For Portland Trail Blazers fans who have watched Nicolas Batum over the past seven years, there might be some frustration upon hearing the 6’8″ Frenchman was traded Wednesday to the Charlotte Hornets for 19-year-old power forward Noah Vonleh and veteran shooting guard Gerald Henderson. And yet, when really digging into Batum’s career arc–his spurts of brilliance ultimately overshadowed by inconsistencies, injuries and a role that wavered–the thought that this trade might be the best thing for him makes sense.
Batum was beloved by many in Portland, proving to be a fairly dependable option from the 2011-2014 seasons. He shot in the 45 percent range from the field, while possessing a very respectable stroke from three-point land and unselfishness that led to an uptick in his assist numbers; his average of 1.4 assists in 2011-2012 jumped to 5.1 during the 2013-2014 season. While his defense was far from stingy, contrary to predictions from many a 2008 scouting report, he teamed up with Wesley Matthews to form a solid defensive duo on the wings.
Despite his success, which equated to five straight years of an average of 10 or more points per game, Batum’s inconsistencies from seasons past became the norm last season. The thread that was holding his long-wavering confidence upright snapped. He failed to reach double-digits in scoring and managed to shoot only 40 percent from the field, including just 32 percent from three (compared to 46 and 36 percent, respectively, the year before.) For much of the time he was the fourth option, deservedly so. Put simply, Portland had three other options who were more dependable: LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews.
This nightmarish season aside, when he was going well, Batum was a thrill to watch during his time in Portland. It was easy to see why the Scottie Pippen comparisons were more than whispers prior to his selection in the 2008 NBA Draft. He glided to the rim for dunks, pulled up for jumpers in the lane, nailed three-pointers, chased down defenders for blocked shots and sent fans into a frenzy. He just didn’t do this enough. There was one highlight here, one more there, and then he would disappear. The organization and its fans waited and waited for him to put it all together and be the once-envisioned star. When this wasn’t attained, there was a great deal of disappointment accompanying the paper-thin patience. And come Wednesday, the front office decided it could wait no more.
Due to his inconsistencies over the years, it’s hard to blame them for making this move. Given how much of a likable player he was, their trading of Batum, still only 26 years old, created an initial reaction of shock. And yet, when that feeling dies down, the move may very well be seen a sensible one. This is the case, however, only if the intention isn’t to rebuild.
Questions regarding what this means for Portland going forward were rampant following the news. A move such as this, trading a long-time piece of the puzzle for a veteran with an expiring contract and a young, talented big man who was the ninth pick in the 2014 NBA Draft could mean one of two things: Either this is the first installment of an effort to scratch the “win-now” mentality, which would in turn mean not pursuing Aldridge and Matthews in free-agency, or this is an isolated move to trade a player in need of new scenery and acquire needed depth on the frontline and mid-season trade chip.
Considering that Portland was among the best teams in the NBA before Matthews went down with a torn Achilles, it’s hard to believe the team would solely put all of its eggs in Lillard’s basket and go away from Aldridge and Matthews. The Oregonian’s Jason Quick speculated on Twitter that this may be the start of something bigger, saying, “If Olshey truly believed in that core, (he) would have tried to keep (it) together.” While this could be the case, Batum was relied on less and less. Was he even part of that core anymore? Even when Matthews went down, Portland didn’t go to him more; instead they put the ball in the hands of Arron Afflalo, acquired as Matthews replacement. Even when Batum was called upon to produce in the playoffs’ first-round series against Memphis, he shot just 33 percent and missed 20 of his last 25 shots after a 27-point performance in Game 3. There wasn’t a significant emphasis to incorporate him into the offense.
Batum’s seven years in Portland saw some success, but ultimately it’s good that he has a chance to redefine himself in Charlotte. He goes somewhere where there isn’t the longstanding expectation of stardom hanging over his head. He will be going down in the world in regards to the talent on the roster and its potential to win, but he won’t be the third or fourth wheel anymore. For his sake, there is the hope that he will be able to breathe easy as a Hornet, with a return of confidence in accordance with lessened expectations. And maybe, just maybe he can become a star on his terms.
As for Portland, perhaps this won’t be the first domino to fall, the end of an era. Instead, for the sake of the fans, Vonleh and Henderson will simply represent depth to spell Aldridge and Matthews next year.
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