Interesting find on rube chat.

[PHTown]

Batum is exatly who I would have like to go after pre-wing splurge. He would be amazing in the triangle, plus is a lock down defender. All for only a million a year. Shoulder injury is a concern, but I would have sent Love packing for him.

However, as relatively meh as I am about Love, I'm not a fan of getting rid of our only point of strength. We had 2 of the 5 best PF under 25 last year, and you're telling me we might get rid of both of them......ummm....no thanks.

[Krapinsky]

Have you seen my new avatar?

Yes, I miss the 'stache.

Sorry, I shaved.

[revprodeji]

I do not buy it. Portland is holding onto Batum tighter than Dr. K holds Betty White on a cold night.

[moss_is_1]

People around here are really underrating Batum...He may not be able to create off the dribble much right now, but he's 21 and has already tightened up his handle somewhat, and is one of the best defenders in the league. Then add onto that...he's one of the best shooters and finishers in the league.

[revprodeji]

I think Batum is good, it is just hard to gauge value with portland because the fans believe everyone is the next baby Jesus.

That being said, he is similar to Johnson in strengths and weakness. He has skill, but without a strong ball handler it is hard to have Batum and Johnson together.

and yes, that would be a crazy cruel joke to Webster.

[jpatrick]

Yeah, people are severly underrating Batum. Kid just got done averaging 10/4 (in 24 min/game) with 52% from the field and 41% from 3, is considered one of the best wing defenders in the NBA already and is 2 years younger than Wesley Johnson. He is also bigger/longer than Johnson and is just as athletic. If he were in this draft I have no doubt he'd go top five, probably ahead of Johnson.

I think Batum's floor is Battier and his ceiling is Pippen although he's not likely to reach that ceiling unless he really improves his ability to create (but he was only 20 when last season started).

Would I take Lee, Beasley, Batum over Jefferson, Love, Brewer, yeah, I think the sets of players are about equal value-wise but Lee, Beasley and Batum all fit our new "scheme" better and with the way Kahn is dealing that's way better value than I expected to get out of our trades. I think if this comes to fruition we'll be an exciting team but will still lack our go to scorer we need to really make a big jump.

With all that said, I don't but this because I don't think Portland trades Batum; however, maybe Batum was Pritchard's guy and with Pritch gone he's more available thatn we thought and the local boy Love is enough to get him.

[revprodeji]

It could be painful this year, but Batum/Johnson would be great next to Rubio.

I am confident that either of them could defend the SG.

[Breakdown777]

I think Batum is good, it is just hard to gauge value with portland because the fans believe everyone is the next baby Jesus.

If Portland drafted an egg salad sandwich, the fans wouldn't trade it for a T-Bone steak. They'd convince themselves that egg salad is the new fillet mignon & lobster surf'n'turf special.

[TheFranchise21]

As mediocre as this deal is, I actually like it.