http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/story/326923p-279486c.html Shareef rejects Milwaukee bucks The Nets got good news when Shareef Abdur-Rahim turned down a $47 million pact to join the Milwaukee Bucks, according to his agent. Aaron Goodwin said yesterday his client still is searching for the best possible deal and ideal situation. Milwaukee, meanwhile, will give its five-year, $47 million offer to the Clippers' Bobby Simmons. Sacramento, San Antonio and Miami can - like the Nets - offer Abdur-Rahim their mid-level exception worth roughly $5 million. But unlike those teams, the Nets can offer Portland their trade exception, worth nearly $5 million, in a sign-and-trade for Abdur-Rahim. The exception is attractive for capped out teams and can be packaged with cash and or draft picks. The Nets likely will have to execute a sign-and-trade to land Abdur-Rahim since it would allow him to sign a six-year contract worth up to $38 million. That is a year and $10 million more than teams can offer the 6-9 power forward through the mid-level exception. "It comes down to Portland," Goodwin said. The Nets cannot afford to wait too long for Abdur-Rahim, who is currently visiting Sacramento, to make up his mind. Their trade exception expires on July 29 and free agent power forwards Donyell Marshall and Stromile Swift - the Nets' second options - might be off the market by then.
WOW! So SAR turned down the 47M offer? He turned down 9M per season? I doubt he will get that much from the Nets. That's cool I guess. He has a better chance to win with the Nets than he does the Bucks. Still, surprising!
Well, the SNT is still out there for Mason... Forgot about the Mason-McMillan connection too, I just think it would work out great for both teams... Guess NJ and Sac are the frontrunners, why no Rox? I'd love to know the real reason!!!
The Bucks may very well be better than the aging Kidd and his Nets. Certainly they have a better future (Redd, Bogut, Ford, some other decent players), maybe the future is soon too. Looks like SAR is just a Jersey guy and doesn't care about winning.
I like Milwaukee, but I would argue that Kidd/Carter/Jefferson/SAR/Krstic is going to be better than the Bucks starting five next year.
2001 Bucks won 50+ games with Cassell, Allen, Robinson, Tim Thomas, Jason Cafey, and Lindsey Hunter. How many can Ford, Redd, Simmons, Mason, Bogut, Joe Smith, Mo Williams, and Gadzuric win? Should be a playoff team for years to come IMO, only thing holding them back is their coach who had pretty pathetic records with similar talent on the Hawks. Those were the Hawk teams with Jason Terry, Glen Robinson, Abdur Rahim, Theo Ratlif, and I believe Bob Sura, not exactly equal, but comparable.
