NBA Let the Signings Begin

[JALMOND]

Blazers signed JJ Hickson to a one year deal. Blazers picked up Hickson off waivers at the trade deadline last season.

Blazers still waiting to see what Minnesota will do regarding Batum. Unless there is some sort of blockbuster trade (and Korver is not a blockbuster trade), I'm pretty sure the Blazers will match any offer the Wolves make.

[Gil Dobie]

The Wolves just Amnestied Darko to make room for Batum's contract. The chess match continues.

[JALMOND]

The Wolves just Amnestied Darko to make room for Batum's contract. The chess match continues.

All trade scenarios fell through during the night. Wolves Star-Tribune beat writer Zgoda and Blazers Oregonian beat writer Quick both assume Blazers will match the offer and Batum stays in Portland. Blazers will have 72 hours to match, otherwise Batum will go to Minnesota.

[JALMOND]

Another chapter in the Batum saga...

Olshey (Blazer GM) has informed Kahn (Wolves GM) that any trade scenario involving a sign and trade for Batum would have to include Derrick Williams, and then the Blazers would consider it. It doesn't mean the Blazers would actually do it, but it would be considered. Last report from Blazer sources have the Wolves mulling this and therefore, no offer sheet has been signed yet. From what I'm hearing, Wolves have until midnight tonight to submit the offer sheet to the league (which means that we'll probably be talking about it tomorrow). As the delay continues, the Blazers can still sign free agents as they are under the cap, because they hold Batum's Bird rights and can go over the cap to sign Batum. Also, because of this delay, the Wolves cannot pursue the kid from Boston as they do not know how this Batum situation will pan out. My perspective is that each day longer hurts the Wolves more than the Blazers.

[Gil Dobie]

Another chapter in the Batum saga...

Olshey (Blazer GM) has informed Kahn (Wolves GM) that any trade scenario involving a sign and trade for Batum would have to include Derrick Williams, and then the Blazers would consider it. It doesn't mean the Blazers would actually do it, but it would be considered. Last report from Blazer sources have the Wolves mulling this and therefore, no offer sheet has been signed yet. From what I'm hearing, Wolves have until midnight tonight to submit the offer sheet to the league (which means that we'll probably be talking about it tomorrow). As the delay continues, the Blazers can still sign free agents as they are under the cap, because they hold Batum's Bird rights and can go over the cap to sign Batum. Also, because of this delay, the Wolves cannot pursue the kid from Boston as they do not know how this Batum situation will pan out. My perspective is that each day longer hurts the Wolves more than the Blazers.

Strib writer Jerry Zgoda had the Wolves going after Courtney Lee, OJ Mayo or Iguadola in that order if Portland keeps Batum. Iguadola would be great, but least likely. Stiemsma wants to play for the Wolves and would cost around 3 million. He played college ball at Wisconsin, just down I-94. I could see Williams going to Portland, he did not play like a #2 draft pick, although he will be a good NBA player. Adelman might not have the patience, and Williams plays the same position as Kevin Love, so that doesn't help.

[eagleskins]

Good to see Cuban still has some lead in his pencil. Good trade for the Mavs. Now, if we can sign Brand and Mayo, the roster will be looking good.

[JALMOND]

Midnight has come and gone and no offer has been sent to the Blazers. Seems like this Batum drama will continue another day. Meanwhile, the Blazers have negotiated a buyout with Joel Freeland's Euro team. He will be signed and ready for this season.

[Gil Dobie]

Timberwolves might also be interested in the fragile Greg Oden as a backup to Pekovic.

[AZGrizFan]

Timberwolves might also be interested in the fragile Greg Oden as a backup to Pekovic.

Oden, in all likelihood, will never play another minute of basketball.

[Gil Dobie]

Timberwolves might also be interested in the fragile Greg Oden as a backup to Pekovic.

Oden, in all likelihood, will never play another minute of basketball.

Doesn't he break a bone everytime he looks at a basketball.

[AZGrizFan]

Oden, in all likelihood, will never play another minute of basketball.

Doesn't he break a bone everytime he looks at a basketball.

In his sleep, even.

[DJH]

Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. Fantastic plan by the Wolves.

[AZGrizFan]

Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. Fantastic plan by the Wolves.

Maybe Bill Walton has a few minutes left in him.

How about the big Chinese dude?

[Gil Dobie]

Timberwolves waived Webster, Miller may be next and then Tolliver. Zgoda said not to be surprised by a trade this evening.


Trade: Brad Miller and 2 - 2nd round picks to NO

Offer sheet for Batum coming on Sunday, after Webster clears waivers.

[DJH]

Are they just trading Brad Miller's contract? I had thought he retired at the end of the year.

[JALMOND]

Timberwolves waived Webster, Miller may be next and then Tolliver. Zgoda said not to be surprised by a trade this evening.


Trade: Brad Miller and 2 - 2nd round picks to NO

Offer sheet for Batum coming on Sunday, after Webster clears waivers.

Batum saga will continue until Sunday. Or, at the rate this has been going, it could go longer...

What I don't understand is this. Wolves currently have Love at the 4 and Pekovich at the 5. Williams is supposedly slimmer (per Zgoda today) and could play at the 3. Roy has been spewing the same crap when he was at Portland the last couple years, that he did not come back to only play 20 mins a game, that he intends to start and play 30-35 a game so he would be at the 2. Then you have Rubio at the 1. Batum comes in and plays the 3 instead of Williams. So what is the purpose of keeping both Williams and Batum. If the only way the Blazers would consider a sign and trade for Batum is to include Williams, why not include Williams and see what the Blazers would do in that case? Or do the Wolves think Batum can play the 2?

[Gil Dobie]

Timberwolves waived Webster, Miller may be next and then Tolliver. Zgoda said not to be surprised by a trade this evening.


Trade: Brad Miller and 2 - 2nd round picks to NO

Offer sheet for Batum coming on Sunday, after Webster clears waivers.

Batum saga will continue until Sunday. Or, at the rate this has been going, it could go longer...

What I don't understand is this. Wolves currently have Love at the 4 and Pekovich at the 5. Williams is supposedly slimmer (per Zgoda today) and could play at the 3. Roy has been spewing the same crap when he was at Portland the last couple years, that he did not come back to only play 20 mins a game, that he intends to start and play 30-35 a game so he would be at the 2. Then you have Rubio at the 1. Batum comes in and plays the 3 instead of Williams. So what is the purpose of keeping both Williams and Batum. If the only way the Blazers would consider a sign and trade for Batum is to include Williams, why not include Williams and see what the Blazers would do in that case? Or do the Wolves think Batum can play the 2?

Williams isn't a guarantee at the 3, and might still be trade-bait as the saga continues. Been hearing the Portland will wait the entire 72 hours before they match or not.

Lots of action, Korver to the Hawks via Timberwolves.

[JALMOND]

Batum saga will continue until Sunday. Or, at the rate this has been going, it could go longer...

What I don't understand is this. Wolves currently have Love at the 4 and Pekovich at the 5. Williams is supposedly slimmer (per Zgoda today) and could play at the 3. Roy has been spewing the same crap when he was at Portland the last couple years, that he did not come back to only play 20 mins a game, that he intends to start and play 30-35 a game so he would be at the 2. Then you have Rubio at the 1. Batum comes in and plays the 3 instead of Williams. So what is the purpose of keeping both Williams and Batum. If the only way the Blazers would consider a sign and trade for Batum is to include Williams, why not include Williams and see what the Blazers would do in that case? Or do the Wolves think Batum can play the 2?

Williams isn't a guarantee at the 3, and might still be trade-bait as the saga continues. Been hearing the Portland will wait the entire 72 hours before they match or not.

Lots of action, Korver to the Hawks via Timberwolves.

If Williams can't play the 3, I don't think the Blazers would do the trade. Without Batum, the Blazers have Babbitt who is a good 3 reserve, but is really painful to watch as a starter. Blazers would like someone who is at least better than Babbitt (and right now Korver and Babbitt are basically a push). Blazers just resigned Hickson and may try him at the 3, although he is more of a 4-5 tweener instead of a 3-4.

Good bet that if there is an offer signed, the Blazers would wait the full 72 hours just because they can. On the Portland side, been hearing that both Olshey and Allen are rather upset that this contract squabble has taken this long.

[JALMOND]

NBA TV reporting that the Portland Trail Blazers have traded Raymond "Fatty" Felton and Kirk Thomas to the New York Knicks for Jared Jeffries and Dan Gadzurik. Due to the Knicks acquiring Felton, there is a very good chance they will NOT match Houston's offer on Jeremy Lin. Jeffries is a 4-5 tweener and Gadzurik is a solid 5 so this does not change anything from Portland's perspective regarding Nicolas Batum.

[JALMOND]

SI.com reporting that the Wolves have FINALLY submitted the offer for Nicolas Batum to the league. Now Portland will have 72 hours to match or not. Pretty good bet they will and pretty good bet they will take close to the full 72 hours.

Rumor has it that they tried to submit the offer on Thursday, but the league would not allow it as the Wolves did not waive Webster then and therefore were not in a situation to offer that much money. As a result, the Wolves had to wait for Webster to clear waivers for them to resubmit the offer. They were able to do that at 4 pm CDT.

[Gil Dobie]

Sounds like Portland is going to match the offer, most would be surprised if they didn't.
It was reported today by Wolfson that the sign and trade was close. Portland had sent a list of players from other teams that the Wolves could possibly pull in. Korver was one, Robin Lopez another, plus they would get 2 #1 picks from the Wolves, and the Wolves offered to lighten the penatly against Portland for knowing the issues with Webster before the trade with Minnesota. Portland would not accept any offers, so Wolves sent the contract to Batum, whom they think is worth the money. Love, Batum and Rubio was their core going forward. Had this been completed earlier, the Wolves would have probably gone after Scola.

[eagleskins]

Mavs sign Mayo. Big signing. Team looks very good. I think we sign one more big guard/small forward, and will be ready to make a run

[Gil Dobie]

As expected, Portland matched Batum's offer from Minnesota. Next up for the Wolves to pursue are Celtics restricted free agent Greg Stiemsma, Lakers power forward Jordan Hill, Rockets free agent Courtney Lee and the Bulls Ronnie Brewer.

Interesting that the Lakers are making a strong move to get Dwight Howard with either Cleveland or Houston. Bynum and/or Gasol may be gone if this happens.

[AZGrizFan]

As expected, Portland matched Batum's offer from Minnesota. Next up for the Wolves to pursue are Celtics restricted free agent Greg Stiemsma, Lakers power forward Jordan Hill, Rockets free agent Courtney Lee and the Bulls Ronnie Brewer.

Interesting that the Lakers are making a strong move to get Dwight Howard with either Cleveland or Houston. Bynum and/or Gasol may be gone if this happens.

Howard/Bryant/Nash vs LeBron/Wade/Bosch....that would be epic.

[dal4018]

As expected, Portland matched Batum's offer from Minnesota. Next up for the Wolves to pursue are Celtics restricted free agent Greg Stiemsma, Lakers power forward Jordan Hill, Rockets free agent Courtney Lee and the Bulls Ronnie Brewer.

Interesting that the Lakers are making a strong move to get Dwight Howard with either Cleveland or Houston. Bynum and/or Gasol may be gone if this happens.

Howard/Bryant/Nash vs LeBron/Wade/Bosch....that would be epic.

Howard has said that he would sign a long deal with the Lakers but the only problem holding up this deal is Bynum will not.