Nicolas Batum agrees to 4 year, $45 million sheet with T-Wolves

[Kuzzy Powers]

Nicolas Batum agreed to a four-year, $45 million offer sheet made by the Wolves on Thursday.
The AP reports that the bonuses could push the deal past $50 million and also that Batum wants to go to Minnesota. This is interesting, because all of Portland's media has poo-pooed the reports that Batum wanted to leave, with beat writer Jason Quick posting a photo of his lunch with Batum earlier today and saying.

Minnesota thinks they can make a playoff push next year, credit to them for doing what they think they gotta do to get better. Nicolas Batum is a highly underrated player.

[Chrispy]

He was tearing it up last year when i was watching the Tblazers games, very likable dude too

[Diivox]

excellent defender, very good 3 point shot, incredible wingspan - exactly what Minnesota needs at the 3. Batum is going to be a star in this league and I hope that the Pacer's dont match Hibbert just so that Batum might go to Minnesosta. Rubio/Love/Batum/Pekovic is at least a 2nd round of the playoffs and Rubio/Pek don't come up for big money until a few shitty contracts are done - sup Darko, sup Wes - so they can probably keep them together.

[Kuzzy Powers]

excellent defender, very good 3 point shot, incredible wingspan - exactly what Minnesota needs at the 3. Batum is going to be a star in this league and I hope that the Pacer's dont match Hibbert just so that Batum might go to Minnesosta. Rubio/Love/Batum/Pekovic is at least a 2nd round of the playoffs and Rubio/Pek don't come up for big money until a few shitty contracts are done - sup Darko, sup Wes - so they can probably keep them together.

Pretty bold, not sure id go that far but they are definitely moving in the right direction.

[Primetime]

Pretty bold, not sure id go that far but they are definitely moving in the right direction.

Agreed. In the west, that's still a 7 seed at best.

[Diivox]

Pretty bold, not sure id go that far but they are definitely moving in the right direction.

I'm definitely drinking the kool-aid, I watched alot of their games last year before the ACL injury. Kevin Love is a beast, top 5 NBA player. Owns the paint, has a 3 point shot if he needs it, and rebounding numbers that you might call video game numbers, if it wasnt for the fact that even in the video game it's fucking hard to get 20+ rebounds. They were just fucked when Rubio went down - but Rubio and Love play off each other extremely well, if the 3rd guy there was Batum knocking down the outside shot and D'ing up against faster players, that's definitely postseason tickets.

of course Portland probably matches and this is all moot but I like the idea alot. Wolves desperately need a high level 2/3 and I am skeptical that Chase Budinger is that but i've never seen him play so who knows.

also, check out this video of Batum. look at his freaky long arms. the 2nd to last play against LeBron is particularly sick.

[EmpireWF]

Yes Diivox, no way Portland lets him walk.

But, it would've been nice to see Batum and Love play together.

[ralaw]

Minny is trying hard to make sure Love sticks around. I like what they are doing, but Rubio's injury wrecked them last year.

[Glenbino]

Batum would be a huge upgrade over Beez on the court and without the head issues. It's a shame Portland will probably match.

[BiggaAdams]

Without a doubt we will match. We let Batum know that whatever he gets we are matching. Our GM said "even if it's a billion dollars we're going to match"

I hope Batum continues to improve. He's hesitant to shoot at times and lacks being aggressive at times. When hes playing aggressive he's an absolute baller.

[Herm]

So portland is going to resign "that light skinned dude" as Jeremy Lamb calls him.

[TheImmortalGoud]

Rotoworld

Derrick Williams is being mentioned as a possible chip in a way to bring Nicolas Batum to Minnesota as part of a three-way sign-and-trade.

With the recent Brandon Roy signing, the T-Wolves now can't sign Batum outright to their current offer sheet without making another deal to get under the cap. According to a team source, the best way to get Batum to Minnesota is via a sign-and-trade. One scenario involves a three-way trade with Philadelphia where Andre Iguodala would go to Portland, Derrick Williams would go as part of a package to the Sixers and Batum would come to Minnesota. To this point, Portland is balking. Minnesota will have to get creative financially, so stay tuned.

[USCChifan]

Update from Rotoworld

According to his agent, Nicolas Batum personally asked Blazers management on Thursday not to match his four-year, $45 million offer sheet from the Timberwolves.

Batum's much-maligned agent, Bouna Ndiaye, said that Batum's "heart isn't [in Portland]," and that he felt his role last season was too limited -- "He wasn't able to get up and down ... being a Bruce Bowen in-the-corner player frustrated him." Remember that the Wolves have only made a verbal commitment (nothing can be signed until July 11) and many NBA observers feel that Minnesota and Batum are simply trying to create some leverage where none truly exists. It has been previously reported that during Thursday's meeting, the Blazers told Batum they would match the offer regardless of his preference.

Batum can bitch and moan all he wants, he's not going anywhere. The same goes for Eric Gordon

[Mogriffjr]

Batum would be a huge upgrade over Beez on the court and without the head issues. It's a shame Portland will probably match.

Or the other bums they were trotting out there like Wes Johnson (thought he would at least be a nice SF, smh)...

[BiggaAdams]

Update from Rotoworld

Batum can bitch and moan all he wants, he's not going anywhere. The same goes for Eric Gordon

Batum is such a bitch sometimes. He was the 2nd option, and didn't take advantage of it most the time. They gave the ball to him in the elbow, tried to let him create. The reason he sits in the corner is because he's a sharp shooter over there and he has issues creating his own shot.