term, semi-large contract into the guy. I think I'd be more inclined to put the money into a known commodity like Wallace, even if he only has two or three more good years left in him.
 
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