Blazers want to keep Batum

Portland Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey says the team will match any offers for French swingman Nicolas Batum.

Olshey's comments came Wednesday amid speculation the team is working on a sign-and-trade with Minnesota, which is interested in the restricted free agent.

"I think Nicolas would have more value than what Minnesota is willing to offer in a sign-and-trade," Olshey said at the Blazers' Tualatin practice facility.

Batum's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, told The Associated Press last week that he and the Timberwolves agreed to terms on a four-year, $45 million offer with bonuses that could push it past $50 million. A formal offer has not yet been made.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations told the AP the Timberwolves were prepared to move some of the team's guaranteed contracts to other teams' cap room that would allow them to present Batum with the offer sheet.

The Timberwolves would prefer to work a sign-and-trade with the Blazers directly, but were willing to extend the offer to see if Portland would indeed match it before moving on to other candidates to fill the void at swingman. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because talks were ongoing.

The Wolves see Batum as the versatile, athletic player they've been searching for on the wing and think he would be a perfect fit in coach Rick Adelman's offense. Ndiaye told the AP that Batum wants to play in Minnesota because he would feel more comfortable playing in Adelman's system.

The Blazers have maintained since the end of last season they would like to build for the future around forward LaMarcus Aldridge and Batum, who has averaged 10.2 points and 3.9 rebounds over four seasons with the Blazers.

"I don't believe in letting talent walk out the door," Olshey said.

Batum is currently training with the French national team as they prepare for the London Olympics. A call placed to Ndiaye seeking comment on the latest development was not immediately returned.

The Blazers agreed to terms on a 1-year deal with free agent power forward J.J. Hickson on Wednesday.

Hickson played in 19 games with the Blazers last season, averaging 15.1 points and 8.3 rebounds, after Portland claimed him off waivers from the Sacramento Kings.

The agreement was confirmed Wednesday by Hickson's agent, Andy Miller, who would not discuss financial terms. It was first reported by Yahoo! Sports.

The Blazers also signed Spanish forward Victor Claver, the 22nd overall pick in the 2009 draft. Claver comes to Portland after six seasons with Valencia in the Spanish ACB League. He averaged 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season.

"Victor is a player with a high basketball IQ who will come in as a good complement to our roster," Olshey said. "He defends well for his size, has a nice shooting touch, and we look forward to having him on board."

A native of Valencia, the 6-foot-10 Claver is on the Spanish national team that will play in the London Olympics. He was in Portland this week to sign his contract before returning to the national team on Thursday.

"I'm very excited to take this step forward," Claver announced on Twitter. "Thanks to everyone who supported me and helped me to get it. Thanks!"

Terms of the multiyear deal were not announced.

Portland was hoping to finalize a deal to bring 2006 draft pick Joel Freeland to the NBA. The deal hinges on a buyout with Unicaja Malaga, Freeland's team in the Spanish ACB league.

The 6-10 forward-center from England averaged 12.9 points and 7.5 rebounds last season with Unicaja Malaga.

Freeland's agent, Rafa Calvo, did not respond to email seeking comment.

Free-agent roundup: The Miami Heat got two more shooters. The Orlando Magic, at least for now, are keeping their center.

A flurry of deals were completed Wednesday and another one was put on hold on the first day contracts could be signed in the NBA.

Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis inked their deals with the NBA champions, who will rely on their perimeter accuracy to create more space on the court for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

The Spurs announced Tim Duncan was staying in San Antonio and the Knicks completed a sign-and-trade to bring Marcus Camby to New York. But there's no deal for the best big man of them all in the NBA right now.

The Magic can't find an agreement they like for All-Star center Dwight Howard, who has asked for a trade to Brooklyn. The Magic have tried to accommodate, only to find nothing from the Nets that fit their desires.

"We've had discussions with Brooklyn, we've had discussions with a host of different teams about a host of different issues. And the answer is, 'Yes we're still talking to them,'" Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said. "We're still looking to do whatever it is that puts us in the best position from a sustainability standpoint, (and) from a strategic standpoint.

"... Currently as they stand I think the parameters that we've talked about are a little bit in a stationary position. And currently as it's constructed I'm not sure there's really anything to discuss."

Instead, the Nets re-signed their current center, Brook Lopez, to an extension. He had been linked to the Howard trade talk for months but knows he will at last begin the season in Brooklyn, ineligible to be traded until Jan. 15.

Free agency opened July 1 and teams were able to begin signing players at 12:01 a.m. EDT Wednesday. Deron Williams got a quick start, signing his five-year, $98 million extension with the Nets while in Las Vegas for the U.S. Olympic team's training camp right after the window opened.

Even though he hasn't been able to get Howard, Nets general manager Billy King kept Williams, traded for All-Star guard Joe Johnson and forward Reggie Evans, kept starting forward Gerald Wallace and signed Bosnian forward Mirza Teletovic.

"Billy's done a good job of making some big moves and it makes us relevant again," Williams said. "Just the move to Brooklyn itself, being in New York, makes things better."

Things are looking up for another longtime lowly team, the Los Angeles Clippers. Blake Griffin wanted to be a part of it, signing a five-year extension that could pay him about $95 million.

"It's exciting and that was the goal from day one, to start building something and not just fall into the history of the program," Griffin said of the Clippers, who also signed guard Jamal Crawford, "and I think we've done a good job of turning the ship in the right direction."

Allen decided to leave one good situation for another, taking less money from the Heat than the Celtics were offering. With he and Lewis, Miami will have options all over the court.

"You've got to double-team LeBron. You have to double-team Dwyane Wade. You've got to double-team Chris Bosh. And then you think they're going to leave Ray Allen open?" Lewis said. "They've got to leave somebody open. So I have to go shoot a million jumpers tonight and be ready to knock them down."

Another good 3-point shooter, Ryan Anderson, has a new home. After leading the league in 3-pointers last season and winning the NBA's Most Improved Player award, he was dealt by the Magic to New Orleans for Mexican Gustavo Ayon.

The Hornets have three days to decide if they want Eric Gordon to play with Anderson. He signed an offer sheet in Phoenix for four years and $58 million, but New Orleans has three days to match the deal for the restricted free agent.

* The Knicks brought Camby back to New York in a sign-and-trade with Houston and re-signed guard JR Smith. They were still working to complete deals with Jason Kidd and Steve Novak, both of which had already been agreed to.

And even with Kidd coming aboard, Jeremy Lin will enter next season as the Knicks' starting point guard. Coach Mike Woodson repeated that the Knicks would "absolutely" match an offer sheet Lin had agreed to sign with Houston, and that he would go to training camp as the starter.

* The Toronto Raptors acquired point guard Kyle Lowry from Houston and signed fellow guard Landry Fields to a three-year offer sheet worth nearly $20 million that the Knicks would have three days to match.

* The Golden State Warriors agreed to send Dorell Wright to the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team trade that will net guard Jarrett Jack from the New Orleans Hornets, two people familiar with the decision said.

Amid all the dealing, there was no chance Duncan was going anywhere. Terms were not disclosed, though Yahoo Sports cited anonymous sources in reporting the 36-year-old forward got a three-year, $36 million deal from the Spurs.

"Tim Duncan has established himself as one of the best players in NBA history," coach Gregg Popovich said. "He is an unselfish superstar who loves to compete and has only one goal when he steps on the court - to do whatever it takes to help his team win. We are all thrilled that he'll spend his entire career as a San Antonio Spur."