Blazers general manager Chad Buchanan is understandably cautious in his comments regarding Nicolas Batum.

“We value Nic and what he means to our team,” Buchanan says. “We want to see if there’s a number that fits on both ends. Both sides have to look out for their own interests, but we like what he has done for us and hope he is a Blazer for years.”

Asked if he can afford to pay both Gerald Wallace and Batum, Buchanan is noncommittal.

“We have to look long term for next summer,” he says. “You have to determine what the fair number is” for both players.