Nets close in on Rahim

[T-Mac]

Deal would include sign-and-trade with Trail BlazersBy Chad Ford

ESPN Insider

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The New Jersey Nets may have found their replacement for Kenyon Martin. And he's coming at a real bargain.

A team source said the Nets are very close to an agreement with Shareef Abdur-Rahim on a six-year contract worth roughly $38 million.

To make the deal work under cap rules, the Portland Trail Blazers, who own Abdur-Rahim's rights, would have to agree to sign him to the contract and then trade him to the Nets using a $5 million trade exception that the Nets own. In return, the Nets would send a future first-round pick to the Blazers.

If the Nets are unable to get the Blazers to agree to a sign-and-trade, Abdur-Rahim has agreed to sign with the Nets for their mid-level exception at five years for about $28 million, according to the team source. So, either way, it looks like the Nets will get their hands on Abdur-Rahim.

Either way it's a great deal for the Nets.

The Nets refused to pay Martin, their last power forward, a max contract last summer and eventually traded him to the Nuggets for three future first round picks. The Nets used some of those picks to acquire Vince Carter from the Toronto Raptors midseason. Now they're trying to use the trade exception they received from the Martin deal to acquire Abdur-Rahim.

Abdur-Rahim might be coming at less than half the price of Martin, but he isn't half the player. Abdur-Rahim, who is 28, has averaged 19 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game for his career. Last season he struggled through injuries, but still managed 16.8 ppg and 7.1 rpg. Martin has averaged 12.4 ppg and 5.1 rpg for his career and had 15.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg for the Nuggets last season.

If the Nets land Abdur-Rahim for the mid-level exception, look for new owner Bruce Ratner to keep spending money. The Nets still own their full mid-level exception. Their next signing could be free-agent guard Keyon Dooling with part of their mid-level exception. The Nets are looking for a combo guard who can help Jason Kidd keep his minutes down to about 30 a night. They seem to have narrowed in on Dooling as their guy. If the Nets are forced to use their mid-level on Abdur-Rahim, they'll still have until July 29th to use their $5 million trade exception to acquire another free agent.

I'm not crazy about losing a future first rounder, but WTH it's still a great deal

[TomShane]

HOLY SH*T!!!! I can't believe he's coming here that cheap! And for a long-term deal? That's NUTS. If I'm him I sign one year at the MLE and then let Kidd boost my average by 6 points. THEN I hold the Nets up for mad dollars. They'll get Rahim this week and then Keyon Dooling (eh) next week. Crazy sh*t. They'll still need another shooter, but we'll see how that works out. Wright can't hit water right now in summer league.

[Jetfanmack]

I put no stock in summer league. Summer league is against bad competition usually, but Wright is the focal point of everyone's defense. The Nets summer league team SUCKS. The PG is Cliff Hawkins. Nothing against Hawkins, he was a decent college PG, but he's probably pretty much overmatched.

[TomShane]

Interesting. Apparently the hang up with Portland is that they want Ilic, the Nets' 2nd round pick this year who probably won't even be here this year. The nets are refusing. Ilic? Come on.

[Jetfanmack]

Interesting. Apparently the hang up with Portland is that they want Ilic, the Nets' 2nd round pick this year who probably won't even be here this year. The nets are refusing. Ilic? Come on.

Ilic was a 2nd round pick who probably would have been a first rounder if he were drafted next year. He's worth as much as a first rounder next year.