Timberwolves tried to get Batum

[OSUBlazerfan]

Chad Ford

The Blazers rejected the Wolves' offer of the No. 4 pick for Batum a couple of week ago.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...ory?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-100622

 

[Wheels]

Dang Dizzle!

 

[Nikolokolus]

I was just about to post the same thing ... wow. That's sort of surprising, but when I look at who is going to be available at 4 can I say for sure that any of those guys have more potential or is likely to be a better pro? I'm not sure I can say yes to that.

 

[illmatic99]

Good for KP.

The fact that KP rejected that deal is not as surprising as Minny actually offering it.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I was also just about to post this.

Wow, looks like we arent the only ones who believe Batum will be a stud.

 

[ripcity67]

I think this means that Batum will not be included into any package that brings a wing player back (minus LBJ). Blazers like what they see in Batum, and what is not to like, if they turn down that high of a pick. I think this means those AI to Portland rumors should be dead.

 

[illmatic99]

They probably remember this.

[video=youtube;CAEQMBGc5cc]

 

[Wheels]

Good for KP.

The fact that KP rejected that deal is not as surprising as Minny actually offering it.

but he overrates his players and is in LOVE with them!!!!

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I'm going to be one pissed off Trail Blazer fan if we dont see Batum get 35 minutes a game this season!

 

[hasoos]

I'm going to be one pissed off Trail Blazer fan if we dont see Batum get 35 minutes a game this season!

I'll be pretty pissed off it this season turns out anything remotely like last season, especially injury wise.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I guess I'll be alone in thinking that maybe that wasn't the best call. I like Batum too, but if either Cousins or Favors will be available at 4, and I think both have higher ceilings than Nic. Especially considering his recent recurring shoulder issues, which I fear may end up chronic. Or, if we were still looking at Parker, I imagine the 4 would be able to get him. Also, if Minny were trading for Batum, I bet they'd be willing to part with Brewer if Rudy were included (which we pretty much all agreed we'd do).

I guess I hope that KP gave them an "I'll think about it" rather than a "no way in hell"

 

[Wheels]

I'm going to be one pissed off Trail Blazer fan if we dont see Batum get 35 minutes a game this season!

seconded.

 

[Wheels]

crap or thirded I guess.

 

[hasoos]

I guess I'll be alone in thinking that maybe that wasn't the best call. I like Batum too, but if either Cousins or Favors will be available at 4, and I think both have higher ceilings than Nic. Especially considering his recent recurring shoulder issues, which I fear may end up chronic. Or, if we were still looking at Parker, I imagine the 4 would be able to get him. Also, if Minny were trading for Batum, I bet they'd be willing to part with Brewer if Rudy were included (which we pretty much all agreed we'd do).

I guess I hope that KP gave them an "I'll think about it" rather than a "no way in hell"

At the same time it leaves a hole at SF. If we are going for Cousins or a Favors, a big needs to be what goes out, not a wing.

 

[blazerboy30]

Interesting to get a sense of what Batum's value is considered from another place in the league. If this rumor is true, his value in the league is higher than I would have thought.

If Batum really is considered to have the value of the #4 pick, then perhaps the Chris Paul dreaming wasn't / isn't as ridiculous as I originally thought.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I really like Batum - but this seems hard to believe.

Looking at the top of the draft, IMHO Wall and Favors are going to be studs. Turner, Johnson, and Aminu are likely no worse than lateral moves. Monroe and Cousins are high risk/high reward.

Even if you are a huge Batum believer, that's 7 guys in this draft you could justify trading him for.

 

[Nikolokolus]

but he overrates his players and is in LOVE with them!!!!

You really think he doesn't overvalue some players? I'd put Bayless, Rudy, LMA and even Webster (based on the contract he got) in that group

 

[THE HCP]

I'm going to be one pissed off Trail Blazer fan if we dont see Batum get 35 minutes a game this season!

TESTIFY MY BROTHA'! None of this 20-25 minute bullshit!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

At the same time it leaves a hole at SF. If we are going for Cousins or a Favors, a big needs to be what goes out, not a wing.

That's why I said to include Rudy and get Brewer, and then swap the 4 (+JPEC) for Parker. Net is Rudy/Batum/Joel for Parker/Brewer. No holes, just a better team.

 

[Tortimer]

I guess I'll be alone in thinking that maybe that wasn't the best call. I like Batum too, but if either Cousins or Favors will be available at 4, and I think both have higher ceilings than Nic. Especially considering his recent recurring shoulder issues, which I fear may end up chronic. Or, if we were still looking at Parker, I imagine the 4 would be able to get him. Also, if Minny were trading for Batum, I bet they'd be willing to part with Brewer if Rudy were included (which we pretty much all agreed we'd do).

I guess I hope that KP gave them an "I'll think about it" rather than a "no way in hell"

I think if we had the 4th pick we would go for Wesley Johnson SF. I think he is going to be good but there is no guarantee he will be better then Batum and having not played in the NBA yet it is a better chance to be a bust. I don't want Cousins and would probably take Favors but not sure he would be available at 4 maybe 3. I'm not even super high on Favor's and like Batum's chance better to be a NBA star but it is close IMO.

 

[illmatic99]

That's why I said to include Rudy and get Brewer, and then swap the 4 (+JPEC) for Parker. Net is Rudy/Batum/Joel for Parker/Brewer. No holes, just a better team.

Then what do we do with two starting point guards?

 

[axs88]

I really like Batum - but this seems hard to believe.

Looking at the top of the draft, IMHO Wall and Favors are going to be studs. Turner, Johnson, and Aminu are likely no worse than lateral moves. Monroe and Cousins are high risk/high reward.

Even if you are a huge Batum believer, that's 7 guys in this draft you could justify trading him for.

Wall, Turner and Favors would not be available at 4. Cousins is high risk high reward at a position we don't need. The rest do not project higher than Batum IMO.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Well, one probably wouldn't start. My guess would be that the finals MVP & 3-time all-star would get the nod. Miller off the bench is OK, as long as he's not the better player.

Or perhaps Miller's expiring contract would be a tradeable asset that some team would be interested in. I don't know. What I do know is that given the choice, I would take Parker/Brewer over Rudy/Batum.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

If they would have added Rublio (or whatever the hell is name is) into the deal, I'd have done it in a heart beat. We would start Cunningham and not so much have skipped a beat, pick up two probable quality players to boot for the loss of a good, but redundent, SF on a team stacked with them. That would have been the "pritch slap" that saved his job.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If they would have added Rublio (or whatever the hell is name is) into the deal, I'd have done it in a heart beat. We would start Cunningham and not so much have skipped a beat, pick up two probable quality players to boot for the loss of a good, but redundent, SF on a team stacked with them. That would have been the "pritch slap" that saved his job.

Ugh. You keep beating that "Dante is a three" drum. He aint.

 

[Wheels]

You really think he doesn't overvalue some players? I'd put Bayless, Rudy, LMA and even Webster (based on the contract he got) in that group

I put players like Rudy and Sergio maybe because the potential they showed their rookie years. And then falling off. Hoping they would regain that form they showed. LMA I cant really throw into that because honestly before this year we probably didnt want him traded, so not sure he has had a chance to do so. (unless you mean money wise) Bayless I'm not so sure on, how has he shown he overvalue him?

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Ugh. You keep beating that "Dante is a three" drum. He aint.

Yes he is. When we played small ball, Nate sometimes used him at the four, but he's an NBA three. Nate's talked about him as a three and he has played some there when LA was in the game.

I like Batum. He's a young player with some good upside that has not been realized yet- and may or may not be realized. Cunningham is a different type of player, but the same upside. To get this year's #4 and Rublio for a duplicate SF off our team would, to me, be a coup.

 

[Wheels]

Yes he is. When we played small ball, Nate sometimes used him at the four, but he's an NBA three. Nate's talked about him as a three and he has played some there when LA was in the game.

I like Batum. He's a young player with some good upside that has not been realized yet- and may or may not be realized. Cunningham is a different type of player, but the same upside. To get this year's #4 and Rublio for a duplicate SF off our team would, to me, be a coup.

I like Cunningham a lot as a glue role player.. and maybe he can be a three.. but he does NOT have the same Upside Batum does IMO.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

so KP turned the 25th pick (if i remember) into the 4th in two years!!!

for free too

pretty good

 

[mook]

They probably remember this.

[video=youtube;CAEQMBGc5cc]

Thanks for posting that. Minnesota didn't seem to be trying hard in that game, but you can just see in that clip why he's worth the #4 pick. Great shooting, clever passing, excellent finisher. Didn't even show his defense, except for the one block.

I know it sounds crazy, but Batum may have a higher upside than Brandon Roy. He doesn't have anything close to Roy's handle or coordination around the rim, but he's four years younger and already is a much better shooter and defender. I'll be pretty disappointed if he gets traded in a package for anything short of a Roy-level talent.