Here are some of the reasons why batum is lackluster offensively. 1.) He had some injuries, maybe still nagging, so far this season. 2.) he is playing way too many minutes for a weak frame. And we won't ever see a strong batum; if he keeps playing overseas every summer. Personally I was happy at the beginning of the season. The batum that wasn't injured. But there has to be some accountability here. Batum needs to build some muscle strength to weather the physical play and long season. I wish he would stop playing over seas and build some strength in his upper body. He needs to strengthen his shoulders and work on initiating contact and scoring. I admit I love the contributing batum; but we need him to be more assertive offensively. It could be his injury; but this has been his motto most his career. Only until I see more aggressiveness; will I be fully convinced that he is our answer.
not every guy needs to be an absolute go to guy. I'm happy with Batum for what he is...he is a great rotation player.....fits well and does a lot of little things other than score.
isn't his injury his wrist? really theres nothing he can do to strengthen his wrist so he doesn't hurt it.... I haven't been able to watch many games but from box scores I've been fine with his play... i would agree that he could use some bulk but if its going to affect how fast he is and what not then id rather him be how he is and maybe just a bit more aggressive.
If he's still being hobbled by his bad wrist then I can forgive him a little bit, but lately I think it's fair to say he's fading a little. I'd like to see more and a strong finish and more aggressiveness, but overall I'd have to give him a solid B for the season.
He hasn't been the #3 player this team needs. The day he becomes less passive and more consistent is the day he's more than just a role player type.
I agree. I can't remember who said it a few days ago. He said something like he gives everyone a pass this season because there are so many new players, coaches, roles, etc. If next season, we see the same thing; then I will be concerned. I wish he would just stop playing this summer. I think it would really help his game. Also, hopefully we can cut back some of his minutes. I think he's a 30 minute per game player. He is more valuable when he isn't tired.
You'd have to be reaching for excuses to resort to that one. Someone should make the (very short) list of teams from the last 10 years which didn't meet that description.
From a pure salary cap perspective, I'm disappointed in Batum. This team is too far away from contending to hamper themselves with overpaying a 4th option on offense. I'm convinced this team could have traded him for picks/young players and still had around the same win total and had better roster flexibility.
Many wanted us to try to pry Derrick Williams from Minny as part of a sign-and-trade (which Kahn allegedly rejected). Based on their production v pay, might we have been better off if we'd been able to make that deal? (FYI, I'm of the opinion that no, we would not be)
There were 3 factions. 1. He's worth $10M. Sign him and thank your lucky stars. 2. Sign him, see whether he earns it, and trade him later if he doesn't. 3. Let him go to the dogs, I mean Wolves. I was in group 2. Well, time to ask, who would teams trade for him, now that we know he's overpaid? The problem is, you know his new coach will design a system to feature him and we'll say, why didn't we just change the coach.
Batum is still very young. All I wanted to see was some development from him and I think I've seen it. The guy is not a scorer, not like Lillard or Aldridge, but he is someone that could easily average 15/5/5 and he's a legit threat for a triple double every night. That's worth it imo.
