Minnesota Timberwolves submit offer sheet for Nicolas Batum – NBA News
The deadlock between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Portland Trail Blazers reached its climax on Sunday when the Wolves officially submitted their offer sheet for Blazers restricted free agent Nicolas Batum. The offer consists
of a four year deal worth $46 million. The Blazers now have three days to either match the offer, or let Batum join the Wolves.
Both sides have been negotiating a sign and trade deal for over a week now, but failed to reach an agreement, after which the Wolves submitted the offer sheet. Wolves President David Kahn released Darko Milicic and Martell Webster,
while trading Brad Miller in order to make room to absorb Batum’s huge contract.
The Blazers have repeatedly expressed their desire to keep Batum, and General Manager Neil Olshey had earlier said that they would match the Wolves offer.
Minnesota is now calling their bluff.
The Wolves were ready to give three future first round draft picks to the Wolves in exchange for Batum. They even had in place a three team deal involving the Chicago Bulls in which they were adding Kyle Korver to the three draft
picks as their offer. However, Portland refused all their offers.
The Wolves had their eyes set on Batum since free agency opened, and gave him an offer on July 6th. The Wolves management feels that Batum is the missing piece in the team they are trying to set up, and would thrive
under their philosophy.
Batum, on his part, is unhappy with the way the Blazers have been using him, and is said to have become disappointed in the team after they offered him an extension last winter worth $5 million per year.
Minnesota also signed former Portland guard Brandon Roy to a two year contract worth $10 million. Roy played for Portland before retiring last season due to knee problems. He will make his return to the NBA next season with the
Wolves. Portland owed Roy $49 million over three years at the time, but a big chunk of it was going to come from an insurance policy. Now that Roy is making his return to the NBA, the insurance policy is becoming void and Portland will have to pay him around
$17 million.
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