ducks
07-21-2005, 09:21 AM
Nets might give in to land Abdur-Rahim
Thursday, July 21, 2005
BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO
Star-Ledger Staff
The Nets timeline for reaching an agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers is about to enter its final week, and while the two teams are no closer to a deal, there are whispers that one is willing to budge.
The Blazers have to agree to accept the Nets' trade exception in order for them to complete a sign-and-trade deal with Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but if that exception expires -- as it will next Friday -- the free-agent forward won't get his six-year, $38 million contract.
But a Western Conference executive said yesterday it is "widely believed" the Nets will sweeten the pot by offering Portland a lottery-protected first-round draft pick -- partly because they want to make Abdur-Rahim happy, and partly because they need to hold onto the mid-level exception to use on free agents such as Keyon Dooling.
Nets president Rod Thorn would not divulge the substance of his talks with the Blazers, but he is on the record as saying he will not surrender a first-round pick or the rights to second-round choice Mile Ilic.
"We had several discussions the last couple of days," Thorn said. "But we haven't reached an agreement. Are we closer? I don't know if I can even say that. But as long as you're talking, you have a chance."
Dooling landed
in New Jersey last night and will take a look at the practice facility in East Rutherford today (tour guide: coach Lawrence Frank), but the Nets believe they have to complete the Abdur-Rahim deal first.
Here's why: They don't know whether Miami is willing to accept a sign-and-trade deal using the same trade exception they're trying to send to Portland, so they want to have the mid-level exception -- the fund teams over the salary cap can spend on free agents -- available for Dooling, who is being recruited by as many as five teams.
Thorn, for now, doesn't sound optimistic: "There's a possibility that he's getting other offers," he said of Dooling. "He's liable to jump out the door at any time."
Clifford Robinson
will return to the Nets next season. The 38-year-old forward agreed to a two-year deal in the vicinity of $5 million, with the second year only partially guaranteed.
Chris Crawford,
the hard-luck forward who has played only 68 games in the past four seasons, will work out for the Nets today. Crawford, who has spent his entire career in Atlanta, has torn two ACLs in four years. The last one was in his right knee, during a preseason game last October.
The new collective
bargaining agreement won't be finalized today, as planned, so the moratorium on free-agent signings will be delayed indefinitely, the league told teams yesterday.
http://www.nj.com/nets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/112192509566040.xml&coll=1
Thursday, July 21, 2005
BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO
Star-Ledger Staff
The Nets timeline for reaching an agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers is about to enter its final week, and while the two teams are no closer to a deal, there are whispers that one is willing to budge.
The Blazers have to agree to accept the Nets' trade exception in order for them to complete a sign-and-trade deal with Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but if that exception expires -- as it will next Friday -- the free-agent forward won't get his six-year, $38 million contract.
But a Western Conference executive said yesterday it is "widely believed" the Nets will sweeten the pot by offering Portland a lottery-protected first-round draft pick -- partly because they want to make Abdur-Rahim happy, and partly because they need to hold onto the mid-level exception to use on free agents such as Keyon Dooling.
Nets president Rod Thorn would not divulge the substance of his talks with the Blazers, but he is on the record as saying he will not surrender a first-round pick or the rights to second-round choice Mile Ilic.
"We had several discussions the last couple of days," Thorn said. "But we haven't reached an agreement. Are we closer? I don't know if I can even say that. But as long as you're talking, you have a chance."
Dooling landed
in New Jersey last night and will take a look at the practice facility in East Rutherford today (tour guide: coach Lawrence Frank), but the Nets believe they have to complete the Abdur-Rahim deal first.
Here's why: They don't know whether Miami is willing to accept a sign-and-trade deal using the same trade exception they're trying to send to Portland, so they want to have the mid-level exception -- the fund teams over the salary cap can spend on free agents -- available for Dooling, who is being recruited by as many as five teams.
Thorn, for now, doesn't sound optimistic: "There's a possibility that he's getting other offers," he said of Dooling. "He's liable to jump out the door at any time."
Clifford Robinson
will return to the Nets next season. The 38-year-old forward agreed to a two-year deal in the vicinity of $5 million, with the second year only partially guaranteed.
Chris Crawford,
the hard-luck forward who has played only 68 games in the past four seasons, will work out for the Nets today. Crawford, who has spent his entire career in Atlanta, has torn two ACLs in four years. The last one was in his right knee, during a preseason game last October.
The new collective
bargaining agreement won't be finalized today, as planned, so the moratorium on free-agent signings will be delayed indefinitely, the league told teams yesterday.
http://www.nj.com/nets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/112192509566040.xml&coll=1