Jul
09
HoopsHype Asks Batum: 'Are You Going to Be Upset If You Have To Go Back To Portland?'
By caseyholdahl Posted in: freeagency, NicolasBatum
Jorge Sierra, the man behind NBA super site HoopsHype, posted a
Q&A with Trail Blazers restricted free agent Nicolas Batum about free agency and the upcoming Olympics in London. It's worth a complete read, but the part Trail Blazers fans will probably be the most interested in pertains to Batum's ongoing free agent negotiations:
Your agent has been very vocal about how you want to go to Minnesota, but you haven't spoken at all about the issue.
Nicolas Batum: I just want to focus on the National Team right now. That's his job, to get a contract done. That's why I got an agent, that's his job.
Are you going to be upset if you have to go back to Portland?
Nicolas Batum: No.
What kind of player do you see yourself becoming in the NBA from an individual standpoint?
Nicolas Batum: I just want to be a leader. A very good player and that's why I'm working every day since I was born. I don't want to just. be in the NBA. I want to have success as a player, but also with my team. I want to be a special player.
(snip)
Do you have a feeling about where you're going to play next season?
Nicolas Batum: I don't know. We'll see in a couple of days.
Free agent contracts can be officially signed tonight at 9 PM, Portland time. Teams have three days to match offers to restricted free agents. Batum
reportedly has an offer from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
And if you missed it yesterday, he's a
HoopsHype Q&A with Joel Freeland, whose rights are owned by the Trail Blazers.