Talks look like they are moving into friday with questions at hand: Why are the Wolves holding off on turning in the offer sheet? What is the hold up on a s&t? The Wolves have yet to turn in an offer sheet to the league but it is rumored to be signed already by Batum. Question is do the Wolves have enough salary cap space to offer the over $11m per year that is rumored. With Darko now amnestied, the Wolves cleared his $5.228m off their salary cap but is that enough? The reason behind the confusion is the effect that the partially guaranteed contracts of Martell Webster and soon to be retired, Brad Miller. If waived, do their entire contracts still count against the cap during the waiver process or do the Wolves have that space immediately available to sign Batum to the offer sheet? Rumor has it that Portland GM Olshey is asking for both Derrick Williams and Nikola Pekovic in a sign and trade that would send Batum to Minnesota. However, the Timberwolves are balking at sending 2nd year Williams to Portland.. Adding another twist now, the Wolves are rumored to have added a 15% trade kicker to the offer sheet that would effectively cost whatever team that signs Batum if they do decide to trade him down the road. Another day goes by though with no resolution. Time will tell if the two teams can work out a sign and trade or if Minnesota ends up submitting the offer sheet. http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingd...ks-may-carry-int=1&blockID=739522&feedID=8351
I hope we do a sign and trade. I'm not as big on Batum as some of the other blazer fans. to be honest I'd probably take Wes Johnson and two firsts.
I don't mind that idea at all but it sounds like the holdup is Olshey asking for way more than we want to give up. I don't think the Wolves would mind this trade either but there is no chance that they give up Williams or Pekovic along with two firsts. It is just way too much to give up for Batum and I really like the Batum and what he could potentially bring to the Wolves. I don't think I remember the Wolves ever fighting this hard for any player. I like it even though I wish we knew already one way or the other.
we will know more after 5 pm. That's when kahn said he's sending the offer through, after webster clears waiver's.
Timberwolves PR @Twolves_PR #Twolves sign restricted free agent F Nicolas Batum to offer sheet. Portland has 3 days to match; Deadline is Wed, July 18 at 11:59 p.m.
Hopefully the trade kicker is enough to prevent Portland from matching. All of this for nothing would kind of irritate me unless we can pick up another name.
No word yet. They have until 10pm ct tonight I believe. I hope they don't match but I believe they will simply for the fact that if they planned not to match, they would have agreed to something in a s&t.
Blazers match Timberwolves' offer for Batum http://www.nba.com/2012/news/07/18/blazers-batum.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2 With Portland matching, it is time for us to move on to other options. I don't believe this hurt us as we were going to move the contracts that we moved either way. It does cost us the ability to trade an expiring but now we can simply trade cap space.
