<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PORTLAND, Ore. -- Arvydas Sabonis, one of the Portland Trail Blazers' most popular players, has rejected a $7 million contract because he wants to stay with his family in Lithuania, according to a published report. The team and Sabonis had until Friday to sign a deal that would guarantee his salary for next season. The Trail Blazers could trade Sabonis before Friday to a team that would gain relief from his salary. Herb Rudoy, Sabonis' agent, told The Oregonian that he asked Sabonis for a decision by Monday. He said Sabonis is not returning. "I know he has been included in other offers to teams, and I know there are teams out there who would offer for his contract for salary cap reasons,'' Rudoy said. "The Blazers have been great to Sabas, so I thought they should know his intentions as soon as possible.''</div> Full Article http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/story?id=1594410
Mutombo in a Blazer jersey just got a lot more attractive for Portland. Mutombo also makes sense because he is a community leader and will help clean up some of the tarnished Blazer image. He showed he can still be effective as a shotblocker and inside presence. Getting rid of Ruben and Sheed removes two trouble makers from the Blazers, and also allows their younger players to emerge. Zach Randolph and Bonzi Wells are ready to contribute as everyday starters. Potential Roster ----------- PG - McInnis SG - Bonzi SF - K-Mart PF - Randolph C - Mutombo Bench ------ Dale Davis Damon Stoudamire Qyntel Woods Travis Outlaw Blazers still have plenty of depth and they can put a big lineup on the court to compete against the other big teams in the west. I think K-Mart is quick enough to play the 3, but the Blazers will need Bonzi to be clutch from outside. This team will bang inside to get most of the points.
I dont see why they would not. They are way over the cap anyway. Hawks trade-Reef Blaxers trade-Wallace Works for both team. Hawks clear more cap and reef is just as good as wallace.
The deal was dead, but with Sabonis not wanting to return it has been re-opened. New York Post: "News that Arvydas Sabonis told the Trail Blazers that he intends to return to Lithuania and not play in the NBA this upcoming season caused murmurs yesterday that discussions of the Nets-Blazers deal involving Kenyon Martin and Rasheed Wallace might not be completely dead." The Blazers don't want to go into the season with just Dale Davis and Boumjte as their only centers.
