Timberwolves tried to get Batum

[noknobs]

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.

Cunningham does not have the same upside as Batum. And Cunningham is not able to defend most NBA SF's.

I've never been a Rubio fan, and that hasn't changed. He's more of a drama queen than Rudy.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

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.

To me, it's hard to judge as they are such differnt types of players.

Batum is a thin slasher type who possesses a very good outside shot. He plays good positional defense and uses his length to tip and deflect a lot. He can't finish (unless it's an uncontested shot) or play in traffic and is easily dominated by stronger players. My mother could post him up in the key.

Cunninham is a physical player who has a great mid range shot and can play well in traffic. He defends better inside than Batum, but not outside.

Since they are 100% opposites (in general) it's hard to measure their development as players side by side. For me, I just prefer the stronger and more physical players on this team. Slasher types seem to disappear in games more and they also seem m ore inconsistent. We're fortunate, for now, to have both of them. Since both are NBA starter material, one will eventually have to go. I suspect it will be Cunningham.

 

[BrianFromWA]

While I'm generally for what BP is proposing, I have a couple of caveats.

One: I really, really like Rubio. I think he may be an All-NBA PG. I don't know if he'd give Nate an aneurysm, or if Nate would choke him out first. 50-50, in my book.
Two: I also have a hard time saying no to a Rubio+4 for Batum deal.
Three: But LOL at Dante Cunningham starting over Rudy or Webster at the 3. When the kid gets 10 minutes a game (or even 2mpg at SF), then we'll see if he works out well enough to get more minutes. Survey right now says "X".
Four: Take Johnson if he's available (I'm still not super-sold on him), or Cousins if you don't think Oden's going to be the Man going forward (personally, I do).
Five: If we don't keep the 4...swap with NJ (or PHI, if they end up taking Turner, which I doubt) to get Turner. This year we have Miller/Roy/Turner/LMA/Oden, and next year we put Rubio in there.

 

[mook]

Cunningham is a different type of player, but the same upside.

That's crazy talk. So far Cunningham has shown that off the bench he can hit jump shots at a pretty efficient rate and play passable defense. He has yet to make a single NBA three pointer. He logged only 11 mpg, on a team whose starting SF was injured for most of the year.

Batum has shown a much better handle, is a much better finisher, and has a deadly three point shot. Batum often covers the other team's starting point guard. Batum is also a year younger.

I like Cunningham. But I'm not even sold that he'll ever be a consistent starter in this league. Batum stands a pretty good chance of making some All-Defense teams before he's done. Nobody ever says that about Cunningham.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

While I'm generally for what BP is proposing, I have a couple of caveats.

One: I really, really like Rubio. I think he may be an All-NBA PG. I don't know if he'd give Nate an aneurysm, or if Nate would choke him out first. 50-50, in my book.
Two: I also have a hard time saying no to a Rubio+4 for Batum deal.
Three: But LOL at Dante Cunningham starting over Rudy or Webster at the 3. When the kid gets 10 minutes a game (or even 2mpg at SF), then we'll see if he works out well enough to get more minutes. Survey right now says "X".
Four: Take Johnson if he's available (I'm still not super-sold on him), or Cousins if you don't think Oden's going to be the Man going forward (personally, I do).
Five: If we don't keep the 4...swap with NJ (or PHI, if they end up taking Turner, which I doubt) to get Turner. This year we have Miller/Roy/Turner/LMA/Oden, and next year we put Rubio in there.

I wonder what it would take to get Rubio?

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'd like to think that LMA+Batum for Love, Rubio, 4 is close.

 

[Nikolokolus]

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 Dante, don't get me wrong, but he's attempted exactly 2 NBA three pointers (and missed both), his handle is questionable and he lacks the lateral quickness to defend the elite 3s in the league and he is probably closer to being a finished product after 4 years of college. On the flipside you have a 21 year old player that shot 41% on threes 52% from the floor and guarded positions 1-4 because of his elite length and quickness, plus he sees the floor better, has a better handle and managed to garner All-NBA defense votes after only playing a half of a season.

Dante is a great player to have off the bench to provide a nice pick and pop shot and he can play against backup 4s reasonably well, but he can't space the floor like Nic, he can't handle the ball like Nic and he can't guard as many players as Nic.

ps. if he has just as much upside and is functionally equivalent to Nic then why aren't other GMs demanding that he be thrown in as a part of a potential trade?

 

[Wheels]

ps. if he has just as much upside and is functionally equivalent to Nic then why aren't other GMs demanding that he be thrown in as a part of a potential trade?

this

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Hmm. We have this report, and we also have a report about how Batum was included in the proposed 4-for-2 trade for Chris Paul. What does it all mean?

 

[Wheels]

Hmm. We have this report, and we also have a report about how Batum was included in the proposed 4-for-2 trade for Chris Paul. What does it all mean?

That a lot of teams are asking for him if they are going to give up value.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Batum: Tayshaun Prince at least
Dante: George Lynch, probably at best.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

That's crazy talk. So far Cunningham has shown that off the bench he can hit jump shots at a pretty efficient rate and play passable defense. He has yet to make a single NBA three pointer. He logged only 11 mpg, on a team whose starting SF was injured for most of the year.

Batum has shown a much better handle, is a much better finisher, and has a deadly three point shot. Batum often covers the other team's starting point guard. Batum is also a year younger.

I like Cunningham. But I'm not even sold that he'll ever be a consistent starter in this league. Batum stands a pretty good chance of making some All-Defense teams before he's done. Nobody ever says that about Cunningham.

Agreed. DC will develop into an excellent reserve on a championship caliber team, but Batum will be an excellent starter on the same team.

OK, I'll fall into the hyperbole trap. In two years (if we don't make any significant trades), the Blazers big 3 will be Roy, Oden, and Batum. LMA will be a role player.

 

[barfo]

I'd like to think that LMA+Batum for Love, Rubio, 4 is close.

I would veto that trade, if I had veto power. That makes us worse for the next couple of years, and I'm hoping we can make some hay in the next couple of years. If Oden can stay healthy.

barfo

 

[Nikolokolus]

Hmm. We have this report, and we also have a report about how Batum was included in the proposed 4-for-2 trade for Chris Paul. What does it all mean?

It means that Chris Paul is a helluva lot more valuable than the 4th pick in this draft.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Hmm. We have this report, and we also have a report about how Batum was included in the proposed 4-for-2 trade for Chris Paul. What does it all mean?

It means that Chris Paul is worth more than the #4 pick?

Edit: I guess it also means that I agree with Nikolokolus.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I would surmise that we knew that, since 3+Harris doesn't get it done

 

[brsinepyce]

Wesley johnson is really good. I think he will be a perennial all star. But thats only a opinion. I think this offer was too good to be true. a top 5 pick for a late first rounder dosent make sense. There must be more to the story.

 

[Wheels]

Wesley johnson is really good. I think he will be a perennial all star. But thats only a opinion. I think this offer was too good to be true. a top 5 pick for a late first rounder dosent make sense. There must be more to the story.

you think Batum going in this draft would be a late first rounder?

 

[BrianFromWA]

It's not horribly far-fetched, IMO. (EDIT: Batum for a lotto pick) Until Nic's phantom "health concerns" came up at the draft, he was a solid lotto guess by the mockers. At one point in 2007 I remember reading a mock that had him at #3 for the 2008 draft. I watched him play in France in Dec 2007 (against Gallinari) and thought that his offense was light-years ahead of his defense, as Gallinari went for 20 on him. Then, over the next 6 months, he got a) a reputation for being good on defense, and b) these health "red flags" about his heart, since his dad died on the court. We outmaneuvered SAS to get him in the draft.

If Batum were in this draft today, he might go 2 or 3.

 

[brsinepyce]

you think Batum going in this draft would be a late first rounder?

Obviously he would be higher but that was then and this is now. I would still take any pick above 5 for batum.

 

[Wheels]

Obviously he would be higher but that was then and this is now. I would still take any pick above 5 for batum.

thats fine that you feel that way (I personally dont) I was just pointing out that the top #4 for late 1st rounder part doesnt really apply.

 

[brsinepyce]

Random fact: Batum has only played in 34 more games than Oden. Thats pretty bad.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Random fact: Batum has only played in 34 more games than Oden. Thats pretty bad.

116 in 2 years = 58 per year
82 in 3 years = 27 per year

BIG difference.

However, I'm more concerned about Batum's soft-tissue shoulder injury than Oden's broken patella going forward, so I think it's a valid point.

 

[Wheels]

Random fact: Batum has only played in 34 more games than Oden. Thats pretty bad.

For Oden or for Batum? Batum was a year later. I would say it looks worse for Oden that a 2 year vet who missed a good portion of his sophomore season, has actually played in more games lol.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Obviously he would be higher but that was then and this is now. I would still take any pick above 5 for batum.

That's like reverso-world logic. Batum has proved to probably be a top five player (potentially) from his draft class, but you'd trade 2 years of experience, 41% shooting from three, 52% from the floor and a few all-NBA defense votes for a top five pick in this draft who are complete unknowns ...

Look at this list and tell me where Batum ranks
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/results/rounds/_/year/2008/round/1

 

[brsinepyce]

Batum would most definitely be better if he got some damn minutes though. His per 36 are pretty good through 2 seasons. Now that I think about it, If he was healthy all the way through and got his minutes I think I would feel alot better about him.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I think the consensus is that Batum has the potential to be very similar to Scottie Pippen. You'd be crazy if you thought Pippen wasnt worth a #4 pick in his prime.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Random fact: Batum has only played in 34 more games than Oden. Thats pretty bad.

and he's been paid for 2 years of work versus 3 ... what's your point?

 

[brsinepyce]

That's like reverso-world logic. Batum has proved to probably be a top five player (potentially) from his draft class, but you'd trade 2 years of experience, 41% shooting from three, 52% from the floor and a few all-NBA defense votes for a top five pick in this draft who are complete unknowns ...

Look at this list and tell me where Batum ranks
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/results/rounds/_/year/2008/round/1

Batum shoots 47 from the floor, and There is about ten people that I would have over him on that list.

Side Note: Remember when we were mocked to take JOE ALEXANDER!!!!! I would hate life if we drafted that guy.

But your right, he is underrated in that draft class.

 

[anonymous gambler]

I might trade him for a certain Spanish point guard.