<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The Nets will revisit trade scenarios from recent weeks, especially those with Cleveland for forward Eric Williams and shooting guard Dajuan Wagner; with Portland for forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim (who is a decided longshot); and with the Clippers for forward Bobby Simmons. On the free-agent front, there are Cleveland's Williams (if they can't get him via sign-and-trade) and New Orleans' Robert "Tractor" Traylor. The Nets will pursue a collection of cost-effective players. It's unlikely they can get Abdur-Rahim, but the Nets will try with a package of Kerry Kittles, Lucious Harris and Aaron Williams. If Abdur-Rahim is unattainable, the Nets will try to work the Kittles for Wagner, Williams and Kedrick Brown scenario. The Nets also have tried to deal Kittles to the Clippers with an eye on Simmons. Especially if Kittles is dealt, the Nets will look for shooting-guard help. Guard Ron Mercer, who was released by the Spurs last season, is a possibility. Mercer's agent is Andy Miller, who also represents coach Lawrence Frank.</div> Full Article Courtesy of Fred Kerber/New York Post Interesting...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DragonKid:</div><div class="quote_post">If Rahim can come, it's better than Martin... plus Krstic... it's perfect</div> Please explain to me how do you figure? Because Reef has been a 20/10 guy in his career,its pretty meanless because they were never in any winning enviroments. Rahim doesnt bring the intangablies to the table that Martin brought to the table that made the Nets go. Last year, even tho his role on the blazers was somewhat limited off the bench, was the 1st time in his career where he was on a team late in the season that he could help make a push at the playoffs and he didnt produce well in his role at all. So Rahim is still a question mark on how he will produce on a team with the expectations of winning & competing on a night to night basis in this league. And Nenad Kristic is nothing but a question mark. We have never seen him play on american soil against the best competion in the world, so we dont even know if he is a player in this league. And the way the trend has gone over the past few years very few European bigbodies have the effect in this league they were expected too. It seems like every team has a overseas bigman sitting at the end of their bench who they expected to have an impact but was/is simply trash. And the ones that do have legit potenial are major projects, that are going to take along time to develope like Darko in Detriot etc. The majority of the players that succeed from overseas are the perimeter type players Drazen Petrovic,Toni Kukoc and now guys like Peja & Dirk, not their 7-0 centers& low post players for the most part. So its far from a sure thing with Kristic.
Henacy, I think that the examples of Vlade Divac and Sabonis having success in the NBA alone is refutation of your point about eurpopean centers, however I do argee with you, that it takes time for them to develop, and that Kristic is nothing but a question mark. Besides, when Divac and Sadonis entered the league, they were already established by playing thier own leagues in europe. Kristic also played in Europe for some time as we know, but he did not dominate like Sabonis and Divac in thier respective leagues. Maybe it is true that Kristic is effective, as Divac himself stated, but that is BIG maybe.
^ exactly, Sabonis was in the twilight of his career when he came to the blazers in 95'. He had played very well against the Dream Team(thats really were he caught alot of attention) so he was nowhere close to the kind of question mark that the european centers are today. Sabonis had to be at least 30years old when he came to the league. And Vlade Divac was in his 20's but people always said he was a lot older then that. And he played on the Yugoslavian national team which played against American competion alot. And was a establish player to a certain degree as well. But guys like Darko, Kristic, Trybanski, Slanko Vranes, Jake Tsakaldis etc are expected to develope in the NBa and dont come to the US with Divac/Sabonis type resumes'. And my bad I should have said that on a ratio it seems like nowadays more overseas Centers either cant play in this league at all because they cant play or they are major projects then those that end up suceeding right away or at all in the NBA. So I wouldnt count on Kristic being a legit player in this league right away. And its very possible he may never fit in as a quality player in this league. You just dont know.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sabonis was in the twilight of his career when he came to the blazers in 95'.</div> There's an understatement. If Sabonis was in the NBA earlier in his career, He'd be a HOF'er without much doubt. Now he'll likely only make it with them taking into consideration his international play. As far as Rahim/Martin: Jersey fans who like gritty post players will hate Rahim's game. For a 20/10 guy, he's about as "soft" as they come. Does not like to bang at all, IMO. However, it doesn't sound like the Nets can afford to acquire him without a trade and even that might cost them too much.
Yeah, I've debated a lot in the past against a few guys saying that SAR should be on the All Star team and not KMart. Sure, SAR is a 20/10 guy. But those are teams like the Grizz and Atlanta. Henacy made a perfect point. He was asked to help Portland for the playoffs and he didn't deliver. But I wouldn't mind having him on the team. He's the best available option for the F position. He's kinda unattainable though because they rejected the Kittles/Train and SAR trade. Eric Williams should be an ok choice considering that he brings toughness and maturity with him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Eric Williams should be an ok choice considering that he brings toughness and maturity with him.</div> EWill's not a bad commodity, if you have a team that he isn't stealing minutes from more talented youth, like he would be if we brought him back. I'm not sure what NJ's situation with that is, but from a leadership position, EWill's a good guy to have around and he'll give you everything he has, albeit some nights, that's not much.
why is reef a long shot? they gonna continue to bring a 20/10'er off the bench in portland? seems like a waste to me. im sure reef would rather start in jersey then be delegated to a bench role in portland. im assuming of course...but it only seems logical. nets are in bad need of a forward to replace k-mart...portland have one to spare...am i the only one who thinks this makes sense?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">they gonna continue to bring a 20/10'er off the bench in portland?</div> Portland will stockpile talent as long as the current ownership is in place, which will likely be a while. Portlands spending habits have been a question mark, from my perspective, for at least a decade now. If I were a marquee FA, I'd never accept a contract from Portland that didn't guarantee me a starting position the first year of my contract. I can't understand how any NBA player be be content with cashing a paycheck that they didn't earn. I'd be pissed if I was rotting on the bench and wasting a portion of what is generally an all to short career(compared to normal people) because a teams philosophy was that they didn't seem as interested in using my talent, as they were interested in keeping it away from other teams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">Portland will stockpile talent as long as the current ownership is in place, which will likely be a while. Portlands spending habits have been a question mark, from my perspective, for at least a decade now.</div> agreed fully. if memory serves me correctly...reef wasnt even that effective for them comming off the bench. reefs best years were in vancouver, when he was playing with a point guard who knew how to run the offense and set players up. kidd would put reef back at a consistant 20 and 10, especially playing in the power forward deficiant east. im surprised reef isnt demanding a trade to jersey.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">im surprised reef isnt demanding a trade to jersey.</div> He doesn't strike me as that type, not to mention that I doubt he's in much of a position to demand anything from Portland right now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">He doesn't strike me as that type, not to mention that I doubt he's in much of a position to demand anything from Portland right now.</div> SAR already showed interest in the trade. He didn't exactly demand but he wants to be in NJ. There's no way he'll regain his 20-10 status in Portland. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">So, even as Abdur-Rahim's agent, Aaron Goodwin, placed phone calls yesterday to both teams to inform them of his client's interest in a trade, Goodwin's pleas appear unlikely to move the bottom-line-minded Nets.</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">He doesn't strike me as that type, not to mention that I doubt he's in much of a position to demand anything from Portland right now.</div> he is though...he asked for a trade when he was in vancouver
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">he is though...he asked for a trade when he was in vancouver</div> Thanks for that piece of knowledge, I did not know that. :thumbsup: While I guess there's a difference in asking to get off the sinking ship that was the Vancouver Grizzlies and asking for a trade from an established franchise, it would appear that he at least has the demeanor to request one, which I didn't think he had in him. Good to know, either way.
Portland have already turned down the offer of Williams and Kittles for SAR. I don't see NJ being able to offer much more for a deal to go through. Shareef would give the Nets numbers but won't ever make up for the defense, leadership and emotion that Kenyon Martin brought to the Nets franchise. Being that the east after Pistons, Pacers and Heat is pretty poor..adding in SAR would at least give them no worse than a top 5 seed but in terms of actually going anywhere in the post season is unlikely. Rebuilding the Nets by having cap space next summer and trading away Kidd for 3 soild all-round players would be the best option even If it means not getting complete trade value back.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Being that the east after Pistons, Pacers and Heat is pretty poor..adding in SAR would at least give them no worse than a top 5 seed but in terms of actually going anywhere in the post season is unlikely. Rebuilding the Nets by having cap space next summer and trading away Kidd for 3 soild all-round players would be the best option even If it means not getting complete trade value back.</div> Thats the problem no way are the Nets going to get equal value for kidd coming off the same type of surgery other all-stars like Masburn, Webber, Houston are still yet to recover from. And to add on to how hard its going to be to trade kidd, he is only going to want to go to a team that has a legit chance of winning & going deep in the playoffs. But teams that are already good are not going to break up their team to take on Kidd's contract now. I like that Dallas trade I had in another thread but that would require Dallas giving up Devin Harris. And also if they didnt want to pay Nash because of injuries,why would they want to take on kidd's contract even tho he is better than Nash. So that deal would be a very long shot but with Cuban anything's possible. This another deal I like: Jason Williams Bonzi Pau Gasol for Kidd Lucious Harris or Aaron Williams The only reason why this trade would even be possible is because the Grizzlies clearily lacked a leader in the playoffs last year. And for them to ever go deep in the playoffs & gain legit playoff experience they going to have to get someone like kidd to drive them. I dont know how tight Jerry West will be with Gasol,thats the only problem. But they could re-sign Swift & Kidd would get the best out his athletic talents. But I think thats probably the best offer the Nets could get for kidd at this time if West is wiling to part with Gasol. And keep kidd happy by sending him to a team that can compete
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dj_premium_plus:</div><div class="quote_post">agreed fully. if memory serves me correctly...reef wasnt even that effective for them comming off the bench. reefs best years were in vancouver, when he was playing with a point guard who knew how to run the offense and set players up. kidd would put reef back at a consistant 20 and 10, especially playing in the power forward deficiant east. im surprised reef isnt demanding a trade to jersey.</div> Reef was still at 20 and 10 in ATL, playing with a 2nd tier pg in Jason Terry. Putting him back in the east (with Kidd), and maybe he wont be an allstar snub for once.
