Haynes full of shit (no Nic 4 years, 46.5 Million) (confirmed)

No it doesn't because it is paid for by Paul Allen

 

Max, the minimim TEAM salary is 85% this yr and 90 next, so we have to pay some guys anyway. This team has to gamble, gamble that guys like Lillard and Leonard become very good if we want to really contend, that's our lot in the NBA. We gamble that Nic can improves as well, there are simly no or few other even decent choices at SF, and yes we will likely be mediocre ths yr, but "if" guts like Lillard and leonard develop we could be fairly good the following yr and eveb better the next, yes risk there is of course, IMO we should take it

 

Yeah, everything I have read from MIN writers etc, state that Derrick Williams was not offered, and under those circumstances I can undersatnd why POR told them to forget it...

 

I would be in favor of either bringing in some people on a year contract that can bring us up to the minimum salary or pay the penalty and keep the cap space.

Even if everything pans out, we're trapping ourselves in the 35-42 win group--not bad enough to get a great draft pick and not good enough to make it to the second round. It's NBA Purgatory.

 

Maxie, what would you do with the salary?

 

One other thing regarding the trade kicker. If Nico really didn't want to come back, he now has a financial incentive to get himself traded. Trade kickers are usually requested when you don't want to leave a team. If you don't want to be on a team, it offers a reverse incentive. Incentives matter.

 

If PAM meant so much, top free agents would want to come here - they don't.

 

"boo, we cant keep him on his rookie scale forever!"

thems the breaks, the blazers took advantage wildly through his rookie deal, and now that he is getting paid what he should be, people want to dump him? and what, hope to draft another nic next year?

yes, everyone wishes they could pay players/workers less than they are worth, and wouldnt that be grand

 

Stars, or special/dominant players, aren't born overnight. Batum could still end up being a VERY good player in this league. I can't say he will, but I can't say he won't. Some nights, he shows how good he can be. Some nights, he doesn't. At 23, can he become more consistent AND take his game up another notch? I'd say yes, it's possible. So we're paying based on some unfulfilled potential. But it's a risk this team has to take at this jecture. And the contract isn't outlandish, compared to other SG's and SF's. And, as it is, we don't really have any big contracts coming up during those 4 years.

My comment on special players.... that doesn't just apply to Nic. We have a lot of guys with A LOT of potential. If Lillard and one or two of these other young guys pan out, we'll be just fine (especially if it's Leonard that pans out).

 

Haynes just won't let it go. Officially unfollowed.

Haynes: Updated post: Minnesota F Derrick Williams talks w/CSNNW about almost being traded to #Blazers for Nicolas Batum | csnnw.com/pages/landingb…

 

I agree with you Maxie, I like Batum but I am very skeptical that he will be able to improve his play to an all star caliber level to justify that contract....

 

I disagree with your 35-42 win grouping, but I think both of us would have to admit that could vary greatly depending upon how the young guys do or do not develop.

 

With no cap, I wouldn't mind giving every player the max. Hell, it's not really my money (although my season tickets go to pay some salary). However, there's a financial strategy that's a component of the NBA. Overpaying means that you're willingly giving up some assets at your disposal.

 

Derrick Williams thinks he was offered, and that came from his agent.

But again, everyone could have the same source (Kahn), and he could be feeding everyone lies.

 

This article is what revived this thread (a couple of hours ago).

 

And then at the same time we have a team at Kahn's and Ndiaye's front porch, ready with some dogshit, a bag, and a lighter.

It will be just like the ending of Godfather.

 

hey max, lets just end this...how much do you think nic is worth, and by that, how much is he overpaid in your opinion

 

PFFT Who fuckin cares, I would rather have Nic anyway

 

Or his agent was just giving him a heads up and letting him know that his name had been discussed....and when that is happening, anything is possible (even if MIN mgmt is telling you there is no way they would trade you)

That is how I read that...I think Haynes might be inferring more into it than was really there

 

For us old white people?