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NBA Rumors: Nicolas Batum Will Stay A Blazer, Not Become A Timberwolf

The Minnesota Timberwolves had been angling at acquiring Nicolas Batum, a restricted free agent, from the Portland Trail Blazers. Unfortunately that won't be happening, however, as the Blazers have apparently deemed Batum to be too important to their team.

The Timberwolves reportedly offered Batum $11 million per season and, while that sounds like a lot, no amount will be enough to lure Batum to the Twin Cities. Not necessarily because he's not interested, but rather because the Blazers have decided they'll do whatever it takes to keep him.

With those options off the table, Batum will now have the option of either playing out the final year of his rookie deal -- worth just over $4 million, according to ShamSports' salary database -- or signing a long-term deal with the Blazers. The latter option happens more often than the former and, if the Wolves decide to submit their offer anyway when the moratorium on free agents ends July 11, they'll have to match whatever long-term deal Minnesota puts down on paper.

For more on the T-Wolves in free agency, stay with this StoryStream. For full Timberwolves coverage, head over to Canis Hoopus. And for more news and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

Photographs by Micah Taylor, clairity, and Fibonacci Blue used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.