Who the hell said it was a bargain price? Everybody understands we're overpaying him, as we have to because he's a restricted free agent and Portland can match. It wouldn't make too much sense to pay him what he's worth and have Portland match in two seconds, would it?
Minn has to waive 2 guys and amnesty a third to just get the money to offer Batum a contract our GM said we will match. How does Minny have any leverage at all?
That Portland can match an offer that Minnesota makes. Minnesota is in negotiations to trade Ridnour for a non-guaranteed contract to clear space to make the offer sheet. Please explain what cards Portland has? All they can do is overpay Batum, then the Wolves go on their way and get a different player.
All those guys are gone anyways. They aren't going to pay the last year of that terrible contract you gave to Martell (500k buyout), Darko is worthless and doesn't even play, and Brad Miller is retiring.
Hawkey seems a tad slow. I'll help you out, Chris. Owner Paul Allen and Neil Olshey have stated more than once that they WILL exercise their right to match any offer sheet. Nic and his agent can cry all they want. He can be the saddest $48m player if he wants. *busts out little violin*
The leverage is the right to match any offer sheet, and they will. You can bring up Ridnour/Darko/etc. but it's a moot point.
You really think an extra $2M or so per year to Batum makes a difference to Paul Allen? If Minnesota makes the player dump to have the space to make an offer on Batum, those assets are gone and can't be used in any trade scenarios. All you have left is cap space and everybody seems to have cap space this year when there aren't many good FA's. If Kahn whiffs on this deal, he'll regret having used all of his trade assets up in a futile attempt to grab Batum.
Ok, then you're paying Batum $12 mil while you're trying to rebuild the team. You aren't a big winner in this situation.
But in the process we save Batum from frostbite and mosquito bites. It's the humanitarian thing to do.
How is it that the Wolves get rid of all these players? You can only amnesty one player, and if you waive the others, the money is still on your cap. You have to find another team to take your junk. Or have the player agree to a buyout, but why should they do that when they know you have to waive them anyway? Unless you actually pay them MORE to tear up their contract, but I've never heard of that happening. How long is Glen Taylor going to stand this idiot? I guess he stood McHale for a LONG time, but next to Kahn McHale looks like a genius. And I guess Taylor was the genius who cost Minny all those picks over colluding with JOE SMITH.
It's pretty simple The Blazers can match any offer, which is why Minnesota wants a S&T The Blazers have all the leverage in this situation, as they can keep saying no to any trade offer from Minnesota they don't deem good enough, and still be able to just match the contract if Minny does indeed sign him to an offer sheet Kahn is going to have to be very creative to be able to land Batum. Olshey owns his ass right now.
