http://www.nypost.com/sports/nets/26727.htm August 7, 2005 -- The Nets have bigger problems than the condition of Shareef Abdur-Rahim's right knee. The team's handling of medical concerns growing from his physical have alienated the power forward to the point where he on longer wants join the team. "Right now I don't feel I want to be a Net," Abdur-Rahim told The Post last night by telephone. "I can go somewhere else and play my career out. This is not an emotional thing. I've got to stand up for myself." When the Nets announced on Thursday that their deal with the Trail Blazers for Abdur-Rahim had been put on hold, the 6-foot-9 power forward said he understood the franchise was doing it's due diligence. But when the situation wasn't resolved by yesterday and Abdur-Rahim was overwhelmed by phone calls from concerned friends and family saying they had read newspaper and Internet accounts of him failing his physical, he became more upset. By 8 o'clock last night, Abdur-Rahim had yet to go out and celebrate his fifth wedding anniversary. He was on the phone discussing his options with his agent, Aaron Goodwin, and telling The Post how disenchanted with the Nets he had become. "At this point I feel they're doing me a disservice," said Abdur-Rahim. "Look at my history. I've never missed a game because of my knees. They could have asked the team that drafted me [Vancouver] or any of the teams that have traded for me [Atlanta, Portland]. Instead, they're putting it out there like I failed the physical and I'm damaged goods. "I don't want to be there," continued Abdur-Rahim. "We can just part ways and I'll find another situation where I'll have to do some damage control." Abdur-Rahim doesn't have the power to stop the deal, but as Goodwin pointed out, "If you were the Nets, why would you bring in a player who no longer wants to be there?" The Nets had a news conference scheduled for Thursday morning to introduce Abdur-Rahim, but an MRI found scar tissue in his right knee resulting from an injury he suffered in high school. He underwent arthroscopic surgery in 1993 and has never missed a game in college or during his nine-year NBA career because of a knee injury. But because the Nets are investing $38 million and six years in Abdur-Rahim, they put the trade on hold. Net President Rod Thorn never said Abdur-Rahim failed the physical - rather that the team had a concern. "We're trying to gather all the information and make as informed a decision as we can," Thorn told The Post last night. "It's something that came out of the blue. It's something that we were not at all aware of." A source told The Post the Nets sent copies of the MRI to three of the most prominent sports orthopedic surgeons in the nation - Dr. David Altcheck, Dr. Russ Warren, the Giants' team doctor, and Dr. James Andrews, who pioneered what is now known as Tommy John surgery. Goodwin told The Post on Friday that Altcheck agreed with the power forward that the condition is not one for concern. The Nets agreed to send a 2006 protected first-round lottery pick and the team's $4.9 million trade exception to Portland for Abdur-Rahim. The Nets have until Friday to complete the deal.
I don't blame SAR for being p**sed, they are making a big deal about some HS injury that hasn't affected his career so far after he took a below market deal to come to play for them. This injury must have turned up when he was traded to Portland, why didn't they object and why is it an issue now?
Nets' management is just pathetic. First, they balked at the idea of sending a 1st-round pick + MLE for a solid and still-in-his-prime player at the position they desperately need to improve, now they balk at a 12 year old injury which has NEVER affected SAR in his whole career? Way to build a good club-player relationship.
Whatever, SAR is just unhappy on every team he's ever been on. Why not be unhappy on the Nets before he even joins them. What an overrated malcontent. Give me Juwan Howard over this idiot any day!
I don't remember SAR being a malcontent in Vancouver, in fact he was one of the few players who seemed to enjoy playing there. In any event, he may be a stiff on the downside of his career, but if he doesn't come to NJ who the heck is going to man the Nets frontcourt besides that Serb with no vowels in his name? Aaron Williams, Alonzo Mourning and Brian Scalabrine are gone. Marshall, Walker and Swift are unavailable. Who's gonna fill the void?
Don't listen to tinman, he just rips Rahim any chance he gets, just like he does to Howard. It's annoying and a waste of time. Rahim SHOULD be unhappy, this entire hold up is stupid. And Rahim IS NOT a stiff on the downside of his career. He's 28 years old for crying out loud and put up 17 and 7 last year which is close to his career average!
To me this just shows how rampant the spoiled brat syndrom is in sports today. Somebody is showing caution before spending 36 million dollars. Maybe they are to cautious, and handling this in a bad way, but to retort "boo hoo hoo, they are dissing me and I don't want to play for them anymore" to me is just too much. And the worst part is I consider SAR a good guy. In another post somebody mentioned Alonzo morning gettingthe ring he so richly deserves. My thought was here is a guy who is damaged goods getting anoter chance and millions to play, gets traded and refuses to show up, BUT STILL EXPECTS TO GET PAID. Assuming I actually live in the real world, (you just really never really do know, do you?) the reality of sports stars is so warped.
SAR is in a tough pickle. Almost every team out there that could have used the MLE for him has used it. The Nets are mulling around a 12 year old injury. Both sides have a lot to lose if this deal isn't signed. The Nets will have a gaping hole at the PF. Now is SAR going to be stuck in Prtl; and Portland discresion of where to ship the disgruntled PF. This is a coupe for Portland if the deal falls through. They just signed an all-star for Cheap (NBA standards)! Now, they will have a nice trading asset. Suiters anyone?
I think in a S&T the deal in contingent on the player being traded. I don't think Portland can just keep Shareef under that contract.
I understand why SAR is pissed, but excuse a team for exercising a little caution before spending 40M on someone. The Nets definitely could have handled the whole "SAR thing" a little better. But you wouldn't buy a car if the brakes didn't work when you test driving it, even if it never had brake problems before.
Actually it is bad for all parties. -The Nets have much worse options elsewhere. -SAR has far more limited options. -Portland will probably lose him for nothing now. (Before they were getting a TE + 1st rounder). -Some team like Seattle or Atl or NO or Dal or LAC will really benefit from still having cap space or their MLE left and get SAR at a very discounted price. -The Nets should have done their homework if they were concerned about this. Now their best alternatives like Swift (thankfully), Marshall and Walker are GONE. They are the biggest losers in all this.
You would if the rest of the car was that underpriced. The guy is 28, and probably had a 8-9-10 mil year market value (like Walker's contract). SAR was doing NJ a huge favor agreeing to sign for an MLE type contract early in free agency. The Nets organization will have a huge credibility problem when they try to negotiate with future free agents. This isn't like failing a regular trade physical (e.g., Horry-Elliott) where the teams but not the players/agents handled the negotiations.
Shareef: "I don't want to be a Net" link: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/36925/20050807/abdur_rahim_i_dont_want_to_be_a_net/ What do you guys think? Maybe a Stoudamire/Abdurrahim trade can be arranged. Of course this means that McGrady would be a SG, but that's not a big deal. We're not talking fair value here, just a sign & trade type thing. What do you guys think? I know we heard that Stoudamire is out, but not sure if he inked his new deal yet.
Already being discussed: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=100156 And Mighty Mouse has already signed a contract with the Grizz.
I think I'd prefer our SF be more of a 3 point threat than Rahim would bring. Yao and McGrady generate so many outside shots, Shariff's skills would not be fully utilized.
This is too funny; I have actually watched Shareef play since he played for California, and I don't think I ever thought to myself "this guy has lost a step now"; that is a far cry from "he's a stiff on the downside". Only things I wondered were how he didn't whine considering he played for crap teams and he was still stable after playing for Portland. That 17/7 last year was a below par year for Shareef because Portland is a group of misfits and in many cases malcontents. If you see a game you will notice he contributed alot when he plays and prolly deserved a stronger role in the Portland offense. And please don't capilatize money here. He is a partner in a multimillion dollar contract; if he chooses to take negotiations elsewhere because he doesn't like his new employer then he can just like we can. If I came out of college and wanted to join a company, and they started doing an investigation on proof of my degrees, I might feel like this isn't the type of organization I need to work for and move on, and everyone would tell me I was using common sense. There are millionnaires who buy and sell restaurants and clubs; when talks get sour they voice it and go to the next opportunity. Shareef can enjoy every business privilege and liberty that the rest of us have. If the team is being unreasonable and damagine his credibility, he can say he does not want to play for them and move on.
Not all Shareef threads are the same; here I am suggesting that we vie for his services. I was also hoping this would reincarcate Damon trade talks, but of course he's gone now. Still, Shareef for some of our guys might be possible (Howard, Wesley, Mooch, Weatherspoon, etc., draft picks)
Howard over SAR? Are you serious? SAR is waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better than Howard. And was always better.
