How difficult (under the new CBA) would it be to S&T Batum? At least three teams have expressed interest -- *Sacramento: Inquired about the availability of Batum a few weeks before the deadline. *Minnesota: One of the teams likely to pursue Batum. *San Antonio: Have wanted Batum since the 2008 draft. Needs to "get creative" to make a run at him during his free agency. These three teams all have intriguing assets. Sacramento has 'Reke and Cousins; both would be very expensive but worth trying to acquire, especially DC. San Antonio has Kawhi Lenoard, a very heady contributor who is already an above average perimeter defender.
Nic would have to agree to a sign and trade. If you were him, would you agree to a S&T to the Kings? Unless the T-Wolves are willing to let Beasley go, they won't have any cap space to pursue Batum or anyone else over the MLE this summer. I suppose some sort of a package including Nic in a S&T for Parker is a possibility, but it seems unlikely to me.
The real limitations of S&T don't kick in until 2013. That's when teams over the cap have restrictions on doing a S&T. The biggest difference this year is that the raises and years are no different then if a team just signed the player outright. In a S&T Batum will only get 4 years. Since he is not a max player %'s don't matter with him. So staying in Portland is the only way he can get that 5th year.
