Interesting find on rube chat.

[prefuse73]

Evidentally this guys has a "friend" in the wolves organization....

Here is what he said:
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I have no links or published reports just a friend with the Wolves. This is the same person that last year on draft day said we'd take Flynn and hope to package James Johnson for Tyreke. The deal never happened but I think well after the draft it was established those talks did in fact take place.
Whether this will happen or not would you do it?
1. Jefferson sent to Dallas, Dampier to Heat(waived), Beasley and a draft pick to MN
2. David Lee signs as FA
3. Love is dealt in a deal for Batum
I believe Brewer is involved some how.

End result
5-Darko/Peko
4-Lee/ Beasley
3-Johnson/Webster
2-Batum/Webster
1-Flynn/Session

Batum is someone I have not paid much attention too. It seems Love and Brewer is an insane price, but he is 21 and the Wolves love him for their system.
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I love Batum and think he is great for our system. It looks like its a Love for Batum swap which does make sense for Portland since they now have Babbit. I would love it if our lineup ended up like listed above. Thats a total roster overhaul with only Flynn, Sessions, Ellington, and Hollins remaning from last years squad. We would be far more athletic and have a much better wing rotation.

That being said, I will believe it when I see it.

[4ho5ive]

I think some Blazer fan's heads might explode if Batum was dealt. Doesn't really make sense to me why the want Love if they have LMA, I don't see them ever working together well. And isn't Love hated in Oregon?

[jade_hippo]

that would leave Portland with only Oden, Camby, LMA, PRZ, Pendergraph, Claver and Cunningham to play 2 positions and Bbbitt to play SFish position with maybe Ferrnandez to back him up. Seems like they would have quite the logjam and a gapping hole after a deal that doesn't really improve them talent or prospect wise.

[slinky]

For those that know anything about Batum, is he a future scorer? Or 'just' a do everything sort of guy?

This saddens me if true, because we could easily roll with Batum and Al Jeff and I think be very much improved, not only does Jeff get a some more consistent shooters, he also gets better perimeter defense, something else we have talked about that might help hide his interior defense.

[jpatrick]

Well, I don't know if Portland can even make trades right now, do they have a GM? But Batum was a Pritchard guy so they rest of the organization might be more willing to trade him now that Pritch is gone. If they made that move, it would mean that they aren't confident that either Pryz or Oden will be back and 100% this season. Love is from Oregon and is loved their so the move makes sense from a PR perspective and LMA does have the length to play some center next to Love.

I don't really love the value in any of those deals separately but as a whole, if Kahn can pull it off, I'd be somewat impressed. We still don't have a true #1 on offense but our length and athleticsm will be much better and he would have managed to get rid of every player that played one second for McHale as a coach.

I would also worry that we are packed with SFs on the wings and no SGs. Our ball handling outside of our PGs would be pretty shaky.

[Steve_Holiday]

I don't really love the value in any of those deals separately but as a whole, if Kahn can pull it off, I'd be somewat impressed.

1) Jefferson, Love, and Brewer (possibly?) for a Beasley (1-year rental), Batum, and a draft pick
2) Overpay for Lee (wherever he signs, it will be overpaying)

You'd be impressed by this? Are you kidding?

[Dewey]

Well, I don't know if Portland can even make trades right now, do they have a GM? But Batum was a Pritchard guy so they rest of the organization might be more willing to trade him now that Pritch is gone. If they made that move, it would mean that they aren't confident that either Pryz or Oden will be back and 100% this season. Love is from Oregon and is loved their so the move makes sense from a PR perspective and LMA does have the length to play some center next to Love.

I don't really love the value in any of those deals separately but as a whole, if Kahn can pull it off, I'd be somewat impressed. We still don't have a true #1 on offense but our length and athleticsm will be much better and he would have managed to get rid of every player that played one second for McHale as a coach.

I would also worry that we are packed with SFs on the wings and no SGs. Our ball handling outside of our PGs would be pretty shaky.

If we did acquire Batum, I strongly believe there is a trade in place for a SG.

[shangrila]

If we did acquire Batum, I strongly believe there is a trade in place for a SG.

I've recently been thinking that SG will still be a hole next season because when Rubio comes over I think they're going to try and still get Flynn decent minutes, which would mean playing Rubio at SG for stretches.

As for the deal, I saw that at Canis and thought it was just speculation which it seems to be here too.

[Child of Wonder]

This doesn't make ANY sense.

Move Jefferson, Love, and Brewer for Beasley (a cancer and expiring contract), a lame draft pick, Lee, and Batum?

So our 2/3 rotation will be Johnson, Webster, Batum, Ellington, Hayward, Bjelica? How can any of those guys get enough time to be effective?

Then we're sporting a front court of Milicic, Pekovic, Lee, Hollins, Stiemsma?

I'm just not seeing this as a team that will win much more than 15 games again.

If Kahn's plan is to simply have another horrible season, develop young talent, then hope we can make some meaningful trades and get lucky in the lottery next summer, we are completely screwed.

[Worm Guts]

It would be a more balanced and better defensive team. I wouldn't make claims of grandeur, but is should be better than last years team.

[shrink]

I believe there are whispers that POR may be trying to determine the trade value of LaMarcus Aldridge.

I don't like trading Love for Batum. I have serious doubts that we offered the #4 for him as well, and POR turned it down.

[moss_is_1]

Batum is a very good player and he's one of my favorites. Extremely effecient as a role player, one of the best defenders in the league, great athlete and he has out of this world potential.I would probably do Love for him right now.

[Krapinsky]

Batum is another SF that doesn't create off the dribble. That would be a little ridiculous and a little cruel to Martell Webster.

[Foye]

Batum is a very good player and he's one of my favorites. Extremely effecient as a role player, one of the best defenders in the league, great athlete and he has out of this world potential.I would probably do Love for him right now.

I wouldn't.
I'm fine with Johnson/Webster/Brewer for now.

[slinky]

I would like a go-to scorer, maybe webster or Johnson can be that guy, but I wouldn't trade for Batum yet, based on what everyone is saying he seems like Brewer 2.0....

[Krapinsky]

I would like a go-to scorer, maybe webster or Johnson can be that guy, but I wouldn't trade for Batum yet, based on what everyone is saying he seems like Brewer 2.0....

HA, no.

[lewdog]

Batum is a very good player and he's one of my favorites. Extremely effecient as a role player, one of the best defenders in the league, great athlete and he has out of this world potential.I would probably do Love for him right now.

I wouldn't.
I'm fine with Johnson/Webster/Brewer for now.

And Jefferson, Love and Darko as well.

Is there any chance that we could just leave well enough alone?

[Klomp]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAEQMBGc5cc

[funkatron101]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAEQMBGc5cc

Everyone makes their career off of us.

[Klomp]

Some POR fans didn't even want to trade Batum in a deal for Chris Paul. Just sayin....