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

[A Tasty Burgerr]

These guys need to just sign the QO and stick it out a year if they want out that badly. They must know how restricted free agency works, no excuse in what they're doing.

[Diivox]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8157984/source-portland-trail-blazers-minnesota-timberwolves-discussing-nicolas-batum-deal

deal being discussed is kyle korver and two future minnesota firsts to portland, batum to minnesota, and a 2nd to the bulls.

Wolves would officially go into Win Now mode, which is good, because Love has been adamant about wanting better players around him. Twolves sold their soul giving him a player option in that final year, at which point it will also be time to show Rubio the money... so they kind of need to get a core in place and take their shot. They'll have to blow up the team if Love bounces anyway, and its likely that they won't be in the lottery again anytime soon, so fuck it, go all in...

[Len B]

Just curious how you became a Wolves fan living in Arizona? I'd say you are from there, but the Packers logo throws me for a loop. Phoenix/Minnesota are two random teams to like.

[A Tasty Burgerr]

Must be a HUGE Telfair fan.

[BiggaAdams]

if Batum really wants to be in Sota do bad then sign a 1 year contract. Otherwise, welcome back to Portland, Nic!

[Diivox]

Just curious how you became a Wolves fan living in Arizona? I'd say you are from there, but the Packers logo throws me for a loop. Phoenix/Minnesota are two random teams to like.

I'm from LA originally, no football teams there, so I picked the team with the colors I liked. my folks are all from Chicago / Michigan and are die hard black and blue division fans so Packers were always on TV. They never explained the rivalries to me, to their credit, because if I had a kid who wanted to be a Vikings fan I just wouldnt allow that shit.

Up until last season, I didnt really give a shit about the NBA except for playoff time. I hated douchebag Laker fans growing up in LA, and my family over the years has ended up kinda coming together here in Phoenix, so I always support the Suns. Then the NFL labor stuff happened and I ended up catching NBA2k12 for 75% off on a Steam sale (and have over 300 hours played at this point). I picked Minnesota as my team because I wanted to build up a young point guard and what I had seen from Kevin Love I was impressed by ; he also played at UCLA which I always rooted for growing up over equally-douchebag-fanbase USC. When basketball came back from the lockout, I was impressed with Rubio's energy and passion, the way his whole team rallied around him, his court vision, etc. Rubio and Love on the high screen is textbook basketball, and my fondness for Adelman extends back to the epic Sacramento / Lakers series of yesteryear.

[Kuzzy Powers]

Blazers matched the deal..

Updating a previous item, the Blazers have officially matched the Timberwolves' four year and nearly $46.5 million offer sheet for Nicolas Batum.
Blazers' GM Neil Olshey said that the final contract actually came in at a bit under the $46.5 million originally reported because there were incentives included in the Wolves' offer sheet that were denied by the NBA. Batum averaged 13.9 points, 1.8 threes, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in under 31 minutes per game last season and will be targeted as one of the most popular fantasy sleepers next season - after he wins back the people of Portland.