[ESPN.com]Nets nabbed Abdur-Rahim with S&T

Deal would include sign-and-trade with Trail Blazers
By Chad Ford

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

A team source said the Nets and Blazers agreed in principle to a sign-and-trade that will get them Shareef Abdur-Rahim on a six-year contract worth roughly $38 million.

In return, the Nets will send a lottery protected 2006 first-round pick to the Blazers.


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 at midseason. Now they'll 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.

Since the Nets will land Abdur-Rahim with their trade exception, look for new owner Bruce Ratner to keep spending money. The Nets still own their full mid-level exception. The Nets have been in serious talks with free-agent guard Keyon Dooling with part of their mid-level exception. However the Nets are getting serious competition for Dooling's services from the Magic. The Nets are looking for a combo guard who can help Jason Kidd keep his minutes down to about 30 a night.

The Nets also have reached agreement with forward Clifford Robinson, a person within the league told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Contract terms were not available.

Free agent deals cannot be officially announced until the league's new collective bargaining agreement is signed, something expected to occur within the next week.

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

great deal for nets imo. they got reef for basically just a pick. and they still have their mle to use for fa signings! good job on the nets front office! kidd-jefferson-carter-reef combo... flippin sweeeeet!