Great stuff, everyone. Especially Brian From WA for the great salary cap analysis.
Tell me if I have this right: in order to make room for Batum, the Timberwolves would have to unload multiple players and maybe have to wait days for them to clear waivers. But that would all probably be for naught, because the Blazers can, and have said they will, match whatever Minnesota offers.
To add insult to injury, because the Blazers have three days to match the offer, and because Portland - unlike Minnesota - has cap room, Olshey can wait three days to match Batum, adding players along the way, and have no problem going over the cap to sign their own RFA. In short, the Blazers basically could accumulate players while this whole fiasco plays out (and would most definitely wind up with Batum in the end), while the Timberwolves have to dump players to even make a valid, plausible offer (and would most definitely wind up without Batum in the end).
It's kind of shocking how transparent Minnesota's bargaining position is, once all the facts are in. The "trade kicker" is an interesting gambit, but given how far from an actual offer Minnesota is, I'm sure it did little more than raise a quizzical eyebrow at One Center Court.
