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Lost amid all of Wednesday’s

regarding Greg Oden’s health, Brandon Roy’s amnesty status and the Trail Blazers’ never-ending search for a general manager was a bit of news that features a similar kind of importance to the future of the franchise.

As team president Larry Miller outlined the Blazers’ plans on that trio of pressing issues, he slipped in the fact that the team also has discussed signing Nicolas Batum to a contract extension, a move that would cement Batum’s status as a building block moving forward.

“We’re definitely talking about that,” Miller said. “Nic is somebody that we see as part of the organization going forward. He’s part of the future of this organization.”

is entering the final season of his rookie contract in this, his fourth NBA season. And although details of the new collective bargaining agreement have not been released, the Blazers will soon enter a limited window in which they can sign the 22 year-old to an extension and prevent him from hitting the free agent market next offseason.

As eager as the Blazers appear to start those discussions, Batum — who averaged career highs in points (12.4), rebounds (4.5) and assists (1.5) last season — is equally eager to listen.

“Why not?” Batum said in a phone interview from France. “I came up with the Blazers. I love Portland. I love the fans. If I can continue with them, of course I want to. Why not?”

The Blazers will have several roster decisions to make after this lockout-shortened season ends as the contracts of key contributors such as point guard Raymond Felton, center Marcus Camby and, potentially, forward Gerald Wallace — who has a player option ­— come off the books. But there appears to be a mutual desire for Batum and the Blazers to reinforce their marriage now.

As Batum drove around the city streets of Paris during his phone interview — at one point announcing he had just passed the

— Batum spoke glowingly about Portland and the Blazers, expressing delight that the lockout had finally ended.

Yes, he enjoyed the extra time in his native country, taking special care to appreciate the extended time with family and friends. But he also missed the NBA and the Blazers.

“I’m happy to be coming back — it’s been a long seven months,” Batum said. “It’s December, so I missed the summer in Portland. That’s the best part. I miss the guys, my teammates. I miss the city, the media, the Rose Garden and the fans.”

Batum

in the French League with SLUC Nancy during the lockout, but once a handshake agreement to end the work stoppage was reached, he exercised an “out clause” in his European contract to return to the NBA. He’s in Paris at the moment because his work visa has expired and he’s going through the process of renewing it. He said he hopes to return to Portland on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

In the meantime, he’s working out in Paris with

, a fellow Frenchman who plays for the Mavericks.

When Batum arrives in Portland next week, he says he’s poised to display a matured game he’s been fine tuning since last season, thanks to stints with the French National Team and Nancy.

After the Blazers’ first-round playoff loss to the Dallas Mavericks in April, Blazers coach Nate McMillan told Batum he wanted to play him and Wallace alongside each other more often in the Blazers’ 2011-12 rotation. Translation: Be prepared to play shooting guard in addition to small forward. Batum’s coach in Nancy, Jean-Luc Monschau, unknowingly helped along with this transition.

“When I came (to Nancy), my coach said, ‘I’m going to put you in the post and post you up and I’m going to play you in the pick and roll,’” Batum said. “And that’s the only way you’re going to get the ball.”

So Batum settled in as a point-forward and forced himself to grow more comfortable operating with the ball in his hands, which he will have to do playing off guard. All the while, he also increased his skill-set and comfort level with his post-up game on the block.

“I played point guard sometimes and I played a lot with the ball in my hands,” Batum said. “I really improved my pick and roll game and my post up game. I did some mistakes, but I learned from them and got better.”

In one

game, Batum said, he scored 11 points and had two points in the final three minutes of a tight matchup his team would win. He left Nancy averaging 15.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and twice was named the Euroleague player of the week.

He’s ready to make a similar impact — and lock his future — with the Blazers.

“I’m excited to come back,” Batum said.

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