Rahim to sign with Nets

[G_M]

I guess if a sign and trade is not workable Rahim has said that he will take the MLE for the Nets. Scratch another one off the big board!


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2110920

Deal would include sign-and-trade with Trail Blazers


By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider

The New Jersey Nets may have found their replacement for Kenyon Martin. And he's coming at a real bargain.

A team source said the Nets are very close to an agreement with Shareef Abdur-Rahim on a six year contract worth roughly $38 million.

To make the deal work under cap rules, the Portland Trail Blazers, who own Abdur-Rahim's rights, would have to agree to sign him to the contract and then trade him to the Nets using a $5 million trade exception that the Nets own. In return, the Nets would send a future first round pick to the Blazers.

If the Nets are unable to get the Blazers to agree to a sign-and-trade, Abdur-Rahim has agreed to sign with the Nets for their mid-level exception at five years for about $28 million, according to the team source. So, either way, it looks like the Nets will get their hands on Abdur-Rahim.

Either way it's a great deal for the Nets.

The Nets refused to pay Martin, their last power forward, a max contract last summer and eventually traded him to the Nuggets for three future first round picks. The Nets used some of those picks to acquire Vince Carter from the Toronto Raptors midseason. Now they're trying to use the trade exception they received from the Martin deal to acquire Abdur-Rahim.

Abdur-Rahim might be coming at less than half the price of Martin, but he isn't half the player. Abdur-Rahim, who is 28, has averaged 19 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game for his career. Last season he struggled through injuries, but still managed 16.8 ppg and 7.1 rpg. Martin has averaged 12.4 ppg and 5.1 rpg for his career and had 15.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg for the Nuggets last season.

If the Nets land Abdur-Rahim for the mid-level exception, look for new owner Bruce Ratner to keep spending money. The Nets still own their full mid-level exception. Their next signing could be free agent guard Keyon Dooling with part of their mid-level exception. The Nets are looking for a combo guard who can help Jason Kidd keep his minutes down to about 30 a night. They seem to have narrowed in on Dooling as their guy. If the Nets are forced to use their mid-level on Abdur-Rahim, they'll still have until July 29th to use their $5 million trade exception to acquire another free agent.

 

[AleksandarN]

The dominos are falling fast I hope Petrie grabs a couple before they are all gone.

 

[LPKingsFan]

Well I half expected Petrie to rectify the PF situation by trade. There has to be some way we can package 2 of the 3 from the Webber trade to a team looking for depth. Wasn't that the point of the Webb trade after all? But as for free agency, I don't know if this moves us any closer to Walker or not. We'll see...

 

[VF21]

I still think the longer time goes by without any confirmations about new acquisitions for the Kings, the more likely it is that we aren't going to see any real changes... other than some filler to get enough bodies on the rosters.

Either that, or that big trade involving multiple teams is gonna floor all of us.

My confidence factor on the two options:

1. Nothing major happens - 90%
2. BIG trade - 10%

 

[captain bill]

I didn't have very high expectations for this offseason, and even those aren't panning out. It's still early though, and I remain, tentatively, in wait and see mode.

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

That sucks, i thought we had a decent chance of signing here..

 

[PixelPusher]

Can't say I'm too terribly upset we lost out on Rahim (we're already stocked up on soft, offensive-oriented players), and I hope to hear about some team other than the Kings signing Antoine Walker soon.

If anything major happens for the Kings this offseason, it'll have to be via trade. We're not going to get anyone of signifigance with a mid-level acception signing.

 

[Yoda]

Petrie=zzzzzzzzzz

 

[DeAtHrOw]

Nets might actually have a decent team next season, especially in the "weaker" East.


Krstic
Rahim
Jefferson
Carter
Kidd

Not bad...

 

[SacTownKid]

I don't get it. Why would the Nets try to work a s&t if he already agreed he would sign for the MLE???

Doesn't this create a conflict of interest?

 

[SLAB]

Im fine with SAR being gone, but this is getting frustrating.

Man, who's even left? Donyell Marshall? Reggie Evans?

 

[stevetaebo]

Sure it may seem like an improvement since he's a big name.

But Sharif at PF??? c'mon. We'd never go far with him being pounded in the playoffs.

Let's hold are chips still for someone a bit more fitting.

 

[SLAB]

Off topic, but I dig the avatar, Steve...

 

[captain bill]

Nets might actually have a decent team next season, especially in the "weaker" East.


Krstic
Rahim
Jefferson
Carter
Kidd

Not bad...

That's a built for the regular season team if I have ever seen one. Maybe the third seed, maybe as low as 6 or 7 depending on the competition. Pounded in the playoffs the first time they face a real team.

 

[KingKong]

Atleast SAR is consistent at picking teams built for the regular season. Props to him.

 

[slugking50]

WOO HOO Thank goodness we didnt get him!

 

[acisking]

Atleast SAR is consistent at picking teams built for the regular season. Props to him.

funny...you could technically make the same point about the kings next season as well, couldn't you, especially in the "Stronger" west

 

[Bricklayer]

funny...you could technically make the same point about the kings next season as well, couldn't you, especially in the "Stronger" west

No, I think that's true. The Nets will have a very good chance to go further than we would have. I'm not even at all sure we have the better lineup or "core" for him to join anymore. Bibby/Peja/Miller vs. Kidd/Carter/Jefferson? If it weren't for Kidd's balky knee, #2 looks a lot more dynamic to me. Throw in the weaker conference, and making it to the 2nd round to be dispatched by Detroit/Miami seems entirely possible. And of course who knows how Detroit will end up playing under their new coach. kidd/Carter/Jefferson/Rahim also compares favorably with the Kidd/Kittles/Jefferson/Martin that made the Finals (as some of the crappiest 50 win teams ever to make it that far) EXCEPT that they do not play nearly as good defense, which could well be a killer. Carter and Rahimm are just flat out soft.

 

[KingKong]

The East is still weaker compared to the West, however things are gradually starting to balance out a bit more. Some teams that were considered perennial bottom dwellers have become more competitive. The Bulls, Wizards, and Cavs have improved from either last season or through summer aquisitions/ trades. Miami and Detroit are a given. Then you throw in Indiana, considered a contender once, but now are off the map due to last season's debacle, and the east doesn't seem like a cakewalk anymore. The Nets kinda fall in the same league as the Celtics and Sixers, but with if Kidd is not healthy, I feel the Nets aren't going anywhere even with Rahim on board.

 

[Diabeticwonder]

SAR was not going to make the Kings a better playoff team regardless of how well they fared in the regular season. The one guy that I would love to see in a Kings uniform is still available and that is Reggie Evans. If the Kings can somehow pick him up and get Bonzi at the 2 the defense and rebouding would be significantly better than last year. Evans doesn't look to score at all and who needs him to with Mike, Brad and Peja on the floor. A lineup of Bibby, Wells, Peja, Evans and Miller doesn't look as enticing as it would if SAR was in it, but IMO it would have a better chance at making more noise come the playoffs.

 

[Jerryaki]

SAR was not going to make the Kings a better playoff team regardless of how well they fared in the regular season. The one guy that I would love to see in a Kings uniform is still available and that is Reggie Evans. If the Kings can somehow pick him up and get Bonzi at the 2 the defense and rebouding would be significantly better than last year. Evans doesn't look to score at all and who needs him to with Mike, Brad and Peja on the floor. A lineup of Bibby, Wells, Peja, Evans and Miller doesn't look as enticing as it would if SAR was in it, but IMO it would have a better chance at making more noise come the playoffs.

someone was commenting about that on the ESPN Sac boards last night, about us signing both evans (mo and reggie) and then getting back barnes.

i like evans' boarding and defensive energy, which would certainly be helpful. could be a nice addition, despite his smack talk during the playoffs (along with garbage man).

 

[thesanityannex]

I'd take reggie evans any day. He's a team player who hustles for balls, and I'd still let him talk smack.

 

[Diabeticwonder]

The Kings do not need an offensive minded PF. They need someone who can defend and board and that's it. Charles Oakley is his prime is exactly what the Kings need now and the one guy that fits that description the closest and who isn't named Ben Wallace is Reggie Evans and he's out there for the taking. He's a restricted FA, but I really don't think that Seattle will do everything possible to resign him. Seattle can easily move Nick Collison into his starting slot and save some money while doing it.

 

[bigbadred00]

I know we don't need an offensive PF, but Reggie Evans only job is to rebound the ball. I know that's something we need but he doesn't play great defense. He goes for the ball rather than play D. I know the team is quite desperate, but the guy is no Ben Wallace. He can rebound like Ben, but he doesn't do much else.

 

[Diabeticwonder]

I know we don't need an offensive PF, but Reggie Evans only job is to rebound the ball. I know that's something we need but he doesn't play great defense. He goes for the ball rather than play D. I know the team is quite desperate, but the guy is no Ben Wallace. He can rebound like Ben, but he doesn't do much else.

True, but if the Kings can get him for 2 mill or so then I say do it. He averages almost 19 rebounds per 48 min!

 

[bigbadred00]

We need Ben Wallace or Dennis in his prime. We can get Reggie Evans. Reggie is a rebounding monster without much else........I guess it would be a step in the right direction though, rebounding wise.

 

[Bricklayer]

True, but if the Kings can get him for 2 mill or so then I say do it. He averages almost 19 rebounds per 48 min!

Two mil?? Come on guys. He's an exception player at the very least. An impact player. Low skill or not, he had as much to do with the Sonics rise last season as anybody not named Ray.

 

[Diabeticwonder]

Two mil?? Come on guys. He's an exception player at the very least. An impact player. Low skill or not, he had as much to do with the Sonics rise last season as anybody not named Ray.

I'm not sure that he's going to get the MLE. I believe that Seattle wants him for 2-3 mill, but won't give him the entire MLE. I know that 2 mill is a stretch, but with the market going the way it's going then it wouldn't surprise me. Swift got the MLE and SAR will either get the MLE or slightly above it.

 

[SacTownKid]

Two mil?? Come on guys. He's an exception player at the very least. An impact player. Low skill or not, he had as much to do with the Sonics rise last season as anybody not named Ray.

Actually I disagree. The Sonics have a QO for Evans so it may take that much to pry him away but the Sonics won't bid that high unless they absolutely have too.

 

[Bricklayer]

Actually I disagree. The Sonics have a QO for Evans so it may take that much to pry him away but the Sonics won't bid that high unless they absolutely have too.

They aren't going to have much of a choice. He was the starting PF on a Western Conference semi-finalist and led the league in rebs/48. 9.3rebs in 23.8min! Somebody will pick him up if the Sonics don't.