ESPN.com: Spurs talking S&T with Portland, Rasho for Abdur-Rahim

[Kori Ellis]

No money talk as Nets give Abdur-Rahim tour
Friday, July 08, 2005
BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO
Star-Ledger Staff

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/inde...770.xml&coll=1

The itinerary yesterday was typical for recruitment visits: He toured the practice facility in East Rutherford, met the owner, went to lunch with Lawrence Frank up in Ridgewood, and then checked out some neighboring Bergen County towns and schools with his wife.

So now the Nets are in a holding pattern, waiting for Shareef Abdur-Rahim to take at least two other trips just like this one and hoping that he found the environment appealing enough to make New Jersey his home for the next six years -- or as long as it takes the franchise to pack up and move to Brooklyn.

"The one thing everyone is missing is there's no negotiation going on here," one Nets official said yesterday, alluding to the finite amount the team can pay the free- agent forward. "Either he likes it and comes, or doesn't like it. That's all there is right now."

A limousine carrying Abdur- Rahim and his wife, Dee, pulled into the team's practice site shortly before noon, and they toured the facility for roughly two hours. He didn't stop to address the media assembled outside, nor did owner Bruce Ratner, who left earlier.

Nets president Rod Thorn, however, looked confident that the team had put its best foot forward.

"We had a nice meeting, and now he will have to look at what all his options are and decide what he wants to do," said Thorn, who took the visiting couple to dinner Wednesday night at a steakhouse in Manhattan. "Obviously, a player's timeline is a player's timeline, but from our perspective we'd like to see what can be done as quickly as possible. In case it doesn't work out, (the team must ensure that) other options aren't gone."

Abdur-Rahim has other options as well. He will visit Sacramento and Miami in the next week, but several executives around the league believe that no team -- other than rebuilding clubs with salary-cap room -- will offer the 28-year-old more than the midlevel exception, the extra fund that teams over the cap can earmark toward free agents.

The Nets can do only slightly better by using their trade exception, which is the money left over from the Kerry Kittles deal (a player-for-draft-pick swap) that can be used to purchase an existing contract from another team. In this scenario, the Nets can send the exception to Portland (valued at $4.9 million), have the Blazers sign him for that first-year salary, stretch it over six years with 10.5 percent annual raises, and come out with a new $37 million contract. There is no wiggle room, and both Abdur-Rahim and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, know it.

"We can do what we can do -- there really isn't anything to talk about," Thorn said. "We'll see what transpires. He is a very nice young man."

The Nets' pursuit of Keyon Dooling remains on hold until Abdur-Rahim makes up his mind, because they don't know how much money to offer the Miami free agent until they determine which exception to use on Abdur- Rahim. The team believes that it is very likely that Portland will accept the trade exception to use in a sign-and-trade scenario, leaving the midlevel for Dooling.


The Nets learned

that they are going to lose two of their own free-agent forwards: Clifford Robinson's negotiation with Miami is progressing quickly, and Brian Scalabrine -- who has spent his entire four-year career in New Jersey -- is expected to sign a five-year, $15 million deal with Boston.

"We figured that might happen, but we didn't know what (contract) number he'd come in at," a team official said. "The number came in great for him, and we're happy for him."

The 6-9 forward is coming off his best year, averaging 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 21 minutes per game, demonstrating that he had graduated from emergency player to rotation player in the 14 games he started at the end of last season.

[Marcus Bryant]

Abdur-Rahim has other options as well. He will visit Sacramento and Miami in the next week, but several executives around the league believe that no team -- other than rebuilding clubs with salary-cap room -- will offer the 28-year-old more than the midlevel exception, the extra fund that teams over the cap can earmark toward free agents.

Let's see, a 28 year old power forward who's a career 20 ppg scorer getting only the MLE from a contender? Yeah, right.

The one thing the article fails to mention is that there is a contender out there with the ability to pay SAR more in a S&T by sending Portland a player in whom they've had an interest.

[Mr. Body]

There's a contender that can offer him a major role and plenty of playing time, for just a million or so less a year.

Hmm... which to chose! Which to chose!

[Marcus Bryant]

There's a contender that can offer him a major role and plenty of playing time, for just a million or so less a year.

Hmm... which to chose! Which to chose!

Actually, it could be a little bit more than a mil extra a year. Bonus points if you can figure out the max and min.

[Mr. Body]

You're truly insane if you think somebody's dropping the max on him. At this point you should just call him up for a date.

[Marcus Bryant]

You're truly insane if you think somebody's dropping the max on him. At this point you should just call him up for a date.

...and you are just plain stupid because I wasn't referring to the absolute max he could be paid a season per the CBA, but rather how much he could get from that contender in a S&T.

Try again.

[picnroll]

Would you trade Rasho and the rights to Scola for SAR and Travis Outlaw? Doubt Poretland would, Outlaw is coming on. It's hard to say how highly other GMs value Scola.

[Useruser666]

I think after whatever happens, it will define SAR as a player.

If he goes to NJ, he just plain stupid. They will NEVER win a le!

If he goes to a club for more than the MLE, then he is greedy and also stupid. He would obviously not care about winning if he did that.

If he would go to a winning club for the MLE or a sign and trade, I would be able to respect that.

[Mr. Body]

...and you are just plain stupid because I wasn't referring to the absolute max he could be paid a season per the CBA, but rather how much he could get from that contender in a S&T.

Well, you're just teh STOOPIDEST because that's what I said in the previous post: S&T equals only a million or two over the MLE. Worth enough to bury onesself on the bench? Time will tell. Does Portland really want or need Rasho? Time will tell. Let's not rehash these stupid arguments.

If he goes to NJ, he just plain stupid. They will NEVER win a le!

Spurs fans have to be some of the most ignorant in the world. Or else it's just the Homer thing. I think at this point SAR would be ecstatic to get into the playoffs. Being a major factor in Jersey's run has to be a big, big plus.

[Useruser666]

Well, you're just teh STOOPIDEST because that's what I said in the previous post: S&T equals only a million or two over the MLE. Worth enough to bury onesself on the bench? Time will tell. Does Portland really want or need Rasho? Time will tell. Let's not rehash these stupid arguments.



Spurs fans have to be some of the most ignorant in the world. Or else it's just the Homer thing. I think at this point SAR would be ecstatic to get into the playoffs. Being a major factor in Jersey's run has to be a big, big plus.

Do you think NJ has a snowballs chance in to win a le? SARcould go anywhere, and there are several better teams than NJ that could pick him up. Why would he go to a place that has NO chance of winning? Do you actually believe his goal is just to make the first round and be eliminated? You must think he is pretty dumb them.

[Mr. Body]

Do you think NJ has a snowballs chance in to win a le?

Uh... No. Read my post again.

[Marcus Bryant]

Well, you're just teh STOOPIDEST

That was rather convincing.

My my, someone's testy.

because that's what I said in the previous post: S&T equals only a million or two over the MLE.

Actually, it doesn't. That's what I said in my post. How much is Nesterovic's annual salary in 2005-06? How much under the new CBA could the Spurs take back in a trade?

Also, you said "a mil" over in your prior post.

Keep guessing.

Worth enough to bury onesself on the bench? Time will tell. Does Portland really want or need Rasho? Time will tell. Let's not rehash these stupid arguments.

If you don't want to see stupid arguments and comments in this forum, I'd suggest you begin by ceasing to post some of them.

Spurs fans have to be some of the most ignorant in the world. Or else it's just the Homer thing. I think at this point SAR would be ecstatic to get into the playoffs. Being a major factor in Jersey's run has to be a big, big plus.

"Ignorant"? You apparently do not understand the CBA. I suggest you learn a little bit about that before you start referring to others as that.

Try again, "STOOPID".

[MannyIsGod]

Damn! How did I miss this !

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Well, after finally slogging through all of this the one question that lingers on my mind is, "Why are the Blazers looking to get Rasho?" Don't get me wrong, I love the guy and would like to see him stick around. Why put that kind of money up for a player who might very well just wind up playing behind Pryzbilla and Ratcliff? Is there something I'm not seeing here?

The main thing that I'm wondering about is SARS defense. The ruling logic I've seen in favor of this move has been that the Spurs D is good enough already and this guy can score 20 per game. Defense is the Spurs iden y. What I want to know is can this guy clog the paint like the Spurs ask all of their big men to do?

[Marcus Bryant]

Well, after finally slogging through all of this the one question that lingers on my mind is, "Why are the Blazers looking to get Rasho?" Don't get me wrong, I love the guy and would like to see him stick around. Why put that kind of money up for a player who might very well just wind up playing behind Pryzbilla and Ratcliff? Is there something I'm not seeing here?

Sure. They waive Ratliff to avoid the luxury tax on him and then will be in need of a center. Nesterovic is reasonably priced for a center given his skills and consistency.

Also, they get something back for SAR instead of seeing him walk away for nothing.

[usckk]

I stilll think he's going to New Jersey.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Aha. I wasn't aware that Portland was looking to albatross Theo Huxtable. Going for Rasho makes a bit more sense now. I still have my doubts about this trade though.

[Marcus Bryant]

In regards to the maximum the Spurs could offer Abdur-Rahim via a sign and trade with Portland for Nesterovic, they could offer a 6 year contract starting at $8.5 million with 10% annual raises (note, I am not saying they will, only that they can).

Compared to the max that any capped out team other than the Blazers can offer by signing SAR outright (MLE of $5 mil starting for 5 years with 8% annual raises), the Spurs could offer SAR as much as $32.5 million more in guaranteed salary if they completed a sign and trade of Nesterovic with Portland.

Again, not that they would, but that they could. So it's a bit more than "a mil" over the MLE. More like up to $4 mil per season on average over 5 years and that's not counting the extra guaranteed year that the Spurs could give SAR in a sign and trade.

[constantstate]

where ever he ends up, i'm thinking they're going to try sign and trades to get him more money. portland probably does want to get out from under some contracts... like DAs. dropping NVE should help too. but now with nate there, this could be chance one to get someone he likes there, or get someone with trade value for later on.

god knows why he'd want to go to nj... but at the end of the day i dont think he's going to want to be stuck there 4 or more years at mle money. not when he knows shaq is waiting, and even detroit and indiana would be nearly impossible to get by probably for the next 2 to 3 years.

[Marcus Bryant]

where ever he ends up, i'm thinking they're going to try sign and trades to get him more money. portland probably does want to get out from under some contracts... like DAs. dropping NVE should help too. but now with nate there, this could be chance one to get someone he likes there, or get someone with trade value for later on.

god knows why he'd want to go to nj... but at the end of the day i dont think he's going to want to be stuck there 4 or more years at mle money. not when he knows shaq is waiting, and even detroit and indiana would be nearly impossible to get by probably for the next 2 to 3 years.

If Portland is looking to dump contracts then they would have to take back some salary from NJ, even after assuming that the Nets use the trade exception. As far as expiring contracts go, the Nets don't really have any of significant size to make it worth Portland's while.

[constantstate]

If Portland is looking to dump contracts then they would have to take back some salary from NJ, even after assuming that the Nets use the trade exception. As far as expiring contracts go, the Nets don't really have any of significant size to make it worth Portland's while.

thats why im thinking if its nj maybe there's a 3rd team involved... because on top of that, they dont have anyone that either fits or would be worth it to them. the only other option for him would be to take the mle money... and if he's going to do that... he could do it anywhere. (or at least alot of other places)

[Marcus Bryant]

NJ would have to send Portland back some players in addition to the trade exception in order to give SAR something more than MLE money.

Here's a way to look at it, the most that can be guaranteed to SAR in a sign and trade using NJ's trade exception alone is $38.25 mil over 6 years.

Using the example of a sign and trade involving Nesterovic alone described above, the Spurs could offer SAR as much as $63.75 mil guaranteed over 6 years.

If you already have $30 mil committed to Nesterovic for the next 4 years, how much extra would it be worth to the Spurs to have SAR instead?

[Solid D]

Not bad money for a 6th man.

[Marcus Bryant]

Not bad money for a 6th man.

Perhaps. But you already have $30 mil committed to Rasho. Might it not be tempting for the front office to have SAR instead for a little bit more?

[bigbendbruisebrother]

Not bad money for a 6th man.

Or 7th man. Is Horry going to get bumped to the end of the bench if SAR comes? Or would Horry move over and play 5 or even 3? Whatever the situation, Horry has got to get significant PT with Tim. That rotation kicked ass in the playoffs, and it doesn't make sense that Horry just got inked for 3 years to ride pine.

As far as the sign and trade options, it just makes more sense to me to go after a small forward. If Pop and RC go after SAR and try to bring Scola in as well, I think they're taking Bruce Bowen's durability for granted.

SAR is a great player, but as rumored, this trade doesn't make much sense from the Spurs' standpoint.