Nicolas Batum will be a restricted free agent after the season, and his contract status has been the subject of much discussion lately, with the Spurs rumored to be eyeing the 23-year-old. However, it seems the most likely outcome is Batum returning to Portland.
"They're going to match [offers in restricted free agency]," Batum told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com (Twitter link). "They made me understand that… I'm 99% sure they're going to match."
Retaining Batum certainly makes sense for the Trail Blazers. If Jamal Crawford declines his player option, as expected, the team will only have about $30MM in guaranteed money committed to next year's salaries. While president Larry Miller has said he doesn't intend to match a "crazy" bid for Batum, the Blazers have the means to make him a sizable offer.
You can check out our full list of players eligible for restricted free agency right here.