So this is Nic Batum

[Stevenson]

What you see is what you get. A guy with explosive talent who brings it some nights and disappears too many other nights. A solid defender. A good slasher. But potential is just that, and I have to say, the expiration date on his has expired.

Yes, he has a broken finger. Cry me a river.

He is a B- basketball player, which is really sad because on the nights when he plays great, the team is great. But mostly he doesn't, and so we aren't.

 

[craigehlo]

“Potential has a shelf life.”
- Margaret Atwood

 

[Natebishop3]

Honestly, I'd be fine with Nic if it wasn't for his salary. I think he's a good player. I think he does a lot of things. He's an inconsistent scorer, but not many guys can do what he can. I just don't think he's worth 11 million a year.

 

[Wheels]

I think he's worth the max.

 

[HailBlazers]

What you see is what you get. A guy with explosive talent who brings it some nights and disappears too other nights. A solid defender. A good slasher. But potential is just that, and I have to say, the expiration date on his has expired.

Agree to disagree I guess, time will tell.

 

[jlprk]

Honestly, I'd be fine with Nic if it wasn't for his salary. I think he's a good player. I think he does a lot of things. He's an inconsistent scorer, but not many guys can do what he can. I just don't think he's worth 11 million a year.

For $11M, we could have 2 Batum-quality players @ 5.5 each.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think he's worth the max.

I disagree. I think very few players are worth the max. Dame and LA are the only two on our team.

 

[craigehlo]

I disagree. I think very few players are worth the max. Dame and LA are the only two on our team.

I don't think Dame is worth the max right now. His 19 PER should make him in the 12-14 mil range if he doesn't bring it higher the next couple of seasons under his rookie deal.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I don't think Dame is worth the max right now. His 19 PER should make him in the 12-14 mil range if he doesn't bring it higher the next couple of seasons under his rookie deal.

I love Lillard but he's not worth the max. In fact if the right deal were to surface I would find him expendable. I see no Blazer untouchable. Had Boston, for example offered us Rondo and a 2014 1st round pick - no brainier.

 

[Natebishop3]

You guys are talking about Rookie of the Year, All-Star Damian Lillard, right?

He's going to get the max. It's a done deal.

 

[craigehlo]

You guys are talking about Rookie of the Year, All-Star Damian Lillard, right?

He's going to get the max. It's a done deal.

If his current production remains flat, he ain't getting a max deal.

 

[Strenuus]

If his current production remains flat, he ain't getting a max deal.

Max deals aren't based on just production on the floor, but money they can bring in from other avenues...

 

[The_Lillard_King]

You guys are talking about Rookie of the Year, All-Star Damian Lillard, right?

He's going to get the max. It's a done deal.

Agree . . he will be getting a max deal (and become the face of the franchise) when that time comes.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

As for Nico, kills me how under appreciated he is. So many teams would love to have a player who can defend PGs effectively, rebound, assist and score. He is not a scoring machine and posters want him to be more aggressive on offense, but that's not Nic. He sucks when he tries to force the issue. He has to let the game come to him which is frustrating when you depend on him for points. But he is an an all around player who isn't selfish or goes around with an ego (yes I know his European demeanor can be seen as arrogant or aloof, but has a player or coach ever complained about him). He is the exact player you want around a couple of stars.

Point is to have Nico on the team at 11 mil yr locked up for a couple more years, at age 25, is a good thing for the Blazers.

 

[Natebishop3]

If his current production remains flat, he ain't getting a max deal.

How much you wanna bet?

 

[BigGameDamian]

I love Lillard but he's not worth the max. In fact if the right deal were to surface I would find him expendable. I see no Blazer untouchable. Had Boston, for example offered us Rondo and a 2014 1st round pick - no brainier.

Really? This is huge coming from a big Blazers fan.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

A 15PER/108 DRtg @ $10m/per - who also has long stretches of disappearing?

He's turning into Hedo Turkaglu.

 

[TBpup]

A 15PER/108 DRtg @ $10m/per - who also has long stretches of disappearing?

He's turning into Hedo Turkaglu.

But did Hedo's wife give him permission to copy her husband?

 

[Denny Crane]

How many SFs are there that you'd rather have?

 

[Rhal]

Batum is 25. Yes his contract is huge and he is inconsistent but the "grass is greener" around here is getting ridiculous. Almost everyone has a few off nights or nights where they mail it in, its not like Batum is the only player who does it. In fact he isn't even the worst of our starters nor would he be the most easily replaceable.
Sure we could trade him, and Olshey should be constantly gauging everyones trade value even LMA/Lillard, but realistically the situation we are in right now is if we trade a starter we would have to get back a person of the same position, we are hand cuffed by few assets and no who can come off the bench and play the 3 and replace what Batum brings to the table. I would assume Olshey figures out what we need in the off season based off of what happens towards the end of the year not what is happening now, and if its the best option to trade Batum for X and Sign someone a FA to take Batums place so be it but I have enough faith in Olshey to get it done.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Nic is a role player and a very fine and talented one at that. Nic let it be known right at the start of season that the teams success doesn't rely on him, it relies on the team itself. And whatever he can do to help it's cause he will do. Don't ever expect him to be a franchise changing kind of player. He is not made up that way. The team can win and win big with him serving the same role he has served the entire season. Don't expect him to carry the team and don't expect him to become dominant force on the offensive end. It's not in his nature.

 

[HailBlazers]

How many SFs are there that you'd rather have?

Not many, reasonable gets anyway.

Watching Iguodola right now he's having the same aggressiveness issues as Batum. Steve Kerr commenting on how he needs to attack more.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Batum is 25. Yes his contract is huge and he is inconsistent but the "grass is greener" around here is getting ridiculous. Almost everyone has a few off nights or nights where they mail it in, its not like Batum is the only player who does it. In fact he isn't even the worst of our starters nor would he be the most easily replaceable.
Sure we could trade him, and Olshey should be constantly gauging everyones trade value even LMA/Lillard, but realistically the situation we are in right now is if we trade a starter we would have to get back a person of the same position, we are hand cuffed by few assets and no who can come off the bench and play the 3 and replace what Batum brings to the table. I would assume Olshey figures out what we need in the off season based off of what happens towards the end of the year not what is happening now, and if its the best option to trade Batum for X and Sign someone a FA to take Batums place so be it but I have enough faith in Olshey to get it done.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side even if it may start out that way. Green can turn to shit and fast.

 

[STOMP]

Really? This is huge coming from a big Blazers fan.

not really. I love the current Blazer squad and Lillard is a big part of it, but fact of the matter is I (& probably a good % of Blazer fans) root for the laundry over specific players. There isn't a Blazer ever that I wouldn't have been willing to trade for a clear upgrade. MJ for Clyde is on the table? Done deal. Lillard is a talented young player and seems to be a solid teammate as well. No one is advocating dumping him.

Is he worth a max deal? Nope. Goran Dragic just signed a 3 year deal at 7.5M. Kyle Lowry makes less then that. Recent studs who were paid include Durant making 17M per, Westbrook 14M, John Wall 14M, Ty Lawson 11M, Steph Curry 10M, Mike Conley 8.2M. PG is a really competitive position, 10-12M per seems about right.

STOMP

 

[Natebishop3]

How many SFs are there that you'd rather have?

LeBron
Durant
George

Maybe Melo.

 

[1honestfan]

Man, difficult issue at hand.

I think that Batum is a watered down version of tayshaun prince. With that said, I don't believe he's worth his contract; he's just not a 12 million dollar player or roughly 22% of your team salary; well not when LA takes up about 27% of your salary.

 

[cmeese47]

Not many, reasonable gets anyway.

Watching Iguodola right now he's having the same aggressiveness issues as Batum. Steve Kerr commenting on how he needs to attack more.

Difference is Iggy with Bogut helped turn GS into a good defensive team. Curry and Lee cannot guard anyone yet the team is 4th in FG% allowed and tied for 8th in PPG allowed, and third in opponents adjusted FG% allowed. Batum does not make that kind of impact defensively.

 

[cmeese47]

LeBron
Durant
George

Maybe Melo.

Your forgetting Kwahi Leonard, Luol Deng and Chandler Parsons. I would also take the Kings version of Rudy Gay in a heart beat the other versions not so much. He is starting to show again why he got such big contract.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Bollocks. He's less effective because he has a broken finger. It's kinda hard to get around somebody if you can't crossover with any confidence.

Yes, I think he needs to try harder. No, I don't think we've seen his peak as a player. Yes, I have my doubts his peak is much higher than what we've seen. No, I'm not convinced that his peak isn't much higher than what we've seen.

Plus apples.

 

[RoyToy]

A 15PER/108 DRtg @ $10m/per - who also has long stretches of disappearing?

He's turning into Hedo Turkaglu.

Makes you wonder if Nic making $11M per season would keep teams from trading for him

I think it actually could. That's not a good contract at this point for a guy who posted a 15.7 PER last season and is currently at 15.4 this year.

Kahn may have got the best of Olshey after all.