According to Mike Rice the Raptors are going to make a strong push for Batum and have the cap room to make it very tough to match. With the Blazers FO reactive rather than proactive, how would you replace Nicolas Batum?
It's pretty clear they didn't want to give him what he wants earlier this year and he's going to get that number from Toronto.
Let him go, and draft Quincy Miller or Terrance Jones. Although, when Deron Williams re-signs with Brooklyn, Portland would be able to match anything Toronto throws out there. Deron Williams is a pipe dream, IMO, and that opens up bringing back Hickson, Batum, and signing a Goran Dragic, plus hopefully two lottery picks.
It's also pretty clear that he's a restricted Free Agent and pretty much would only leave if he refused to play here. Also it's pretty clear that one of the detractors of his game (in the sense he totally misused him) was fired. In addition, it's pretty clear that Portland isn't getting Deron Williams, so a PG like Dragic + Batum is better than Dragic + no one.
No......we didn't give him what he wanted because we didn't want to sign him in February and take up salary cap space for July. Because we didn't extend his deal, we have cap space AND we can sign him (matching almost all offers) above that number. If Toronto wants to pay Batum upwards of $10M per year or more - they can have him!! But we'll match any offer under $10M IMO.
I think I'd match a $10 million for Batum. He's a good player who will get better. And I'd much rather have him than an unknown rookie.
This, especially the cap space part. Although I believe the Blazers will pay whatever it takes (prob $10M on the dot)
I would hope Toronto wouldn't be that crazy to pay him 10 million, for as Harry says, good luck with that.
Yeah, and they learned their lesson. But this is a different NBA than it was when he was signed. Luxury taxes are a much harder pill to swallow.
Convenient douche. I was going on a rant to rip his performance and then saw he was 23 and it changed something for me. I was surprised he was that young - its not an excuse i was just surprised. No need to respond as if you knew what I was getting at. There was no motive behind my post, as your response would seem to promote. Coming from you though I'm not surprised.
Correct me if I'm wrong but they can sign him for whatever amount cap room available or not. They own his rights. But if they renounce those rights, I think Harrison Barnes becomes a strong consideration
That is the big reason I don't mind matching a 4 year 40-44m offer for Batum. He isn't going to be a contract that kills us because we will be able to trade him at some point and time. If he was older it would be harder to trade him but some team (like SA) would take him off our hands in a trade after we resign him.
