Minnesota wants Batum @ 11.25M a year

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by TradeNurkicNow, Jul 1, 2012.

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  1. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    Agreed. I mean going forward. It makes no sense for him to say those things now. Batum got his money
     
    Mediocre Man, Jul 6, 2012
    #681
  2. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Do you really think that Nic Batum has earned the right to be a diva? You're comparing him to LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Batum hasn't even averaged over 15 ppg yet in his career. Even LMA was putting up better numbers when his contract negotiations were going on. Batum is a role player on a lottery team. Sure, he has great potential, but he's not even in the same galaxy as a LeBron or a Kobe. When he is mentioned as an MVP candidate or logs a couple of All-Star games, then he can start acting like a complete bitch and get away with it.
     
    Natebishop3, Jul 6, 2012
    #682
  3. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Hello darkness, my old friend
    Everyone has a right to hire an agent to play hardball and get the best salary possible. You're kidding yourself if you think the teams are noble, all about the players and don't try to sign the player to the lowest possible salary. It's not about being a diva, it's about having an agent who's willing to be hard-edged, just as teams are willing to be ruthless.
     
    Minstrel, Jul 6, 2012
    #683
  4. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Badmouthing the team and burning bridges goes above and beyond "playing hardball" imo. Shopping your client around and getting the best offer is to be expected, and I don't fault them for that, but running your mouth and saying that the team didn't use you correctly is uncalled for. It just sounds like you're a spoiled brat who is making excuses.
     
    Natebishop3, Jul 6, 2012
    #684
  5. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    The funny thing is that I remember many, many conversations on these very same message boards about how poorly Nic's skillset was being utilized. The fact that he's expressing it (through whatever medium) is actually kind of refreshing.
     
    Nikolokolus, Jul 6, 2012
    #685
  6. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    That's an issue with Nate McMillan. Not the Blazers. Nate is gone and we're looking for a new coach, so essentially he's just throwing that out there to justify leaving the team and making excuses for his poor play at times.
     
    Natebishop3, Jul 6, 2012
    #686
  7. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    Yeah maybe, but sometimes you get so soured on a place and a situation that all you really want is a fresh start ... and maybe playing for Adelman and with Rubio and having direct flights home is enough of a lure to change his scenery?
     
    Nikolokolus, Jul 6, 2012
    #687
  8. Ed O

    Ed O Administrator Staff Member Administrator

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    I really hate these huge long threads. It used to be that I could log in here and see the latest, but now all of the news is locked into page 3, 9, 14, and 26 of 28 pages. I have to go to other sites to get the news that I used to be able to reliably get here without having to wade through three OLive-style mega threads.

    OT, I know. Just wanted to bitch a bit.

    Now... on topic: I don't think it makes sense to pay Batum that much money. If Portland can get anything of value in a S&T (Derrick Williams might be too much to hope for, but...) I think it makes sense to let Batum go.

    If Batum develops as we all hope, he will turn out to be worth his contract. If he doesn't, we're stuck with a mediocre player at a spot that is relatively easy to fill.

    I like Nic, but I don't like him eating up a fifth of our cap.

    Ed O.
     
    Ed O, Jul 6, 2012
    #688
  9. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Well that's great, and I can empathize with wanting a fresh start, but this is a business. He's an RFA, and both he and his agent know that we have right of first refusal. He is a commodity. He has value and we are entitled to either keep him or trade him. That's our prerogative. I have a hard time feeling sorry for someone who is about to make that much money. So when he goes out and talks shit about his old team, and tries to force his way out of town, that makes me think his ego has outgrown his actual production and I think his agent is behind it.
     
    Natebishop3, Jul 6, 2012
    #689
  10. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    I agree Ed, and I've made my opinion known on the matter about long threads, but I can't force people to post news in separate threads.
     
    Natebishop3, Jul 6, 2012
    #690
  11. Ed O

    Ed O Administrator Staff Member Administrator

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    If it's just the two of us, then so be it... but I don't understand why "Batum agrees to sign an offer sheet" isn't its own thread :)

    Ed O.
     
    Ed O, Jul 6, 2012
    #691
  12. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    You should start a new thread :grin:
     
    Natebishop3, Jul 6, 2012
    #692
  13. ironcrotch

    ironcrotch Well-Known Member

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    Good post by Hollinger on Wolves signings and their lack of capspace. It's kind of mind boggling actually.

    http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/stor...-second-guessing-minnesota-timberwolves-moves
     
    ironcrotch, Jul 6, 2012
    #693
  14. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Hello darkness, my old friend
    No, it doesn't, it sounds like making your case for why you're better than your numbers. Marketing is certainly part of getting your best offer.
     
    Minstrel, Jul 6, 2012
    #694
  15. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    Pinwheel1, Jul 6, 2012
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  16. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    I don't feel sorry for him, he's about to get paid. I was just explaining the rationale for why he might want out and him stating why doesn't necessarily make him a prima donna or a brat.
     
    Nikolokolus, Jul 6, 2012
    #696
  17. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    I'm going to start locking all threads longer than 7 posts.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Jul 6, 2012
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  18. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    They have yet to make roster moves to free up some cap, with a $45m offer on the table, I think Kahn is straight up trolling Neil and Paul.
     
    Fez Hammersticks, Jul 6, 2012
    #698
  19. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    Mediocre Man, Jul 6, 2012
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  20. Draco

    Draco Well-Known Member

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    Very Interesting. I'll be curious to hear the actual signed offer sheet value, you don't think the Wolves and Batum's agent could have "agreed" to this deal to pressure the Blazers into a sign and trade? I want to see the Wolves forced to actually put their money where their mouth is.
     
    Draco, Jul 6, 2012
    #700
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