Nicolas Batum has met with the Blazers and told them he’d like to play for the Timberwolves.

“His mind is not there in Portland. Out of that meeting with the Blazers (on Thursday), we hoped they would allow him to live his dream. The best case scenario is a sign-and-trade and we understand that. Hopefully, Paul Allen would never stand in the way of his dream to play for the Timberwolves,” Batum's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, said Saturday evening.

The Blazers intend to keep Batum regardless of what other teams offer him or propose to the team in trades.

“Generally, the meeting with the Blazers was nice and cordial. We started the meeting talking about his four years there,” Ndiaye said. “Nic expressed to them that after his first year, (Nate) McMillan said he was surprised that Nic had an offensive game. The second year was great. After Andre (Miller) left, it was really tough for him in year three. He wasn't able to get up and down and his role was staying in corner. He wasn't allowed to play his game. Being a Bruce Bowen in-the-corner player frustrated him. He wants to be him. He wants to play his game.

“He's a player that likes to move around and that's what he likes about Minnesota. Requesting a sign-and-trade was part of it, but not all of it. He went there to tell them there's no hard feelings, I don't hate you, but my heart isn't there. That's what he told them.”