<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Nets finally completed a sign-and-trade with the Trail Blazers for free agent Shareef Abdur-Rahim to keep their mid-level exception available for other free agents. But it will cost them. While the Nets hung onto the Clippers' first-round pick in next summer's draft, they will send their own 2006 first-round pick (lottery protected) and their $4.9 million trade exception to Portland, according to league sources. The Blazers initially wanted the rights to second-round pick Mile Ilic but the Nets refused. The Nets were willing to offer a conditional first-round pick beyond next summer's draft in order to use their trade exception on Abdur-Rahim, a 6-9 forward who averaged 16.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season. Perhaps worried about losing other free agent targets, they finally gave in to Portland GM John Nash by surrendering a first-rounder for next summer. Teams are not allowed to officially comment about any deals until the collective bargaining agreement is finalized perhaps by sometime next week. Abdur-Rahim, who committed to joining the Nets on Monday for at least the mid-level exception, is now able to sign a six-year deal worth as much as $38 million. If he had to settle for the Nets' mid-level exception, the former All-Star would have gotten a maximum of only five years and $28million while the Nets would have had to try to deal their trade exception to another team in order to sign any more free agents. </div> New York Daily News
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bahir:</div><div class="quote_post">So, does this mean the Nets are potential contenders in the east with 4 stars in their line-up?</div> With the addtion of rahim to the team, Nets will definitly be a contender and one of the top teams in the east. In paper the Nets have the most complete and powerful starting 5. with 4 all star players and a rising sophomore center nenad krstic. if this team avoids injury all thru out next season look for them in the Playoff race!
