Blazers Notes: Lillard, Claver, Freeland, Batum
2012/09/blazers-notes-lillard-claver-freeland-batum.htmlVictor Claver and Joel Freeland should bring a team-first mentality to the Blazers, according to Olshey, who notes that Nicolas Batum is excited about the club's style of play getting some "international flavor." Olshey on Batum's new contract leading to increased expectations: "I think Nic's going to embrace it.
Odds & Ends: Kirilenko, LeBron, Nets, Gordon
2012/09/odds-ends-lebron-nets-bucks-gordon.html$608MM thanks in part to lucrative deals for Eric Gordon and Nicolas Batum.
Northwest Rumors: Kirilenko, Kahn, Darko, Batum
2012/09/jerry-zgoda-of-the-star-tribune-details-the-reasons-why-some-of-the-timberwolves-free-agent-acquisitions-wound-up-in-minnesot.htmlBlazers small forward Nicolas Batum is ready to live up to the four-year, $46.5MM deal he signed over the summer, as he told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.
Odds & Ends: Jefferson, Batum, Brand, Nene
2012/09/odds-ends-jefferson-batum-brand-nene.htmlPart of that leap will be an attitude adjustment as Batum often appears to look passive on the floor.
Glen Taylor Talks Kirilenko, Roy, Beasley, Batum
2012/10/glen-taylor-talks-kirilenko-roy-beasley-batum.htmlBut if these things were taken care of and I had to deal with it, I can deal with a kid like him because he is more of an introvert, he’s not a nasty kid.’" On the team's recruitment of Nicolas Batum: "Batum recruited us about as much as we recruited him.
Northwest Notes: Aldridge, Nuggets, Thunder
2012/10/northwest-notes-aldridge-nuggets-thunder.htmlThe Timberwolves reportedly tried to trade the former Arizona star and two first-round picks to the Blazers over the summer for Nicolas Batum.
Returnees By Team: Western Conference
2012/10/returnees-by-team-western-conference.htmlBarea, Malcolm Lee, Kevin Love, Nikola Pekovic, Luke Ridnour,Ricky Rubio, Derrick Williams Trail Blazers (7) — LaMarcus Aldridge, Luke Babbitt, Nicolas Batum, J.J.
Northwest Notes: Murphy, Burks, Roy
2012/10/northwest-notes-murphy-burks-roy.htmlThe other two teams, the Timberwolves and Trail Blazers, engaged in a tete-a-tete over Nicolas Batum, who eventually wound up as one of Portland's seven returnees.
Northwest Rumors: Blazers, Lawson, Miller, Batum
2012/10/northwest-rumors-blazers-lawson-miller-batum.htmlNicolas Batum told Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune he signed his offer sheet with Minnesota this summer knowing he'd be pleased to wind…… "I chose Minnesota because I knew (Portland) could match," Batum said
Odds & Ends: Possible Cavs/Heat Cuts, Olshey
2012/10/odds-ends-possible-cavsheat-cuts-olshey.htmlSome notable comments include Olshey's thoughts on Will Barton's potential, Nicolas Batum and the team moving forward after his contract extension, and landing J.J.
Northwest Rumors: Thunder, Blazers, Batum
2012/10/northwest-rumors-thunder-blazers-batum.htmlNicolas Batum signed for about $12MM less in his four-year deal than Eric Gordon is getting his four-year contract, but…
Western Notes: Blazers, West, Sacre, Iguodala
2012/10/western-notes-blazers-west-sacre-iguodala.htmlAccording to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey is hoping Nicolas Batum can increase his scoring this season like Eric Gordon did in his third year, when his PPG jumped from 16.9 to 22.3.
Odds & Ends: Batum, Turner, Mavericks, Deng
2012/10/odds-ends-batum-turner-mavericks-deng.htmlThis offseason the Timberwolves and Trail Blazers were in the news about acquiring Nicolas Batum, but it appears the Cavaliers…
Cavaliers Offered Batum $52MM
2012/10/cavaliers-offered-batum-52mm.htmlAccording to a new report by the Oregonian's Joe Freeman, the Cleveland Cavaliers made Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum an offer of four years and $52MM when he was a restricted free agent this summer.
Blazers Have No Plans To Trade LaMarcus Aldridge
2012/10/blazers-have-no-plans-to-trade-lamarcus-aldridge.htmlAt age 27, Aldridge represents the veteran presence on a roster whose core pieces include Nicolas Batum (23), Wesley Matthews (26), Damian Lillard (22), and Meyers Leonard (20).
Week In Review: 10/22/12 – 10/28/12
2012/10/week-in-review-102212-102812.htmlThe Cavaliers reportedly offered Nicolas Batum a $52MM deal in restricted free agency this summer before Batum signed the Timberwolves' offer sheet.
Offseason In Review: Portland Trail Blazers
2012/11/offseason-in-review-portland-trail-blazers.htmlSignings Nicolas Batum: Four years, $46.12MM.
Early Returns On Big Free Agent Contracts
2012/11/early-returns-on-big-free-agent-contracts.htmlNicolas Batum, Trail Blazers (Four years, $46.12MM): My pick for 2012/13's Most Improved Player, Batum is making me, and the Blazers, look good through eight games.
Players Who Can Veto Trades
2012/11/players-who-can-veto-trades.htmlNo-trade clauses Kobe Bryant, Lakers Tim Duncan, Spurs Kevin Garnett, Celtics Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks Players whose offer sheets were matched Nicolas Batum, Blazers Eric Gordon, Hornets Players accepting qualifying offers Ivan Johnson, Hawks (early Bird) Devin Ebanks, Lakers Darius Morris, Lakers (early Bird) Luke Harangody, Cavs Players re-signing for one year Chris Wilcox, Celtics (early Bird) Keith Bogans, Nets (early Bird) Terrel Harris, Heat (early Bird) J.J.
Western Rumors: Dwight, Morris, Lakers, Blazers
2012/11/western-rumors-dwight-morris-lakers-blazers.htmlFacing the stress of an impending tug-of-war in restricted free agency over the summer, Nicolas Batum gained perspective from a visit to his ancestral home country of Cameroon last spring, as he told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.
Western Notes: Petrie, D’Antoni, Collison, Batum
2012/11/western-notes-petrie-dantoni-collison-batum.htmlChris Haynes of CSNNW.com details how Nicolas Batum's offseason trip to Cameroon gave him a new-found perspective on life during his free agent negotiations.
Northwest Notes: Wolves Injuries, Blazers, Williams
2012/11/northwest-notes-wolves-injuries-blazers-williams.htmlFreeman also notes that so far, Nicolas Batum is living up to the four-year, $44MM contract he signed this summer.
Offseason In Review: Cleveland Cavaliers
2012/11/offseason-in-review-cleveland-cavaliers.htmlOne report suggested that the team made a $52MM offer to Nicolas Batum, which he turned down in favor of a lesser offer.
Odds & Ends: Lin, D-League, Ilyasova, Batum
2012/11/odds-ends-lin-d-league-ilyasova-batum.htmlAnother player that signed a lucrative long-term contract in July, Nicolas Batum is living up to his new deal so far, and tells Joe Freeman of the Oregonian that he wants to keep that up.
Timberwolves Rumors: Williams, Finley, Roy
2012/11/timberwolves-rumors-williams-finley-roy.htmlIn the meantime, here are a few rumblings out of Minnesota: Derrick Williams tells Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune (Twitter link) that he was preparing to become a Trail Blazer this summer when rumors involving a Nicolas Batum sign-and-trade were swirling.