Contract Extension for Nicolas Batum?

[B-Roy]

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ers_and_nicolas_batum_will_begin_contrac.html

The Trail Blazers have taken the first step toward signing forward Nicolas Batum to a long-term contract extension, sending his representatives a formal letter of intention to discuss an extension.

In the letter, the Blazers said they plan on beginning discussions for a new deal after the first of the year, according to Batum’s agent, Bouna Ndiyae, so the sides expect formal dialogue to begin around Jan. 1.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Coolio.

 

[Natebishop3]

What is he worth? Honestly, I think he should be four years and around 8-10 million per year. That will eat up our cap space pretty quick though.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

What is he worth? Honestly, I think he should be four years and around 8-10 million per year. That will eat up our cap space pretty quick though.

Yeah, I'm just not sure if we should be wasting cap space on a 23-year old starting SF with a silky smooth jumper, decent handles, near-infinite hops, and range out to 25 feet.

 

[Nikolokolus]

What is he worth? Honestly, I think he should be four years and around 8-10 million per year. That will eat up our cap space pretty quick though.

Too high in my opinion, that might have been reasonable under the old CBA, but now? My guess is that he's worth just a little more than the MLE ... unless he absolutely blows up this year. So maybe something like 4 years 6.5 to 7 per?

 

[illmatic99]

4 years, 25-30 mil.

Just wait until next summer, though. We need the capspace this summer and don't need any capholds for Nic getting in the way of us landing Deron. heh

 

[Natebishop3]

4 years, 25-30 mil.

Just wait until next summer, though. We need the capspace this summer and don't need any capholds for Nic getting in the way of us landing Deron. heh

He's a restricted free agent this summer, isn't he? Isn't this his fourth season?

 

[illmatic99]

Ya. I believe so. We can match any offer, and I don't see him getting more than that.

 

[OdenHoF]

Depends how he plays over the course of the season. Personally, I see him only taking another decent step forward, getting 6-8 million a year for 4 years and deserve it, then over the course of that contract he would get better and possibly play at a 10-12 mil level by the end, so the Blazers get a bargain. After that contract, and Nic is about 27 then he'd get his 12-15 contract then another at 31. He's going to get three nice contracts kind of like F. Hernandez for the Mariners, if all goes as hoped.

Hell, maybe he'll bust out of the gates and play like a max, that's a possibility too.

 

[Natebishop3]

Ya. I believe so. We can match any offer, and I don't see him getting more than that.

The guy has drawn quite a bit of interest around the league and Aaron freakin Afflalo just got a five year $43 million deal. That's about 8.6 mil per year.

 

[illmatic99]

That was a crazy deal for AA, and Nic has similar numbers while being 3 years younger. Shit.

Still, if we have a shot at Deron, I'd think PA would risk having to pay more for Nic later on.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

teams might offer some inflated deals knowing we'd want to match whatever is offered. better to attempt a deal now before it gets to that point and consider it a convenience charge/insurance policy against potentially higher amounts in the off season.

 

[THE HCP]

These crazy ass contract getting tossed around the league does not help us out. I think 9 million a year is about right.

 

[Sinobas]

I think the only reason to extend him now is to try to get him for a bargain price. Overpay based on his past production, but if he really "blows up" this year, we have him locked in to a great deal.

I think Portland's best play with all our cap space will be to keep this team together.

 

[magnifier661]

Maybe making a deal now is better than having a team artificially inflate his value. Especially when we win the championship. They will be coming for our heads!!!

 

[Draco]

I wouldn't pay him more then $5 mil per. He had a good rookie season, then was injured his second year but had great efficiency, then was somewhat of a disappointment last season regressing on defense and shooting percentages. He has been horrible in the playoffs, like worse then Cliff Robinson horrible. The only reason people are throwing around big $8mil+ per year figures is the expectation he continues to improve, which is very unknown, maybe a flip of the coin. Maybe its even a better chance that he improves, but its not a guarantee. Wing players are the easiest position to replace in the NBA. Rudy accomplished far more in international play and it didn't amount to squat. If Nic wants more than a MLE deal make him prove it with his play on the court this season.

Plus waiting gives us better cap space regardless of how well he plays. If he plays like an all-star we can still sign another free agent first, then give him a new contract like the Clippers did with DeAndre Jordan. Batum will only have a mid-level sized cap hold. The Clippers first used cap space to claim Billups from amnesty then used the remaining cap space to match the Jordan offer sheet.

I'm hopeful Nic has a breakout year, then when we see it lets pay him. There just isn't any strategic reason to lock up Batum now.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He just turned 23 and could break out this year if we actually maintain the tempo we saw yesterday.

He's at least worth what Wesley got.

 

[B-Roy]

He just turned 23 and could break out this year if we actually maintain the tempo we saw yesterday.

He's at least worth what Wesley got.

Yeah, 4 years 28 million.

I know Wes got 5 years/34 million, but Nic can't get a 5 year extension without it being the max.

 

[THE HCP]

You wouldn't pay him more then 5 million a year!!!!???? He is a baller! And only 23 years old!

 

[alex42083]

These crazy ass contract getting tossed around the league does not help us out. I think 9 million a year is about right.

Yep. He's gonna get at least $8-9 mil per year for sure.. hell Kwame Brown got $7 mil for being a scrub. Five years, $40-50 mil sounds about right.. and that's as a reserve for us as long as we have Wallace and LA around. Hopefully Allen is willing to give out another big multi-year contract after getting burned and losing money in recent years with Miles, Roy, buying out Steve Francis.. etc.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I like $30M/4, but I'm also of the unpopular opinion that if he doesn't have a true "breakout" year this year (ie, clearly outplay Wallace), then he should be trade bait. Young talent can fetch a premium on the market. It's possible that he's worth more as a chip than on the court.

 

[THE HCP]

I like $30M/4, but I'm also of the unpopular opinion that if he doesn't have a true "breakout" year this year (ie, clearly outplay Wallace), then he should be trade bait. Young talent can fetch a premium on the market. It's possible that he's worth more as a chip than on the court.

How is he supposed to "break out" if he and Wallace play the same position. What happens when Wallace is gone in 2 years and we had already traded Nic?

 

[Nikolokolus]

How is he supposed to "break out" if he and Wallace play the same position. What happens when Wallace is gone in 2 years and we had already traded Nic?

Gee ... almost sounds like a reason to trade Wallace for some first round picks?

 

[Draco]

You wouldn't pay him more then 5 million a year!!!!???? He is a baller! And only 23 years old!

Yup, I'm not saying we don't resign him for more then that next summer, just that if we get locked into paying him now we should get a discount. It's worth a lot of money to the Blazers to have Nic sign a deal in the offseason instead of now, he'll take up less cap space and we can better evaluate his talents.

If Nic eventually realizes his potential, unlike Miles, we can pay him a max deal when he's 27. Miles was a hell of a lot more productive then Nic and younger then Nic is now, when we gave him that god awful contract. Happens all the time with young SF's who have sexy "potential". Lets see the potential develop before we are guarteed to have to pay a larger portion of our cap for it.

 

[OdenHoF]

And here's to hoping toxic offers based on potential are less substantial due to the luxury tax implications.

 

[jlprk]

We always get stuck paying for potential, because our coach's system delays player development. We need a coach who lets players play loosely at 100% from their first day in the league.

When I say this, someone pipes up that Batum is an example of a rookie given minutes by McMillan. So what. You now see that even when given minutes, a McMillan player doesn't develop normally, and management must estimate potential years later at contract time.

 

[Mediocre Man]

So no cap space and no high draft picks next year.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

How is he supposed to "break out" if he and Wallace play the same position.

That's a silly question. You and I both know that Batum and Wallace will both get plenty of PT, and often be on the floor together. He'll have more than enough opportunity to show any improvements in his game.

What happens when Wallace is gone in 2 years and we had already traded Nic?

I guess that all depends on what we traded him for, now doesn't it? Plus, who says Wallace is gone in 2 years? Just because his current contract ends by then doesn't mean he won't extend. Fear of the unknown is no justification for paralysis.

 

[illmatic99]

So no cap space and no high draft picks next year.

I was thinking the same, so I just looked at the numbers.

If Wallace/Crawford opt out, we also remove Felton, Oden, Camby, Smith, LA (13.8)/Wes (6.5)/Nic(~7) will be our only three major contracts. Then add ~ 10 for various capholds, draft picks, and Thomas. That comes out to ~37mil. Even being generous with Nic, we'd have ~19mil of capspace (assuming 59mil as cap) left.

Again this is taking into consideration that both Wallace and Crawford will opt out. Both of those guys will be looking for their last major contracts, so I would guess that they would opt out.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I doubt Wallace opts out. Crawford maybe, if he has a big year. Felton is probably as important if not more than Nic is, so letting him walk is scary