Shareef Abdur-Rahim | 33
Position: F
Born: Dec 11, 1976
Height: 6-9 / 2,06
Weight: 245 lbs. / 111,1 kg.
College : California '99
Info
For whatever reason, SAR's name continues to be linked to the Spurs in the press. He's a great offensive talent, no doubt, but his defense is somewhat suspect. Then again, it's amazing how much defensive improvement is shown by players who join the Spurs. Perhaps it's a lot easier to D up when you join one of the best, if not the best, shotblocking teams in the NBA. Then again, perhaps it is because if you want minutes, you have to play hard on D for Gregg Popovich. It's probably a bit of both. SAR turns 29 this year and should have plenty of basketball left in his career. He gets to the line a lot for a big and he shoots well from there (career 81.6% FT shooter). In addition he has plenty of range on his shot (shot 38.5% from beyond the arc last season). He boards well, is fairly mobile, and can play some spot minutes at the 3. I'd have to say that his price is out of the Spurs' range, but you never know. Perhaps if Portland is jonesing for Radosoft might the Spurs have a shot. In the end, he seems like a long shot, but the rumors are tantalizing enough to discuss.
I just read in Marc Stein's article that Abdur-Rahim is visiting Sacramento and New Jersey this week - both of those teams only have the MLE.
I'd imagine that if the Spurs cannot (or choose not to) come to terms with Horry and/or Scola that Abdur-Rahim could be a target.
The Abdur-Rahim to S.A. rumors have been going on for like four years. So obviously he wants to be here. I just wonder exactly how much San Antonio reciprocates.
I wouldn't be disappointed with SAR. I'd think with that offensive talent, there has to be SOME reciprocation. Pop has had a lot of 'non defensive' players buy into his system in the past. No reason to think he couldn't get SAR to do the same.
I like him as a second option if Horry bolts.
There are tons of offensive opportunities for a big playing alongside TD in the Spurs' system. Nazr and Rasho both are suspect at capitalizing on those. Horry's done a decent job at doing so.
You basically want a big who will attack the basket, hit the J and go to the line. You'd also like one who can hold on to the rock.
It'd be tough to turn down a guy who averages 20 points and 8 rebounds for his career if he wanted to come to the Spurs. Like I've said since the beginning of the summer, SARS only makes sense to me if Horry doesn't come back. In that scenario, SARS could be a good replacement.
The only bad thing about this guy was he was counted on to be (and paid like) a franchise player. You can't say he's been in any really positive playing situations either because of that. He could flourish as a role player here, but we'd have to move someone from the frontcourt and still need a true SF.
Between him and Barry/Manu/Brown the Spurs could probably get away with not having a true backup 3 for another season or two. Also, perhaps the Spurs could get a vet for the minimum like Kukoc to cover that for at least next season.
That would just make the need more acute down the line. I'm not saying it's impossible -- we'd still have the LLE in most scenarios -- I'm just saying the need would still be there. The offseason is about filling needs, right?Between him and Barry/Manu/Brown the Spurs could probably get away with not having a true backup 3 for another season or two. Also, perhaps the Spurs could get a vet for the minimum like Kukoc to cover that for at least next season.
Sure, filling needs but also being opportunistic if the situation presents itself.
Shareef is the official Plan B of the San Antonio Spurs.
Length at the 3 wouldn't be as much of a concern if the Spurs added Rahim and Kukoc this summer.
Remember like two years ago everyone was afraid to catch SARS, and people in China were dying of it......
(sorry)
I like your Kukoc idea.
Then you should enjoy this.
WOAI is reporting that the Spurs are very interested in Abdur-Rahim. Supposedly their compe ion is Miami and New Jersey. But Miami probably is going to use their MLE elsewhere and Abdur-Rahim wants to win.
That means that SA could very well be his destination.
Interesting.
Why?
Why?
Why?
I don't get it at all.
I'd rather have Luis Scola seven days a week and twice on Sunday.
Didn't the Nets call him on day 1? I think that would probably make them the team to beat.
You can get SAR AND still get Scola.
Sign SAR with the MLE, sign Scola with the LLE.
Lawrence Frank was at his door at midnight when free agency began. He's also close with Jason Kidd. He's reportedly visiting NJ and Sac this weekend.Didn't the Nets call him on day 1? I think that would probably make them the team to beat.
I'm not a huge SARS fan but it's hard to compare Scola to a guy who has averaged 20 and 8 for his career. For all we know, Scola could bomb in the NBA. That's unlikely, but I can't blame the Spurs for looking at a guy who is only three years older and has proven himself to be an NBA caliber player.
Maybe he hung up on the Nets. I agree, throw the whlole MLE at Reef and and see if Scola will take the LLE.
No doubt, but that's not really the point, is it? They both deserve time on the floor and play the same position and do the same thing. One comes much cheaper and has more upside at this point in his career.You can get SAR AND still get Scola.
Sign SAR with the MLE, sign Scola with the LLE.
Shareef would do himself much better by signing for a team that actually needs him, where he gets starting minutes and a significant role and a playoff berth (finally), instead of being a bauble bench player trotted out every once in a while from a thick bench.
I don't see why anybody is entertaining this possibility. I'd be utterly stunned to see it happen, especially since it would mean Scola is going elsewhere or stays in Europe.
If they sign shareef and scola then i see Nazr or Rasho being traded.
Duncan, Mohammed, Horry, Nesterovic, SARS and Scola are too man players fighting for the same minutes. Even if you take one out of that group, it still is packed.
Remember what happened the last time the Spurs brought over an Argentine star. They gutted his position by trading away Antonio Daniels and Charles Smith -- two players who got good run at his position the previous year.
The Spurs don't believe in overloading positions. To me that means that either Scola's not coming and Nesterovic because a 12th man or Nesterovic/Mohammed is getting traded and Scola won't see many minutes.
boy... nj... or the kings... how fast can dreams of winning a championship turn into nightmares?
The point is Scola is used to coming off the bench and would know his role. SARS has never averaged less than 31 minutes per game and that was by far the outlier (37.0 mpg/career) and he ed about coming off the bench in Portland - and rightfully so. Why would anybody think he'd suddenly swallow his ego and/or suddenly become an effective bench player?I'm not a huge SARS fan but it's hard to compare Scola to a guy who has averaged 20 and 8 for his career. For all we know, Scola could bomb in the NBA.
I think everybody's being extremely unrealistic here. They think they can just add any player in the league to their team and voila! it fits! But far more likely, SARS will want his starting minutes and to feel needed for a playoff team. He will at last get it, either in Sacramento or more likely in New Jersey. I say Bless him. The Spurs don't need him - they need a dynamic, skilled big man off the bench (S-C-O-L-A) - and SARS needs to be out there from opening tips and big minutes.
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