Nicolas Batum is not a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves yet. Minnesota general manager David Kahn revealed on Friday that the team cannot submit an offer sheet to the Portland Trail Blazers forward until Sunday evening at 5 p.m.Kahn also said that the would indeed submit the offer sheer at that time, wrapping up their pursuit of Batum.
The Timberwolves must wait until Martell Webster clears waivers at that time on Sunday afternoon. Minnesota released Webster on Friday in order to free up the cap space needed to sign Batum, who cannot sign his offer sheet because it would put Minnesota over the cap.
Kahn spoke to the team's pursuit of Batum in a conference call:
"I know Nicolas and the Timberwolves prefer this culminating in a sign and trade, but restricted free agency is what it is, and it's certainly the Portland Trailblazers prerogative to match what ever offer sheet we tender or for that matter not engage in a trade."
Batum averaged 13.9 points per game for the Blazer last season, playing an average of more than 17 minutes per game.
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