Timberwolves Meet With Nicolas Batum, Expected To Offer Contract

Portland Trail Blazers restricted free agent Nicolas Batum flew into Minnesota Sunday evening to meet with Timberwolves officials, who are expected to make the swingman a four-year offer hovering around $50 million. The Boston Herald has the details: “No contract can be signed until the NBA’s moratorium on trades and signings ends July 11. The Trail Blazers and owner Paul Allen then would have three days to match the Wolves’ offer. The Wolves pursued Batum before the 2010 draft, reportedly offering the No. 4 pick they eventually used to select Wes Johnson for a player who was taken 25th overall in 2008. But the Blazers refused the offer. Batum, 23, was scheduled to fly from his home in France to Minneapolis to meet with team owner Glen Taylor, president of basketball operations David Kahn and Adelman, all of whom flew to Seattle to meet with retired two-time All-Star and unrestricted free agent Brandon Roy on Friday. Batum presumably would give the Wolves what they still lack after drafting Johnson fourth overall in 2010 and trading that same summer for Michael Beasley, whose two seasons with the team ended Saturday when he became an unrestricted free agent after he did not receive an $8.1 million qualifying offer. He is a versatile perimeter player who can handle the ball, defend and shoot the three-pointer while playing both forward and guard positions.”