Shareef article in Orlando paper

[sidney]

http://forums.floridatoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=58388&sid=e234c1a1e3dc6f669443285a9385fea4

By John Denton
FLORIDA TODAY

ORLANDO -- Magic fans desperate to see Orlando upgrade its smallish frontline might want to remember this name: Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

Abdur-Rahim is fuming in Sacramento over his reduced playing time under new coach Reggie Theus. The 12-year veteran played 32 minutes in the Kings first two games, but he got just 12 minutes in the four games after that. What was particularly surprising is that Abdur-Rahim, 30, played just two minutes Tuesday against Seattle and one minute Saturday against Minnesota. And Friday against Cleveland, Abdur-Rahim received the first DNP-CD (Did Not Play-Coach’s Decision) of his career.

Clearly, Sacramento starting the rebuilding process and is turning the focus of its team over to Kevin Martin and rookie center Spencer Hawes.

I bring up Abdur-Rahim’s name for a variety of reasons. The power forward has averaged 18.1 points and 7.5 rebounds over his career and his rugged 6-foot-9, 245-pound frame would give the Magic some much-needed size at power forward.

Also, the Magic hotly pursued Abdur-Rahim in July of 2005, hoping to sign him to a mid-level contract extension and pair him along the frontline with a then-rookie Dwight Howard.

Also, Abdur-Rahim is represented by Aaron Goodwin, one of the most powerful agents in the business. Goodwin also represents the Magic’s Howard and assuredly would like to get his top client some big-man support in Orlando.

Abdur-Rahim is relatively affordable option for the Magic considering that he’s in the third season of a five-year, $29 million contract. He’s making 5.8 million this season, $6.2 million in 2008-09 and $6.6 million in 2009-10.

That salary would exceed that $2.6 million Disable Player Exception that the Magic were granted on Friday by the NBA. The Magic got the salary cap relief when it lost veteran center Tony Battie for the season because of a shoulder injury.

To acquire a player such as Abdur-Rahim, the Magic would likely have to trade one of their expiring contracts. Carlos Arroyo ($4 million), Pat Garrity ($3.8 million) or Keyon Dooling ($3.5 million) might appeal to the Kings because of their desire to slash payroll. And Arroyo and Dooling could come in especially handy to the Kings, who are already without Mike Bibby because of a torn ligament in his thumb.

Magic general manager Otis Smith can’t comment specifically about players on other teams, but he did say this Monday: ``Yeah, we’re looking. But we’ve been looking. There’s just not a lot out there available right now.’’

 

[cfechter]

Ignorant article, the writer is has paid much less attention to what Shareef is capable of now as compared with how he was prior to this season.

And "rugged" is hardly the word I would used to describe anything having to do with Shareef.

 

[91sickness]

Thats fine with me, go ahead and think hes "rugged" SAR is not the player he used to be. I would much rather us get rid of Kenny n keep SAR because i still feel he could be somewhat useful to this team. I highly doubt though that anyone will take Kenny of our hands. However if we can shed some contracts and free up minutes for the younger big men in the process im all for it.


GO KINGS!!!

GO YOUTH!!!

 

[DocHolliday]

The chance that this writer has ANY idea what Shareef's feelings are is slim to none. I'm choosing the latter. That's just ignorant to assume someone is fuming, because of their playing time.

I say let them think he's still rugged, so we can get an expriring. He's not needed at this point on this team.

 

[cfechter]

The chance that this writer has ANY idea what Shareef's feelings are is slim to none. I'm choosing the latter. That's just ignorant to assume someone is fuming, because of their playing time.

I say let them think he's still rugged, so we can get an expriring. He's not needed at this point on this team.

I would doubt that management of the Magic are as ignorant as this writer. I would love to do what he is suggesting as it's apparent now that Shareef just can't play anymore, but I doubt any team in the league would take on his contract after watching him play the first few games.

 

[VF21]

Now, now fellow Kings fans. We shouldn't be so petty. If the Orlando Magic can provide a better setting for the "rugged" SAR and they want the PF to come to Orlando to give Dwight Howard some big-man support, I think we owe it to them (and to the bigger good of the game of basketball) to just let him go.

Also, Abdur-Rahim is represented by Aaron Goodwin, one of the most powerful agents in the business. Goodwin also represents the Magic’s Howard and assuredly would like to get his top client some big-man support in Orlando.

And we shouldn't dump on the writer, who obviously has an in with someone to get this kind of unbiased information...
































/ludicrous sarcasm

 

[kennadog]

The chance that this writer has ANY idea what Shareef's feelings are is slim to none. I'm choosing the latter. That's just ignorant to assume someone is fuming, because of their playing time.

I say let them think he's still rugged, so we can get an expriring. He's not needed at this point on this team.

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/485629.html

His agent is fuming for him, if you want to make that distinction. Which is ridiculous, but there you go.

 

[sidney]

This guy may just be bored, but might not be that far-fetched

1) SAR's primary talent has always been as a post scorer. Although he is in decline, that trick doesn't decline as fast as others that require more athletic ability.
2) SAR weaknesses would be covered by none other than Howard.
3) We aren't the only ones who have crap on our roster that we would like to get rid of.
4) Despite the fact that Kings fans are obsessed with salary cap issues because that seems like the only way out of this mess, other teams are not. See contract for Lewis, Rashard.

 

[LPKingsFan]

Florida Today mentions SAR by name...

http://forums.floridatoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=58388&sid=e234c1a1e3dc6f669443285a9385fea4

(apparently they've turned their newspaper into a message board )

Some very compelling stuff, that's been talked about here before:

I bring up Abdur-Rahim’s name for a variety of reasons. The power forward has averaged 18.1 points and 7.5 rebounds over his career and his rugged 6-foot-9, 245-pound frame would give the Magic some much-needed size at power forward.

Also, the Magic hotly pursued Abdur-Rahim in July of 2005, hoping to sign him to a mid-level contract extension and pair him along the frontline with a then-rookie Dwight Howard

Rugged frame? Have they been talking to Voision?

To acquire a player such as Abdur-Rahim, the Magic would likely have to trade one of their expiring contracts. Carlos Arroyo ($4 million), Pat Garrity ($3.8 million) or Keyon Dooling ($3.5 million) might appeal to the Kings because of their desire to slash payroll. And Arroyo and Dooling could come in especially handy to the Kings, who are already without Mike Bibby because of a torn ligament in his thumb.

I'd take any two out of those three expirings. It would be nice to get a late first, or a second rounder or two, thrown in. But at this point, the salary relief and chemistry issues almost make me willing just to give him up for "free."

 

[BawLa]

SAR doesn't fit our new system, that is why he is seeing reduced minutes...moreso than his declining abilities due to aging IMO.

This seems like an opportunity to take advantage of.

 

[nbrans]

Man, people are way too quick to throw SAR under the bus. Someone who played with a freaking broken jaw and came back quickly from knee surgery is rugged. Not in style of play, obviously, but he's been a great team player for the Kings.

He's obviously limited, but on the right team he'd still be useful.

 

[Entity]

Man, people are way too quick to throw SAR under the bus. Someone who played with a freaking broken jaw and came back quickly from knee surgery is rugged. Not in style of play, obviously, but he's been a great team player for the Kings.

He's obviously limited, but on the right team he'd still be useful.

Well by all means lets help put him on that right team.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Well I guess we could let them pry Reef from us for enders... But I draw the line at Mikki Moore and Kenny Thomass no way could we ever part with them (siad in my nest Brair Rabbit impression)

 

[VF21]

Man, people are way too quick to throw SAR under the bus. Someone who played with a freaking broken jaw and came back quickly from knee surgery is rugged. Not in style of play, obviously, but he's been a great team player for the Kings.

He's obviously limited, but on the right team he'd still be useful.

The irony of this statement simply floors me. SAR is about 112 in NBA years. His legs are at least 356.

It's not about his heart or his desire. It's about the cold hard fact that he's just not the player he once was. Yes, he played through a broken jaw. No one disputes that and I think the fans truly appreciated it at the time. But that was then and this is now.

If we're going to rebuild it means getting rid of ALL the players that simply are not part of the big picture of the future of the Kings. If you want to talk about a great team player, we should have made Corliss - the ULTIMATE team player - an offer to stick around.

Shareef could be the nicest guy in the whole world but watching him is more painful that was watching Webb try and make it up the court after his knee surgery. And Webb had a lot more weapons in his arsenal than SAR will ever have.

We need to totally redo the guys who are currently listed as "power forwards." Unfortunately for SAR, who is indeed a nice guy and a team player, that includes him.

 

[Gary]

Sources tell me that SAR is a jerk

My mom was his nurse when he had a broken jaw at Mercy General, and she said he was an a-hole. So by all means Petrie, trade the fool!

SAR is pretty much our only low post threat before Hawes, and we still didn't use him. Must tell you something about the guy. He's pretty much through w/ his BBall career. I say trade him if we can. Hell, I would even trade him to Boston for Pollard!

 

[VF21]

He may not be a good patient, but I've heard from a variety of sources that he's a great guy in the locker room. Last year, he and Corliss were the two players who tried their best to keep the guys looking at it as a team, etc.

 

[allrightythen]

Sources tell me that SAR is a jerk

My mom was his nurse when he had a broken jaw at Mercy General, and she said he was an a-hole. So by all means Petrie, trade the fool!

SAR is pretty much our only low post threat before Hawes, and we still didn't use him. Must tell you something about the guy. He's pretty much through w/ his BBall career. I say trade him if we can. Hell, I would even trade him to Boston for Pollard!

Funny I have a friend who taught one of his kids Piano and she said he was a pretty nice guy.

 

[VF21]

Lots of people are HORRIBLE patients in the hospital, so I just don't think that makes SAR a jerk. I've heard nothing to indicate he's anything less than a team player and really nice guy. Unfortunately, that isn't the point.

 

[Bricklayer]

Well here's the funny thing about great guy Reef: at EVERY single stop he has made, he has complained by the end. Pretty remarkable for a good locker room presence.

So in any case, a) let's hire this writer as GM down at Orlando; and b) let's get one of those expirings. That's one of those best case scenarios. Hell, we should ask them if they want a slightly used Mikki and/or Kenny while we're at it.

 

[nbrans]

The irony of this statement simply floors me. SAR is about 112 in NBA years. His legs are at least 356.

It's not about his heart or his desire. It's about the cold hard fact that he's just not the player he once was. Yes, he played through a broken jaw. No one disputes that and I think the fans truly appreciated it at the time. But that was then and this is now.

If we're going to rebuild it means getting rid of ALL the players that simply are not part of the big picture of the future of the Kings. If you want to talk about a great team player, we should have made Corliss - the ULTIMATE team player - an offer to stick around.

Shareef could be the nicest guy in the whole world but watching him is more painful that was watching Webb try and make it up the court after his knee surgery. And Webb had a lot more weapons in his arsenal than SAR will ever have.

We need to totally redo the guys who are currently listed as "power forwards." Unfortunately for SAR, who is indeed a nice guy and a team player, that includes him.

Oh don't get me wrong, I definitely don't think he belongs on these Kings -- but I don't think it's fair to trash the guy (not saying you were, just in general), and I also don't think he's worthless. He's coming off knee surgery (ask Amare and Arenas how that's working for them), necessarily playing himself back into shape, and obviously he's on the downside of his career.

But he's not worthless yet, and hopefully he'll be able to regain some value so he can get a better opportunity elsewhere.

 

[Spike]

I'd take Garrity for SAR in a heartbeat.


(Pay no attention to the personal bias.)

 

[HaraWish]

I'd love to take Arroyo. IMO, he is a good PG (especially on his national team), and we need it. He's at the last year of the contract, so we can try him.

 

[KCKingsCountry]

I wouldn't mind having either Arroyo or Dooling especially with expiring contracts it really wouldnt matter who. Would one of them and first rounder pass the trade checker?

 

[DocHolliday]

Just for the record, Regie Theus stated last night on Grant and Mike's show that Shareef and he had spoken. Shareef assured Reggie, that he did NOT ask his agent to make those statements, or go to the median in general. This is Eric Goodwin doing what he does best, being an ***.

Shareef and Reggie had a candid conversation and Shareef asked him some point blank questions and Reggie said he answered them the best he could.

Reggie also said that he knows Eric personally and if Eric or any of the players want to talk feel free to contact him, but going to the media is not the right thing to do.

Reggie wants to find Shareef minutes, so he can work himself back from the injury, but at the same time you can't put the entire teams effort at jeopardy just to give minutes to one guy to allow him to work back. It's a balancing act.