Is Batum's cap hold 250% of his rookie contract? If that's so, then it's roughly 5 mil, yes? I wonder if management and Batum have some "side agreement" to withhold the resigning until they land a "free agent"; then pay up afterwards? It makes sense. If Batum is a 10 mil per player; then doing the renegotiations after a player is signed would make perfect sense. We would have 5 mil extra to offer a free-agent, then with our bird rights; be able to sign Batum after.
It does't work like that. The only way the Blazers could remove his cap-hold would be to renounce their matching rights. He's restricted, so the only thing that is going to happen is that other teams have the right to make him offers when free agency opens up and the team has the right of first refusal and to match. Regardless, the fact that his caphold is so small means that he's unlikely to be the difference between signing a free agent and not. the larger issues are the capholds that Felton, Wallace, etc. represent.
The way he's playing now adds up. He is out performing G. Wall and G. Wall is getting 11.5 mil. I would think Batum should make around the same as Wallace.
He's not suggesting removing the cap hold. Saying that instead of signing him immediately for 10, we have his cap hold of 5, giving us an extra 5 million to work with, and THEN sign him to 10.
5 mil is a lot in cap space, IMO. And all Batum has to do is wait to accept any offers. Blazers could deal first, then sign Batum. I know it's a weird spin. Just wanted to bring another angle to the conversation.
I don't understand the incentive for Batum? If the market is willing to pay him 11 or 12 million a year (maybe not likely, but possible) then why would he remove himself from consideration in signing an offer sheet with another team? I have a feeling the Spurs are going to make a run, with the lure of playing for Pop and having his good friend Tony Parker on his team. If I was Batum I would't remove myself from the market when the money starts to flow just to take a potential paycut to stay with the Blazers.
oh, I agree. I don't think there is incentive for him at all. I don't think there was any sort of side deal. I do however feel that the line of thinking played a part in extension talks.
I don't think that anybody would expect Batum to remove himself from the marketplace. The Blazers may have a very brief window while Batum is fielding other offers during which they could sign another FA and take advantage of the extra $5-6 mil of cap space, but I think it's pretty unlikely that they'd be able to make that work out. As I recall, under the new CBA the Blazers would only have 3 days to match an offer that Nic receives from another team.
Yep it's 3 days. But that's only when Batum signs the offer sheet. Just because an offer is made, doesn't mean he has to sign it right away. So the window could be longer. And RR7 and Nick. I'm not saying there was a "side deal". Just a conversation that Portland will keep him and let the market decide his salary. But maybe asking Batum to wait a few weeks to try and get another player, then we match the offer sheet he signs.
I was theorizing something similar a couple weeks ago--not so much Nic being involved in the discussion, but more that management chose to take the RFA risk with Nic because of the possibility of having more cap space.
They have 11 million in cap space right now, but still have their amnesty. Could easily amnesty Jefferson, have 20 million in space. Sign Batum, and then sign Duncan to a small deal. Have a 1,2,3 of Parker, batum, Leonard.
even if there isnt a handshake agreement, the blazers could move quick and use up their cap room and still have time to match an offer after
That's what I was thinking as RFA's usually don't get many early offers when their team is expected to match- and I think we will.
I love Batum. $8 mil. Of course, he has the rest of the year to make his case for more. Then we'll see what the offers are when teams are contemplating the new CBA.
