Blazers/Nets potential trade?

[DT]

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The New Jersey Nets are talking to the Portland Trail Blazers about a trade that would include sending Jason Kidd to the Blazers for forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, SportsLine.com has learned.

Blazers president Steve Patterson confirmed Tuesday afternoon that discussions have gone on, although he made it clear that a deal has not been completed.

"It's early," Patterson said. "It's interesting, but I don't know if anything will happen."

Another source told SportsLine.com that the Blazers are busy getting opinions on the micro-fracture surgery that Kidd had on his left knee July 1 that figures to have him out until December. The surgery was successful, and Kidd has made it clear he would like to leave the Nets, who were sold to Bruce Ratner in the spring and have essentially purged their roster since then.

Although they did sign young forward Richard Jefferson to a six-year, $78 million extension last month, Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles and Rodney Rogers are gone, with virtually nothing but future draft picks in return.

Kidd, 31, led the NBA in assists for the fifth time last season, and it was the fifth time he has been selected first-team All-NBA. He came to the Nets before the 2001-02 season in a trade with the Suns, and the Nets won the Eastern Conference in 2002 and 2003, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2002 Finals and the San Antonio Spurs the next year.

Kidd, who was drafted by Dallas out of Cal in 1994, signed a six-year deal worth more than $100 million with the Nets before the 2003-04 season.

Also a former star at Cal, Abdur-Rahim, 28, is a 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward acquired by the Blazers from Atlanta last season with Theo Ratliff and Dan Dickau for Rasheed Wallace. However, after averaging 20.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in his previous seven seasons, he was a bad fit in Portland. He averaged just 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 22.8 minutes a game behind Zach Randolph, the NBA's most improved player.

Abdur-Rahim will make more than $14.6 million in this, the final season of his contract and has made it clear he wants out. The Blazers have tried to talk him into playing small forward next to Randolph, but he isn't really athletic enough to play the small forwards in the West and is a much better fit in the East. And the Blazers just signed small forward Darius Miles to a six-year, $48 million contract.

The Nets had talked to the Blazers about Abdur-Rahim earlier in the summer, with Kittles as the bait, but the deal fell through and Kittles went to the Los Angeles Clippers for a draft choice.

Perhaps the biggest problem with the deal is the Blazers drafted prep point guard Sebastian Telfair with the 13th pick overall in the 2004 draft. Add to that, they already have point guards Damon Stoudamire and Nick Van Exel making some $27 million between them.

The concept prompted Steve Patterson to joke, "Actually, we're trying to build a roster with just point guards and small forwards."

Edited September 15, 2004 by droppytop

[Lowerdeck]

I'd rather not see Kidd get traded, or Abdul-Rahim come to the Nets. Kidd, although out for a while, is still real good.

The Nets seriously need to rebuild. They need some younger talent yeah, but get Kidd to help them out while they're working on improving for the future.

[thuganomic]

1. There is an NBA Offseason Thread

2. I"m going to put the blame equally on Kenyon Martin and Ratner. I don't know where the fuck K-Mart got the idea he's a max player. He is not. However, Jeffreson's contract is ridiculous. Ratner has no idea what he's doing, and the Nets could've gotten much better talent back rather than just 3 1sts for Kenyon.

[Guest Bluesman]

This really doesn't make sense. But then again, it is the Blazers and Nets we're talking about here. If this trade goes through, it will be mostly because of the limited options both teams have in trying to deal each player.

I can't think this trade has been discussed too much, or for very long, given the acquistion of Van Exel. Then again, it is the Blazers, so...

[sahyder1]

I like Rahim far too much to want to have him come to the hell hole that will be Nets for the next 4 years. Kidd caused this mess here in NJ and surprise surprise....he might get his wish to leave now that things are bad.

[gunnar hendershow]

This just sounds like a really, really dumb move. The Nets are a mess and the Blazers already have enough point guards. The Blazers will be worse as will the Nets if this trade goes through.

[sahyder1]

This just sounds like a really, really dumb move.  The Nets are a mess and the Blazers already have enough point guards.  The Blazers will be worse as will the Nets if this trade goes through.

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[thuganomic]

Rahim was unhappy in Portland, yet he was happy in Atlanta? How does that one make sense?

And if he was unhappy in Portland, why would he be happy in NJ/Brooklyn?

Fuck the Nets. I'm not gonna waste my money and time cheering for a team owned by such a stingy bastard.