Trail blazers reject minnys offer for Batum

[crownontherocks]

Nicolas Batum - G/F - Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers have rejected multiple sign-and-trade offers from the Wolves for Nicolas Batum, including as many as three first-round picks or last year's No. 2 pick Derrick Williams.
The Wolves are prepared to sign Batum to a four-year, $46.4 million offer sheet on Sunday, which "Portland management believes ... is vastly more than Batum is worth." The question then becomes, why would they reject a generous sign-and-trade offer if they don't want to overpay Batum? Portland's obstinacy may stem from previous disuptes with Minnesota -- there is an oustanding argument about Martell Webster's medical records from a 2010 trade, and the fact that by signing Brandon Roy the Wolves are essentially costing the Blazers as much as $17 million in lost insurance money (though he would have signed elsewhere anyway, with the same effect). Follow the link for a full breakdown of this messy saga.
Related: Trail Blazers, Derrick Williams
Source: ESPN.com Jul 14 - 9:13 PM

[indeedproceed]

I can't imagine Neil Oshey saying no to 3 first round picks or Derrick Williams for Noc Batum. I call false.

[Lucky17]

I can't imagine Neil Oshey saying no to 3 first round picks or Derrick Williams for Noc Batum. I call false.

Olshey, no.

But I hear Paul Allen is a pretty vindictive SOB. It's his call.

[Who]

Wow, those are major trade offers to turn down.

[indeedproceed]

I can't imagine Neil Oshey saying no to 3 first round picks or Derrick Williams for Noc Batum. I call false.

Olshey, no.

But I hear Paul Allen is a pretty vindictive SOB. It's his call.

Recruiter: I've got a GM job for you, Neil, but I gotta warn you. The owner is petty, meddling, and tends to screw anything up he manages to put his print on too firmly. Plus, his team seems to have some sort of curse where everytime they manage to get a high profile player or pick, they seem toget injured and set the whole thing back a few years.
Olshey: I told you man, I won't work for Donald Sterling ever again.
Recruiter: oh, it's not Donald Sterling...

[pearljammer10]

I can't imagine Neil Oshey saying no to 3 first round picks or Derrick Williams for Noc Batum. I call false.

agreed. either of the two packages would be much better than loosing Batum to the Wolves for nothing.

[Lucky17]

I can't imagine Neil Oshey saying no to 3 first round picks or Derrick Williams for Noc Batum. I call false.

Olshey, no.

But I hear Paul Allen is a pretty vindictive SOB. It's his call.

Recruiter: I've got a GM job for you, Neil, but I gotta warn you. The owner is petty, meddling, and tends to screw anything up he manages to put his print on too firmly. Plus, his team seems to have some sort of curse where everytime they manage to get a high profile player or pick, they seem toget injured and set the whole thing back a few years.
Olshey: I told you man, I won't work for Donald Sterling ever again.
Recruiter: oh, it's not Donald Sterling...

Yep. Allen's not quite the piece of work that Sterling is. But he's got a lot of the same issues.

Allen loves to spend, though. He's the bizarro Sterling in that respect.

[indeedproceed]

Wow, those are major trade offers to turn down.

Major trade offers to decline of an offer sheet Portland doesn't want to match anyways.

[Lauren3]

down with that

[Lucky17]

Per multiple reports, Blazers have officially matched Minnesota's offer sheet to Nic Batum.

Blazers GM Neil Olshey is in a presser right now to announce/comment.

[indeedproceed]

Per multiple reports, Blazers have officially matched Minnesota's offer sheet to Nic Batum.

Blazers GM Neil Olshey is in a presser right now to announce/comment.

Per the release: "Like the five year old who doesn't want his vegetables, but will because he wants to play X-Box later, we will match Batum's ridiculous contract because...well I don't really get it. But hey, did you guys know I don't work for Donald Sterling anymore?"

[MJohnnyboy]

Well, that probably seals the fate of Courtney Lee.

[StartOrien]

What's funny about this story is that Nicolas Batum is just an OK player.

[AshyLarry]

Well, that probably seals the fate of Courtney Lee.

Where's you get that? Batum isn't a 2, therefore I don't this would make a difference.

[saltlover]

Well, that probably seals the fate of Courtney Lee.

Certainly seals the fate of Stiemsma.  Depends how crazy Minny wants to get with Lee, and how quickly things move.