Hindsight is great isn't it? But, if we're going to play that game, it cuts both ways.
His last year in PDX, Nic didn't want to be here, and he played like someone who didn't want to be here. I'm not sure if his trade was done more to appease him, or to placate Aldridge in hope of re-signing him. In either case, Nic didn't want to be here and his play on the court reflected that. As did his comments after leaving. I was a huge Batum supporter his entire time in Portland. He was my daughter's favorite player ever since the first time she saw him play in a preseason game against Utah as a 19-year old rookie. But, it was time for him to go.
Nic had a resurgence in CHO last year, but his improved numbers were still only slightly better than Turner's. His PTS/36, REB/36 and AST/36 were all slightly better than Turner's, but his TOV/36 and USG% were also higher.
Nic played SG in CHO and that seems to be his preferred, most productive position. He would have had to either continue to play SF in POR (becoming further disgruntled), or C.J. would have been forced to remain on the bench. Had we kept Nic, we probably wouldn't have signed Aminu (his defacto replacement at SF, on a MUCH cheaper contract).
Ultimately, we got Turner, a comparable player for $70 million for 4 years, compared to Nic's $125 million over 5 years in CHO. I'll take Turner's production, his contract, and most of all, the fact that he actually wants to be here over Nic.
And, if we had kept Nic, his cap hold would have been nearly $20 million. That would have severely tied Neil's hands and ability to sign/re-sign other players. And, in the end, Nic probably would have signed elsewhere and we would have lost him without compensation. Or, we would have resigned him to more money than Turner makes and probably would not have been able to match Crabbe.
He's gone, get over it. I know Turner doesn't have the desired Euro appeal, but he's nearly as productive, much cheaper and wants to be here.
BNM