Minnesota wants Batum @ 11.25M a year

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Option c also means batum makes 6 million less next year with no security if he gets hurt. Its in his best interests to sign this year.
 
JFizzleRaider said:
Option c also means batum makes 6 million less next year with no security if he gets hurt. Its in his best interests to sign this year.
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One thing I've learned is that unless you're a complete disaster like Greg Oden, that injuries, even major ones, don't stop a team from offering ridiculous contracts. The downside to Batum playing on a Q.O. is that he might try to show he has more of a varied offensive game than he's shown.

There is risk involved in everything. Obviously signing this summer is ideal, but if he really does want out of Portland, the only way to do so may be a Q.O., or at the very least, trying to 'motivate' the Blazers into exploring a S and T.
 
JFizzleRaider said:
Option c also means batum makes 6 million less next year with no security if he gets hurt. Its in his best interests to sign this year.
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I agree, with only one big client, I don't see how his agent risks a 45 million dollar pay day just to get batum to Minnesota.
 
RR7 said:
I agree, with only one big client, I don't see how his agent risks a 45 million dollar pay day just to get batum to Minnesota.
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I assumed it's more of a bluff, but who really knows?
 
I hope Neil doesn't cave. This rookie agent is trying to create a toxic environment.
 
Batum would be a complete moron to give up a guaranteed 45 million dollars to live and play in Minneapolis instead of Portland for 4 years. He will never get a better offer. And he could easily get a far less one. He and his agent were pissed they did not get the security blanket last January and now they may put it off another year? I find that very hard to believe.
 
Pinwheel1 said:
Batum would be a complete moron to give up a guaranteed 45 million dollars to live and play in Minneapolis instead of Portland for 4 years. He will never get a better offer. And he could easily get a far less one. He and his agent were pissed they did not get the security blanket last January and now they may put it off another year? I find that very hard to believe.
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It doesn't matter what we believe, it's what the Blazers/Olshey believe, and if this bluff is just a bluff or could be an actual reality.
 
PapaG said:
Heard that "Option C" for Batum via his agent is to just play one year on the Q.O. and do it over again next year w/out the Blazers being able to interfere.

Now THAT would be a "fuck you!!", unlike what's been said to this point.

It's really the only leverage Nic has, and it's the only leverage Oden ever had.

I think "Option C" makes a Sign and Trade a likely ending to this, if the Blazers find the right player in return.
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If they can get the right player then I'm all for it, but I'd hate to see them settle for some middling, mediocre type. Also I think if Nic really does want out badly the Blazers shouldn't exactly force him to be here either. I say that not because I like to see the entitled athlete culture flourish, but because I don't think the team wants to foster an image of pig-headedness and obduracy ... also I'm not sure an unhappy, pouting Nic at 11+ million a year is going to be getting the most bang for your buck -- Nicolas does seem to "drift" a little on the court when things aren't running smoothly.
 
PapaG said:
It doesn't matter what we believe, it's what the Blazers/Olshey believe, and if this bluff is just a bluff or could be an actual reality.
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Nothing is ever for certain in a situation like this, so you have to play the odds. What I believe sounds more realistic. So I am betting Olshey believes that too. Even if Batum did go ahead with the threat......not the end of the world. Some wanted us to walk away from him anyway. This way we have him for a year. A contract year. So I doubt he pouts. They can still trade him. Regardless I doubt plan c is the option he will choose.
 
The more time that goes by

The more I believe Nic would actually rather be in Minnesota.

Sadly enough, at this point in time their future looks better than Portland as of today. Blazers don't even have a damn coach.

I have big hopes for Dame though.
 
We know he would rather be in Minnesota. That part has been obvious. But didn't Dwight say his source said Nic would "never" play in Portalnd again. Sounds like he backed off from that.

The other weak part of his video was that he was assuming Portland will get Hibbert when he talked about the "big three" taking up a majority of the salary space. That is a big assumption.

Bottom line is Portland has to do what is best for Portland. If they get a good sign and trade then do it. But if they don't then match it. You can't start letting your Euro players dictate their way out of town because the flights are too long to Portland.
 
This whole Minny signing has taken a bad turn for Batum. If we keep him no one will remember this in a year if he doesn't bring it up. At the moment i'm looking at it as a horrible agent making everything up under the sun to try and get the best offer for Batum no matter how bad it makes his client look and no matter how many bridges he burns.
 
I'd love to have Batum sign that QO, best possible outcome for the Blazers.
 
Why would the qo be the best outcome?
 
Rather have Turner and D Williams then Iguadala!
 
I don't understand the fascination over Batum. I have yet to see anything impressive from him.
 
Vinyard said:
I don't understand the fascination over Batum. I have yet to see anything impressive from him.
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He makes outstanding defensive plays once in a great while, he's a good shooter, but his potential is mostly in people's imagination. The fact that he's played at the level of a good role player/solid starter is somehow the coaches fault and not Batum's.
 
Draco said:
Cheapest contract possible for retaining Batum.
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For one year, and then we have no control where he goes. I don't see that as the BEST possible outcome, personally.
 
Would Minnesota have cap room next summer to sign him?
 
Vinyard said:
I don't understand the fascination over Batum. I have yet to see anything impressive from him.
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I don't think Batum is near $11m/year worthy, but if you've never seen ANYTHING impressive from him, you've barely seen him play.
 
Ben from B-Edge with a good point: The deals that Illyasova and Anderson received make Batum's contract look horrible, "about 25% more than he should get."

But I think Neil should make an example out of him; He's a restricted FA creating, with the help of his agent and CSNW, a toxic environment for force his way out - to a division rival to boot!
 
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