Blazers, Batum to Talk Extension in January
The Blazers have until Jan. 25 to sign Batum to an extension or they will have to wait until June 30, when Batum would become a restricted free agent. The Blazers insist that extending Batum is a priority and Batum, likewise, has expressed a strong desire to remain in Portland, so the sides are optimistic negotiations will go smoothly.
“I spoke to Nic last week and told him that he doesn’t need to be worried about it,” Blazers interim GM Chad Buchanan said. “We’re going to take care of him. We have a large window to get something done. He just needs to go out and play and everything will work out.”
The Blazers can offer Batum up to a five-year extension, but that would require they give him a maximum contract, which seems unlikely. The Blazers can only have one player on their roster tied to a maximum deal. It seems more probable the sides would discuss a three-or four-year extension and Ndiyae said Batum is open to signing a long-term deal under the right circumstances.
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