http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13896072p-14734874c.html
Abdur-Rahim gets to see what might have been tonight
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Shareef Abdur-Rahim is happily employed by the Kings, a fixture of stability on the court and proof that one team's loss is another's gain.
Despite the team's 4-7 start, Abdur-Rahim insists he is perfectly content with the Kings, and the feeling is mutual. And to think how close it came to not happening at all.
This summer, his basketball future up for grabs as a free agent, Abdur-Rahim wanted to play for the New Jersey Nets, who visit Arco Arena tonight with a subplot of "what might have been."
Abdur-Rahim wanted to buy a massive house back East and run the floor with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. He wanted to win after nine years of losing.
The Nets wanted him, too. He was a productive power forward on losing teams but highly sought by clubs ready to take the next step.
The courtship was intense. Kidd hosted dinners, and other players talked up the benefits of being a Jersey guy. Nets coach Lawrence Frank talked to Abdur-Rahim regularly. They had become close friends during their NBA stint in Vancouver. Abdur-Rahim even attended Frank's wedding.
In the end, the Nets' front office decided a six-year, $38.5 million offer was too risky because of a suspect knee. An MRI during Abdur-Rahim's physical revealed some scar tissue from a surgery he had when he was 15, though he has never experienced any knee troubles since. An August news conference announcing his signing was canceled.
Frank didn't give up and continued to talk with Abdur-Rahim up to eight times a day. In a last-ditch effort and at Frank's urging, the Nets trimmed the original deal, hopeful feelings were not hurt. They offered a four-year, $23.3 million package that would have come close to the original offer had Abdur-Rahim met incentives.
No deal.
He walked away from New Jersey and was swooped up by the Kings. They had courted the veteran early, then, as president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said later, they "definitely thought he was gone."
After Kings doctors examined his knees and declared him fit, Abdur-Rahim signed a five-year, $29 million package Aug. 12, just days after the Nets deal collapsed.
"Things happen for a reason," Kings guard Mike Bibby said. "I just know we're glad to have him."
Said Abdur-Rahim, "It's all worked out for the best. I was really fortunate to be able to come to a team that wanted me."
And the knee?
"Never had a problem with it," Abdur-Rahim said. "I'm healthy. I guess (the Nets) didn't think so."
Aaron Goodwin, Abdur-Rahim's agent, said everything has worked out for his client, that the Kings have been a good fit. Abdur-Rahim, the only King to score in double figures every game this season, is averaging 14.9 points (on 54 percent shooting) 7.5 rebounds and a career-high 3.8 assists.
Goodwin even joked that the drive from his Oakland office to watch Abdur-Rahim from courtside sure beats red-eye flights to New Jersey.
"It was very disappointing how the New Jersey thing turned out," Goodwin said. "Not just Lawrence Frank, but Jason Kidd was disappointed, too. He was dismayed it didn't work out."
After practice Tuesday in San Francisco, Kidd told reporters, "(The signing) should have happened, but it didn't, so you've got to move on, and we've moved on. You can think about what-if, but unfortunately, it didn't work out."
Frank and Abdur-Rahim have not spoken since the New Jersey deal was voided Aug. 9. Abdur-Rahim said he and Frank remain close, and Frank said Tuesday that he considers Abdur-Rahim a dear friend.
"I love the guy," Frank said. "He is as first-class of a person as you'll ever be around. He is as good as it gets."
All told, the Kings came out of the summer landing the two free agents they most coveted: Abdur-Rahim and guard Bonzi Wells. The Nets wooed Stromile Swift and Abdur-Rahim and landed neither (Swift is in Houston). The Nets used their trade exception on inside banger Marc Jackson, formerly of Philadelphia.
Goodwin said the Nets/Abdur-Rahim case came down to business dollars.
"In basketball, I'm not shocked with anything anymore," Goodwin said. "In the end, it comes down to the salary cap. They were doing what they felt was best for their team, and I respect that. And I wanted to get what was best for Shareef. And we remembered the Kings the whole way. I was getting a ton of calls from teams interested in Shareef, but he told me, 'I want to play for Sacramento.' "
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
Abdur-Rahim gets to see what might have been tonight
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Shareef Abdur-Rahim is happily employed by the Kings, a fixture of stability on the court and proof that one team's loss is another's gain.
Despite the team's 4-7 start, Abdur-Rahim insists he is perfectly content with the Kings, and the feeling is mutual. And to think how close it came to not happening at all.
This summer, his basketball future up for grabs as a free agent, Abdur-Rahim wanted to play for the New Jersey Nets, who visit Arco Arena tonight with a subplot of "what might have been."
Abdur-Rahim wanted to buy a massive house back East and run the floor with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. He wanted to win after nine years of losing.
The Nets wanted him, too. He was a productive power forward on losing teams but highly sought by clubs ready to take the next step.
The courtship was intense. Kidd hosted dinners, and other players talked up the benefits of being a Jersey guy. Nets coach Lawrence Frank talked to Abdur-Rahim regularly. They had become close friends during their NBA stint in Vancouver. Abdur-Rahim even attended Frank's wedding.
In the end, the Nets' front office decided a six-year, $38.5 million offer was too risky because of a suspect knee. An MRI during Abdur-Rahim's physical revealed some scar tissue from a surgery he had when he was 15, though he has never experienced any knee troubles since. An August news conference announcing his signing was canceled.
Frank didn't give up and continued to talk with Abdur-Rahim up to eight times a day. In a last-ditch effort and at Frank's urging, the Nets trimmed the original deal, hopeful feelings were not hurt. They offered a four-year, $23.3 million package that would have come close to the original offer had Abdur-Rahim met incentives.
No deal.
He walked away from New Jersey and was swooped up by the Kings. They had courted the veteran early, then, as president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said later, they "definitely thought he was gone."
After Kings doctors examined his knees and declared him fit, Abdur-Rahim signed a five-year, $29 million package Aug. 12, just days after the Nets deal collapsed.
"Things happen for a reason," Kings guard Mike Bibby said. "I just know we're glad to have him."
Said Abdur-Rahim, "It's all worked out for the best. I was really fortunate to be able to come to a team that wanted me."
And the knee?
"Never had a problem with it," Abdur-Rahim said. "I'm healthy. I guess (the Nets) didn't think so."
Aaron Goodwin, Abdur-Rahim's agent, said everything has worked out for his client, that the Kings have been a good fit. Abdur-Rahim, the only King to score in double figures every game this season, is averaging 14.9 points (on 54 percent shooting) 7.5 rebounds and a career-high 3.8 assists.
Goodwin even joked that the drive from his Oakland office to watch Abdur-Rahim from courtside sure beats red-eye flights to New Jersey.
"It was very disappointing how the New Jersey thing turned out," Goodwin said. "Not just Lawrence Frank, but Jason Kidd was disappointed, too. He was dismayed it didn't work out."
After practice Tuesday in San Francisco, Kidd told reporters, "(The signing) should have happened, but it didn't, so you've got to move on, and we've moved on. You can think about what-if, but unfortunately, it didn't work out."
Frank and Abdur-Rahim have not spoken since the New Jersey deal was voided Aug. 9. Abdur-Rahim said he and Frank remain close, and Frank said Tuesday that he considers Abdur-Rahim a dear friend.
"I love the guy," Frank said. "He is as first-class of a person as you'll ever be around. He is as good as it gets."
All told, the Kings came out of the summer landing the two free agents they most coveted: Abdur-Rahim and guard Bonzi Wells. The Nets wooed Stromile Swift and Abdur-Rahim and landed neither (Swift is in Houston). The Nets used their trade exception on inside banger Marc Jackson, formerly of Philadelphia.
Goodwin said the Nets/Abdur-Rahim case came down to business dollars.
"In basketball, I'm not shocked with anything anymore," Goodwin said. "In the end, it comes down to the salary cap. They were doing what they felt was best for their team, and I respect that. And I wanted to get what was best for Shareef. And we remembered the Kings the whole way. I was getting a ton of calls from teams interested in Shareef, but he told me, 'I want to play for Sacramento.' "
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
