When you get traded, you’re supposed to act like a pro and understand that it is only business. Of course the Portland Trail Blazers would rather have Batum, a man they’re familiar with and cherish. But when business takes over, relationships are pushed to the side. Batum knows that.
But it’s interesting that Grantland’s Zach Lowe would report that Nicolas Batum would like to play for the Raptors in Toronto. Boy hasn’t even played for Charlotte yet!
Batum’s people have already made noise about how much Batum would like to play in Toronto, a city that appeals to his international roots, per several league sources. He is a flight risk, even though both Cho and Chad Buchanan, the team’s assistant GM, know Batum well from their days in Portland. “We are very comfortable given that Chad and Rich know Nic well,” Polk says.
“We’ve seen over the last few years that players want to be here,” Cho says. “Free agents want to come here.”
I wouldn’t count Lance Stephenson as a ‘free agent who wanted to go to Charlotte’. He just saw dollars and bolted.
Batum can like Toronto all he wants, he’s going to be in Charlotte for the near future, so get comfy.
