The Portland Trail Blazers failed to lock up beloved French forward Nicolas Batum to an Early Bird extension by the Wednesday deadline. Batum's agent spoke to CSN Northwest's Chris Haynes to explain why: the Blazers lowballed the Frenchman. Doing so will result in enormous consequences.
Nicolas Batum Seems Unpleased At Blazers’ ‘Lowball’ Offer
“When Batum becomes a restricted free agent, we’ll look at the other 29 teams before we talk to the Blazers,” Batum’s agent Bouna Ndiaye told CSNNW.com. “The Blazers had their chance.”
Ah, but for the perils of the word “restricted” in that quote.
Batum will be a restricted free agent on July 1, and will be able to talk to all 29 teams other than the Blazers, and even sign an offer sheet with one lucky suitor. But Portland will have the opportunity to match that offer and retain Batum. If the Frenchman is really that mad, he can sign the one-year qualifying offer and play out 2012-13 in Portland before becoming an unrestricted free agent in July 2013 (when the threat of talking to the other 29 teams becomes real) or he can seek the biggest, most onerous offer sheet possible to convince Portland to pass on it.
Of course, he’ll be seeking the largest offer regardless, and if it comes from the Blazers, everyone will forget about this impasse. In the meantime, it’s a nice little quote and storyline to follow.
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