Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency +1. I hate Kaman. Also love when Hawes wore his sonics themed suit, I believe the first time he played OKC.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Yeah I agree. Kaman was limited defensively and mobility wise in his prime, but now he is on the decline. Hawes has similar problems but is younger, improving, and better with floor spacing offensively.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency I'd be interested in the Blazers signing him. If his majorly improved three point shooting sticks, he'll be a valuable player.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency If we are the only team that offers him a max deal, I think he might be willing to forgive Olshey.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Nah, I didn't even know. I liked him talking shit about the Zombie Sonics during the playoffs. pretty funny shit.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency No question, Batum's agent is a bona fide dick. But we've known that for a while now. Most players leave the negotiating strategy to the suits they hire to take care of it. I'm sure Batum is no different. I don't blame Batum for any of it. If he does have a bad attitude towards Portland, it seems more likely its because his agent is poisoning the well.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Mike Tokito: NBA/union settle on Bird/waiver dispute. Players claimed off waivers can get early Bird, but not full Bird. Limits J.J.Hickson/#Blazers. about 21 minutes ago
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency I'd think that an agent is more focused on taking care of his client financially, than with worrying about the team he plays for currently. Does Batum signing an MLE offer sheet with, say, the Spurs help out Batum more than a $12 million deal with Toronto? Either way, Portland can match.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Hogwash. Batum has not once bitched about his role in Portland, and even moved to the bench and produced still when Gerald Wallace was in Portland. If an agent's antics mattered, nobody would ever hire Drew Rosenhaus. Hell, just a year or so after supposedly banning Warren LeGarie clients, Paul Allen now has a GM and an 'interim' coach who are LeGarie clients.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency That's sort of my point. Since we're matching either way (or so we've been told), that means Batum will be here next year. So I don't see the point of his agent hurting Batum's team capspace-wise, because I don't see how anything this agent is doing or saying will result in more money for his client. Is San Antonio going to increase their offer because of his comments? No.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency There are literally no attractive gettable FAs. Can't we use our cap space for "lopsided trades". Like Utah just did to get Mo Williams. Only... getting an actually good player.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Jason Quick @jwquick Blazers will enter free agency with $16.5 million in cap space, counting cap holds on Batum, Lillard, Leonard, Claver and Freeland.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Hmm, that's not bad. About a million short of a max-level deal, I believe. Not that anyone worth a max-level deal (Deron Williams) is going to sign with Portland. Maybe they can use a chunk of that on Iguodala.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency The #Kings Ideal target is SF Nicolas Batum, but he's restricted. - ChrisBHaynes
