ESPN Insider: Blazers looking to trade Rasheed to Nets for Kenyon

Ford's Fixer Uppers: Burning down the Blazers

By Chad Ford
NBA Insider


It just wouldn't be an NBA offseason without the Blazers stage diving into the NBA trade mosh pit -- so it was with warm, familiar appreciation that we learned this weekend that GM John Nash was attempting to extradite Rasheed Wallace and Ruben Patterson to New Jersey for, of all people, Kenyon Martin.

It makes perfect sense if you think about it. The Blazers are stressing character now, and Martin is definitely a character . . .

Martin, for those of you with memories that erase upon seasons end, was the 2001 version of Ron Artest. Martin, during his second year in the league, picked up an NBA-high six flagrant fouls (the same number Artest picked up this season), 12 technical fouls, was suspended for seven games and was fined $347,000 over the course of the season.

Kenyon showed his gentler side this year, reducing the number of flagrants to two, but he was still tied for fifth in the league in technicals with 13 -- one more than he got during the infamous 2001-02 campaign.

His teammates claimed he mellowed out. Martin says he's just matured.

"This is my third year, man. I've grown up a lot since last year," Martin said earlier this year. "I don't know what (prompted it); it's just maturing. That's the way it goes, I guess. Some people get it, and some people don't. I think I got it."

Still you've got to wonder, do they put something in the water there in Portland that inexplicably draws whoever is in the Blazers' front office to the shadier players in the NBA?

Martin isn't a bad man. But he's not what you'd call an NBA model citizen either.

Of course, compared to Wallace, who has led the NBA in technical fouls from 1999-2002, he's a saint. Wallace got a whopping 41 technicals during the 2000-01 season, once attacked a referee and was nailed for mar1juana possession last season.

Patterson, the other guy the Blazers are trying to dump, was arrested and charged with felony assault in 2002. In 2001, before he was signed to a lucrative long term deal with the Blazers, he pled guilty to charges of forcing his nanny to perform sex acts.

No wonder Paul Allen announced last week that he was initiating a "25-step" recovery program for the Blazers.

How bad of shape are the Blazers in? Alcoholics Anonymous has a 12-step program. Allen felt the need to more than double it.

Among the key components is a pledge to "evaluate character along with basketball talent when selecting players " and to "establish a player code of conduct and to hold our players accountable for their actions both on and off the court."

Dumping Wallace and Patterson is a must. But do they have to replace him with Martin?

It's time for the Blazers to start cleaning house, and of course, I have my own ideas. Here's my five-step plan for rebuilding the Blazers and rehabilitating their image.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/story?id=1593250

Deal may also include Mutombo and Patterson


PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland Trail Blazers have been talking about trading Rasheed Wallace and Ruben Patterson to the New Jersey Nets for Dikembe Mutombo and Kenyon Martin, according to a newspaper report.

"There have been some discussions, but there is not a trade on the table at this moment," coach Maurice Cheeks told The Oregonian.

The Blazers apparently are hesitant to make the trade because Portland general manager John Nash does not want to inherit Mutombo's salary, which is $17.9 million this season and $19.7 million next season.

Wallace is in the final year of a contract which will pay him $17 million.

Meanwhile, Martin has broken off contract talks with the Nets and has asked for a trade, reports ESPN.com's David Aldridge.

Martin, who has one year remaining on his Nets contract, reportedly was seeking a six-year extension worth approximately $87 million, but Aldridge reports the Nets have offered him roughly $66 million.

Martin is not eligible for a new contract until July 2004. He is scheduled to make $5.1 million this season.

"I don't have any comment on any discussions that I have with (Nets president) Rod Thorn," Brian Dyke, Martin's agent, said in a telephone call.

Martin, the No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft, is scheduled to be paid $5.1 million in the final year of his contract.

"Kenyon loves New Jersey, the Nets fans, his teammates and the staff," Dyke said. "This should be fairly obvious by his actions and his charitable works in the community. He has been a valuable part of the Nets' success and wants to feel secure about his future."

The Nets and Martin can continue talks on an extension until Oct. 31.

Nash, who was the Nets' general manager from 1996-2001, was noncommittal when asked about the trade.

"I'm not at liberty to discuss that," Nash said. "As a general policy, I won't confirm or deny that we are involved in a trade."

Nets president Rod Thorn was traveling to West Virginia for his son's wedding and could not be reached for comment.

Although Cheeks said he wants to keep Wallace, he said the team has continually looked to trade him this summer.

"There have been a lot of things going on about Rasheed," Cheeks said. "And not just about Rasheed, a lot of other players, too. And there have been some deals on the table."

Although Wallace has led the Blazers in scoring the past four seasons, he also has come to symbolize a poor team attitude that owner Paul Allen and new managers are attempting to change.

Wallace led the NBA in technical fouls from 1999-2002, setting a record with 41 in 2000-01, and he has been suspended for 11 games during the past three seasons for incidents ranging from attacking a referee to throwing a towel at a referee to throwing a towel at a teammate. He was cited for mar1juana possession last season.

"I know Rasheed has not been the best soldier," Cheeks said. "But I think he is trying to change. Right now, he is working out in Las Vegas, and for Rasheed to be doing that at this time of the year is a very positive sign."

As general manager of the Nets, Nash picked Martin with the No. 1 choice in the 2000 draft. Like Wallace, Martin has received suspensions for his conduct, primarily flagrant fouls.

One of the league's top defensive players, Martin averaged 16.7 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds in the regular season. He averaged 18.9 points and 9.4 rebounds in 20 postseason games, but he struggled in Games 5 and 6.

He scored a season-low four points on 2 of 7 shooting while playing with the flu in a Game 5 loss. He was 3-for-23 in Game 6 when the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA championships.

Mutombo is a 12-year NBA veteran who was injured much of last season, limiting him to 24 games with an average 5.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 21.4 minutes. A 7-2, 265-pound center, Mutombo is the only player in NBA history to win the league's Defensive Player of the Year award four times.