I say, let's get him anyway. Like a lot of people said, there's not much we could do anyway. Might as well. Take the chance, maybe we won't regret it.
i was in shock when i read that article! god were almost set to conquer the East then this happens! WHATS next!i say lets just take him you will never know he might recover fast.
He may recover fast, but players don't fail physicals for little teeny tiny injuries. I mean, Chris Webber cleared his physical last year, and his knees are so bad he can barely get off the ground these days. The last time we in Boston watched a player fail a physical was Dino Radja before he left for Europe. That man didn't play a full season in his entire career, and he failed his physical for very good reason. We may not be looking at that bad a case here, but a player failing his physical is a very serious concern. An elbow injury, whether it's his right or left is a monstrous worry. Having played ball for my college team for an entire season with an ailing right arm (I'm left-handed) let me tell you, it's extremely difficult. I was the second leading scorer on my team from the one spot, injured my right arm (a muscle strain, running from my tricep to forearm) and I couldn't shoot a lick after that. My first game back from the injury I literally (no joke now) shot 0-for-17 and found out how hard it is to play without a solid base to shoot off of. Rebounding was out of the question, and even defense was difficult, as every time someone passed the ball off the palm of my hand, I had to sit a couple plays because I couldn't feel my fingertips. It's a serious injury and not one to be trifled with. Do not expect him to be fully functional any time soon, and then don't expect him to be the same player when he does come back. He will play wary of that elbow for some time. Other teams will attack that elbow, just like they did to me. A swipe here on a layup, a bump here on a screen. That injury is going to linger, and if it's serious enough to have to make them think they MAY void the trade, it's not worth 6 years. An NBA team doesn't take damaged goods for 6 years at $38 million. It doesn't happen. It won't happen this time. It's simply too much of an investment to concern a team with. While this is just terrible news for Nets fans, it's worse news for Shareef. This man is going to endure a lot of poking and prodding from every team for the rest of his career, no matter how much better he looks, feels, or plays. He will endure questioning from us. He will also endure coaches coddling him because and denying him minutes, because they worry about his health. I wish Shareef was healthy as much as any Nets fan. I want some healthy competition in the Atlantic this year, but I don't think it's going to happen. And were I in your shoes, I would not be willing this man to play on my team this year, it's nothing but trouble. And with salary caps as prohibitive as they are, you may be seeing him get bought out in another season anyway.
. Apparently it was the knees. Here's an article about it: http://yesnetwork.com/nets/news.asp?news_id=1286 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">horn: "I hope it works out" By Al Iannazzone Special to YES Network Online August 4, 2005 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? Just when the Nets, their fans, and some of their high-priced, high-profile players were feeling good about the summer and the moves they made, they were hit with a "not so fast" reality jolt. Trail Blazers GM John Nash was as shocked as anybody at the Shareef revelation. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, the free-agent catch for the Nets and the power forward acquired to replace Kenyon Martin, has something in his knee that made New Jersey officials raise their eyebrows. During a routine physical, the Nets found that Abdur-Rahim has scar tissue in his right knee, perhaps resulting from an operation he had in high school. There is fear that it could become arthritic, so the Nets are seeking second and third opinions. Thus, Thursday's press conference for Abdur-Rahim and Jeff McInnis was cancelled less than two hours before it was set to begin and the sign-and-trade deal for Abdur-Rahim with Portland was put on hold. It may turn out to be nothing serious ? Abdur-Rahim's agent, Aaron Goodwin, said his client has had this his whole NBA career ? or it could be something big. It was important enough for Nets' executives to put the sign-and-trade on hold with the Blazers, which in turn delayed the signing of McInnis. "We'll gather all the information and make whatever decision we end up making," Nets president Rod Thorn said. The Nets want to do their homework. They want to know Abdur-Rahim can be the low-post presence they need and help make the Nets a championship contender again. They've invested nearly $40 million and a 2006 Lottery-protected first-round pick in him ? a move that Jason Kidd endorsed. Thorn and several Nets sources are optimistic all will be fine with Abdur-Rahim. Optimistic that this is a minor bump and he will be on board within the next few days. They are awaiting the results from the other doctors they contacted. But there are time constraints on everything here. The Nets have until Aug. 12 to complete the trade with Portland. But they will decide before that date because the trade exception they used to get Abdur-Rahim now expires Aug. 9. The Nets probably will make a decision by Monday the latest. The entire offseason lays in the results of these multiple doctors' opinions. What seemed to be a successful summer has taken a sudden nosedive. "Obviously if it doesn't work out favorably, in this case, he was a big piece to our puzzle and a quality player," Thorn said. "If we don't complete the trade then we've lost a quality player." FINE PHYSICALLY McInnis and Clifford Robinson passed their physicals. Robinson re-signed for two years, but the second year is the Nets' option. It's McInnis' option on the second year of his contract. ? Al Iannazzone McInnis will be a Net, Thorn assured everyone at a more somber news gathering than what was originally planned. But they aren't sure yet how he'll get his two-year, $7 million pact. They're more concerned with the power forward position. At this stage, with Stromile Swift, who could have been a Net via the trade exception and two second-round picks but ended up in Houston, and Donyell Marshall, who wanted to be a Net but is now in Cleveland, there aren't many, if any, big-name players available. Steven Hunter will be first on the Nets' list if Abdur-Rahim doesn't work out. To get Hunter, the Nets will try to work a sign-and-trade using the trade exception with Cleveland for McInnis, who was slated to get $3.4 million of the Nets' $5 million midlevel exception. If the Cavs agree, the Nets could use part or most of their midlevel on Hunter. With whatever is left, they could pursue DeSagana Diop, Malik Allen, and/or Robert "Tractor" Traylor, and potential "amnesty" casualties Brian Grant, and Austin Croshere. "We have started looking at other options," Thorn said. Goodwin said the Nets are being "cautious," which is "understandable." You can't blame them. Remember what happened with Alonzo Mourning and his pre-existing kidney condition? Remember the Chris Childs fiasco? But Abdur-Rahim's agent also invited the Nets to talk to the medical staffs of the Grizzlies, Hawks, and Blazers because the knee hasn't hindered him before. "I don't see any reason for there to be anything other than a minor concern," Goodwin said. "This is something that has been there for years." Actually, Abdur-Rahim has never missed time due to his knee. Before this past season, he never missed more than five games in a single season NBA season. In 2004-05, Abdur-Rahim was sidelined 28 for games, but most of them were due to right elbow surgery. The year prior, he played 85 games, three more than the entire regular season, and that was because he was traded mid-year from Atlanta to Portland. "I just think it will work out," Thorn said. "He's been playing for nine years. He's never missed games. This guy has been a real warrior. To me, it will end up working out." Anyone who lives in or has lived in the Tri-State area and follows the Nets wants to believe that. But those same people probably pause. When you follow the Nets, as a fan or writer, there's one thing you know is rock solid: When all seems good, things can change drastically. Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).</div>
We can't come to the conclusion that SAR flatout failed his physical. The article on the Nets website makes no mention of SAR failing anything...just a test that did not go as expected. I really can't envision something as major as Ignignot described. At the end of last season SAR was playing great. He was playing his game and did not have any hitches. I think that it is just best to wait and see what the Nets say in the next few days about his status.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ignignot:</div><div class="quote_post"> Having played ball for my college team for an entire season with an ailing right arm (I'm left-handed) let me tell you, it's extremely difficult. I was the second leading scorer on my team from the one spot, injured my right arm (a muscle strain, running from my tricep to forearm) and I couldn't shoot a lick after that. My first game back from the injury I literally (no joke now) shot 0-for-17 and found out how hard it is to play without a solid base to shoot off of. Rebounding was out of the question, and even defense was difficult, as every time someone passed the ball off the palm of my hand, I had to sit a couple plays because I couldn't feel my fingertips. It's a serious injury and not one to be trifled with.</div> What college team did you play for?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MiamiBalla12:</div><div class="quote_post">What college team did you play for?</div> Ya I was wondering the same thing.
Sounds like Ignignot is being more hopeful then accurate b/c he wants his Celts to take the Atlantic lol.
Well with or without Shareef we will contender for the Atlantic division, now will we be at the level of Miami, etc? no where close. But we do have the expereince to find ways to win a fair amount of games during the regular season without a strong frontcourt guy. I said that at the begining of last year that our experience would be a key. And it was, it allowed us to get through the early injuries. And find ways to win when we only had a roster of like 8 active guys. I think experience will be another big key. Kidd, Jefferson, Collins knows what it takes to be competive night in & night out. Will we have a successful year in the win-loss? Somewhat, I think we can till win 45-47 games without Reef. A championship year? doubt it. And at Kidd's age anything less than legit championship contenders is/will be a big dissappointment.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post"> Kidd, Jefferson, Collins knows what it takes to be competive night in & night out.</div> I'll just pretend you mentioned VC.
You're talking like SAR is done for, but Thorn seems to think it will still go through, and there's a slim chance it won't
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AirJordan:</div><div class="quote_post">I'll just pretend you mentioned VC. </div> Nah, it was no disrespect toward Vince as to why I didnt put him in that group. That group is simply the core of what is left from our back to back finals trip. And together they have experienced what it takes to win. Sometimes win games you arent surpose too. And that will be a factor in why we can still have a semi-successful regular season, if Reef doesnt workout.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting virve119:</div><div class="quote_post">Sounds like Ignignot is being more hopeful then accurate b/c he wants his Celts to take the Atlantic lol.</div> Nothing like that, I was just saying what I thought. And aside from that, I want to see more competitive play in the Atlantic, without Shareef, it'll still be plenty competitive, but with him, that raises even the C's and Nets regular season matchups to playoff intensity style games, and those are always fun. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">What college team did you play for?</div> A tiny little D-III State school in eastern MA, I doubt anyone here would know it.
