Well, I think that is exactly the problem. The Rockets should want him. He's most things they are looking for in a power forward: fairly young, veteran, mobile, a strong rebounder, an offensive option, willing to defer to the star, coachable, good character, team player. Plus, he wants to play for a winner (and even is willing to think the Nets are winner enough); the Rockets can definitely provide that. Plus he's willing to sign for MLE type money, so he's actually attainable by the Rockets, unlike Swift who never in a billion years will consent to accept what we're offering, and unlike Walker who is looking for S&T situations. I don't even know if Marshall would go so cheaply. The Rockets are fools to not pursue him.
I like SAR, but I think it is clear that JVG/CD dont feel like he would be a good fit here. So far I think JVG has done a good job of bringing in people that fit his system. He knows the "types" of players that he wants. And clearly SAR isnt one of those types of players for whatever reason.
I have to admit - it doesn't sound like SAR is in the Rockets' plans, but I still don't think we really know what the Rockets' fallback plan is if some type of arrangement can't be worked out with Swift. Even though Memphis needs to unload contracts almost as badly as Portland, I can't see them doing a sign-and-trade deal with us ... but I would guess the Blazers, even being in our conference, would.
read closer - they offered SAR the money the money that they ended up spending on Simmons. I don't think they have the cap room left to offer up a substantial contract.
Obviously Swift doesn't have the leverage of T-Mac (referring to when he basically forced Weisbrod's hand last year), but can't Swift's agent go back to West and say, look, Houston is where my client really wants to play next year, I understand you may not want to deal with Houston, but this is your chance in getting SOMETHING of value back for him (2nd pick overall 4-5 years back). Take something...or get nothing! My point, if Swift REALLY wants to play here next year, him and his agent will find a way to make it happen. Period.
Maybe SAR or his agent don't like the Rockets much as a destination. We have heard some reports (unverified) we have interest in SAR. It is a whole lot more plausible we just knew it would not happen (SAR coming here for an MLE, Portland would want too much) than SAR just isn't a JVG type player but Swift and Walker and Marshall are. Wow, SAR is an idiot. I think Milwalkee has a good as chance to do things than the Nets. Definetely a brighter future witht he aging albatros contract Kidd, and the future may not be so far off. Maybe SAR just like New Jersey for some odd ole reason.
http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr...lRUV5eTY3MjE5NTkmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2 Shareef seeking more from Nets Monday, July 11, 2005 By AL IANNAZZONE STAFF WRITER The Nets may need to do better than the midlevel exception to get Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Aaron Goodwin, Abdur-Rahim's agent, said the Nets must convince Portland to take their $4.9 million trade exception in a sign-and-trade if they want to land the free agent forward. "It has to be a sign-and-trade," Goodwin said. "There are quite a few teams offering the midlevel. For Shareef to come, he definitely would have to get that trade exception, and get the full extent of that trade exception." The full extent would be a six-year, $38 million deal, as opposed to a five-year, $28 million pact via the midlevel. Abdur-Rahim already turned down a five-year, $47 million offer from the Bucks, who then gave it to Bobby Simmons. Abdur-Rahim, who visited the Nets last week, was in Sacramento on Sunday. He could go to another city later this week. Miami, San Antonio and Houston are among the teams expressing interest. The Nets don't want to lose out on other free agent big men such as Donyell Marshall and Stromile Swift while they wait. They also would like to get penetrating guard Keyon Dooling and perhaps Darius Songaila in free agency. Nets president Rod Thorn said it's "certainly possible" that the Nets could give Abdur-Rahim a deadline to decide, or they could step up the pursuit of the other free agents. "We're talking, and that's the extent of it," Goodwin said. "I don't look at it as a situation where they can really deliver too much of an ultimatum. Shareef is looking at it as a great opportunity. But if he walked away from $47 million, I'm sure he'd walk away from [$38 million] for a longer period of time."
