ducks
05-29-2004, 03:05 PM
Nets mulling Abdur-Rahim
By OHM YOUNGMISUK
and MITCH LAWRENCE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS
The Nets have their eyes on a Blazers All-Star big man for the second straight offseason.
According to league sources, the Nets and Portland have discussed swapping Kerry Kittles and Aaron Williams for Shareef Abdur-Rahim. While nothing is imminent, the Blazers are looking to trade their unhappy forward, who will receive $14.6 million in the final year of his contract.
Abdur-Rahim averaged 20.1 points and 9.3 rebounds with Atlanta before being traded to Portland in the Rasheed Wallace deal in February. In Portland, Abdur-Rahim saw his numbers dip dramatically as he was reduced to a role-player. In his last 32 games, Abdur-Rahim averaged just 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in 22.8minutes coming off the bench for the Blazers, who have Zach Randolph, Theo Ratliff and Darius Miles (who is expected to be re-signed) in their front court.
Abdur-Rahim wants more playing time and Blazers GM John Nash is looking to add depth at guard. While Nash would certainly love to land a big-name guard, he did draft Kittles in 1996 as Nets' GM. And like Abdur-Rahim, the Nets guard is entering the final year of his deal - he will earn $10 million, which would allow the Blazers to cut salary.
While Kittles and Abdur-Rahim are the principals in a potential deal, the trade could be expanded to include Portland's Ruben Patterson and the Nets' Lucious Harris and Rodney Rogers. The Nets, however, had reservations about Patterson last summer when they talked to Portland about a possible trade for Wallace.
While it remains to be seen if Nash would make this deal, the Nets would love to get their hands on the 27-year-old Abdur-Rahim. After failing to make it out of the second round for the first time in three years, the Nets have to get bigger and better to keep up with Detroit and Indiana.
At 6-9, Abdur-Rahim would give the Nets more size, scoring and rebounding. Not only would he help Kenyon Martin up front, he would allow the Nets to play the emerging Richard Jefferson at shooting guard.
Abdur-Rahim also would give the Nets insurance in case contract talks with Martin, a restricted free agent seeking a maximum salary, unexpectedly fall apart come July.
Jason Kidd certainly would welcome fellow Cal product Abdur-Rahim, who has averaged 20.1 points and 8.2 rebounds during his eight-year career.
There could be other trade scenarios involving Kittles, who likely will be left unprotected for next month's expansion draft. While the Charlotte Bobcats are not expected to take him due to their limited salary cap, Kittles' contract is attractive to teams who are looking to slice salary.
Besides a potential trade, the Nets also will try to use their $5 million and $1.4million exceptions to attract free agents like Brent Barry, Anthony Peeler, Damon Jones, Gordan Giricek, DeShawn Stevenson, Travis Best or Kenny Anderson.link (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/197923p-170914c.html)
By OHM YOUNGMISUK
and MITCH LAWRENCE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS
The Nets have their eyes on a Blazers All-Star big man for the second straight offseason.
According to league sources, the Nets and Portland have discussed swapping Kerry Kittles and Aaron Williams for Shareef Abdur-Rahim. While nothing is imminent, the Blazers are looking to trade their unhappy forward, who will receive $14.6 million in the final year of his contract.
Abdur-Rahim averaged 20.1 points and 9.3 rebounds with Atlanta before being traded to Portland in the Rasheed Wallace deal in February. In Portland, Abdur-Rahim saw his numbers dip dramatically as he was reduced to a role-player. In his last 32 games, Abdur-Rahim averaged just 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in 22.8minutes coming off the bench for the Blazers, who have Zach Randolph, Theo Ratliff and Darius Miles (who is expected to be re-signed) in their front court.
Abdur-Rahim wants more playing time and Blazers GM John Nash is looking to add depth at guard. While Nash would certainly love to land a big-name guard, he did draft Kittles in 1996 as Nets' GM. And like Abdur-Rahim, the Nets guard is entering the final year of his deal - he will earn $10 million, which would allow the Blazers to cut salary.
While Kittles and Abdur-Rahim are the principals in a potential deal, the trade could be expanded to include Portland's Ruben Patterson and the Nets' Lucious Harris and Rodney Rogers. The Nets, however, had reservations about Patterson last summer when they talked to Portland about a possible trade for Wallace.
While it remains to be seen if Nash would make this deal, the Nets would love to get their hands on the 27-year-old Abdur-Rahim. After failing to make it out of the second round for the first time in three years, the Nets have to get bigger and better to keep up with Detroit and Indiana.
At 6-9, Abdur-Rahim would give the Nets more size, scoring and rebounding. Not only would he help Kenyon Martin up front, he would allow the Nets to play the emerging Richard Jefferson at shooting guard.
Abdur-Rahim also would give the Nets insurance in case contract talks with Martin, a restricted free agent seeking a maximum salary, unexpectedly fall apart come July.
Jason Kidd certainly would welcome fellow Cal product Abdur-Rahim, who has averaged 20.1 points and 8.2 rebounds during his eight-year career.
There could be other trade scenarios involving Kittles, who likely will be left unprotected for next month's expansion draft. While the Charlotte Bobcats are not expected to take him due to their limited salary cap, Kittles' contract is attractive to teams who are looking to slice salary.
Besides a potential trade, the Nets also will try to use their $5 million and $1.4million exceptions to attract free agents like Brent Barry, Anthony Peeler, Damon Jones, Gordan Giricek, DeShawn Stevenson, Travis Best or Kenny Anderson.link (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/197923p-170914c.html)