Donyell Marshall Update

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<H1 class=red>Open season on free agents

</H1>Nets out to address frontcourt issues

Friday, July 01, 2005 BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO

Star-Ledger Staff
In the late evening of April 20, on a typically dismal night at the Air Canada Centre, Raptors forward Donyell Marshall looked up at the out-of-town scoreboard and saw that the Nets had been triumphant in their must-win game at Boston.

"Well, well," the 11-year veteran said to someone seated beside him. "It looks like my new team is going to the playoffs."

While the Nets are certainly interested in the free-agent sharpshooter, Marshall's remark illustrates how attractive the Nets have become in eyes of quality veterans looking for a change of address.

And though the team has only a few methods in which to sign free agents when the market opens today -- one is with a trade exception valued at $4.9 million, the other is the mid-level exception of roughly $5 million -- they hope to find at least a few live bodies to add to what can be a very strong roster heading into the 2005-06 season.

"We are going to address our frontcourt issues as quickly as we can," team president Rod Thorn said. "We certainly need another big player who can play in our rotation and be a good player for us. We are still a small team right now."

Hence, the first call Thorn and GM Ed Stefanski made at 12:01 this morning was to Aaron Goodwin, agent for Portland forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim. While there will be a great deal of competition for the nine-year veteran, the Nets believe they have an advantage for one reason: Abdur-Rahim's relationship with Lawrence Frank. They worked together for three seasons in Vancouver and even attended each other's wedding.

"I think that will play a big part, as will Shareef's relationship with Jason Kidd," Goodwin said yesterday. "But he's going to look at a lot of situations. There is interest in New Jersey, definitely. But I also expect to hear from Washington, Orlando and, possibly, San Antonio and Miami. And unfortunately for the Nets, they all need that position (upgraded), and they know of Shareef's ability to score and defend both three and four."

The problem is that Abdur-Rahim would have to settle for the exception money from the Nets, whereas teams such as Charlotte, Atlanta and Cleveland -- who will show varying degrees of interest -- have the cap space to blow any Nets offer out of the water.

That may not be the case with Marshall, who may be resigned to settling for the mid-level exception, that extra fund that teams over the cap use to sign free agents.

"The Nets are very high on his list, because they fit a couple of criteria we've discussed," agent Andy Miller said. "He wants a winning situation and he wants to play with some All-Star level players who can allow him to fit into his specific role, whether that's as sixth man or as a starter. But the other variable is the marketplace: What will the market bear for a player of his caliber? I can't determine that now, but somewhere over the course of the weekend, we'll get a better gauge."

The third big man the Nets will pursue is Stromile Swift, a dazzling athlete who has never found his niche in Memphis -- mostly because he'd rather jump over people instead of working on his technique -- and won't re-sign there by mutual agreement.

"We have mixed feelings about him," one Nets official admitted. "But he can block shots, he's lively, and for the way we want to play, he'd fit. So he's a guy we have to look closely at."

The Knicks will also recruit Swift, which ordinarily would be ample reason for the Nets to dismiss the idea as imprudent. Both teams will also consider the centers from the draft class of 2001 -- Sam Dalembert, Kwame Brown and Eddy Curry -- who are all restricted free agents.

Dalembert, however, is expected to be retained by Philadelphia, Brown is undeniably talented, but doesn't deserve a long-term commitment after walking out on the Wizards during their playoff series against Chicago, and Curry has a heart condition and is likely to be used by the Bulls as sign-and-trade bait.

League-wide, the biggest prizes are wings such as Ray Allen, Michael Redd, Larry Hughes and Joe Johnson. The point guard class is extremely weak, but the Nets will consider backups such as Milt Palacio and Tyronn Lue.

Negotiations can begin immediately, but instead of the usual two-week recruitment period, players cannot sign until July 22, because the lawyers need the extra week to finish mangling the language on the new collective bargaining agreement.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

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we can kiss marshall goodbye. he wants the mle, we no longer have it. he makes no mention of the suns. the suns have never made mention of him. no way.
 

coloradosun

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Ouchie-Z-Clown said:
we can kiss marshall goodbye. he wants the mle, we no longer have it. he makes no mention of the suns. the suns have never made mention of him. no way.

I never wanted to kiss him hello, the Nets would be better suited to sign him than SAR.
 
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Ouchie-Z-Clown said:
we can kiss marshall goodbye. he wants the mle, we no longer have it. he makes no mention of the suns. the suns have never made mention of him. no way.

I agree was not even an option.
 

Cheesebeef

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SweetD said:
I agree was not even an option.

agree as well. I thought he would have been a nice fit, but it never was never apparently in the cards.
 

Yuma

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coloradosun said:
I never wanted to kiss him hello, the Nets would be better suited to sign him than SAR.
:biglaugh: :D :notworthy
 

Joe Mama

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"I think that will play a big part, as will Shareef's relationship with Jason Kidd," Goodwin said yesterday. "But he's going to look at a lot of situations. There is interest in New Jersey, definitely. But I also expect to hear from Washington, Orlando and, possibly, San Antonio and Miami. And unfortunately for the Nets, they all need that position (upgraded), and they know of Shareef's ability to score and defend both three and four ."

If I'm Shareef Abdur Rahim's agent I don't think I'm bringing up his defense as a selling point. :)

It's clear the Phoenix Suns were focusing on strong defenders who could also score. Marshall isn't the worst defender, but he's nothing special in that department either. He used to be much better. I don't need to say anything more about SAR's defense.

Joe Mama
 

cly2tw

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I think our lack of interest in Marshall is because he'd be fest suited for skill ball playing Marion's role as the undersized PF yet we no longer want to play too much skill ball due to the revelation of the playoffs. One Marion for this role is enough, even though Marshall is a bit better holding positions against bigger players, but he is also far less athletic for fastbreaks. Ultimately, though Duncan posted problem to us, but Parker and Manu have been more often than not unstoppable in our matchups with the Spurs. Even Joe can't really stop either. Plus we got killed by Baron Davis twice and Wade once, teams that are gonna pose some serious problems for our quest for the title, it's only logical we went out and signed the Bowen-type defender in Bell.

Let's forget Marshall. :D
 

Chaz

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It sure seems there is not much mutual interest.

I think he would be a great bench player for us but it sounds like he would still want a bigger role. I'd bet New Jersey would give him more money and minutes than we would.

I still wonder if we could get Aaron Williams for Voskuhl (and a second?).
He is a fairly skilled front court player with playoff experience and a little nasty streak. Not as good (athletic) as Marshall but he is as good or better on the boards and has a decent midrange game.
 

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I also think Marshall's age probably had some to do with it. I believe he will be 33 years old when next season begins. They are already committed to Steve Nash and Kurt Thomas for a few years. I doubt they wanted to lock a bunch more money into another 33-year-old for several more years.

He also doesn't help much where they are trying to improve the most... defensively.

Joe Mama
 

devilalum

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Just because guys are "LOOKING" for the MLE doesn't mean they're going to get it.

I think now that the Suns have Bell (I'm hoping he'll be the Sun's Bruce Bowen) maybe it is best to wait and see what the cat drags in.

Every year good players get left out as a result of the numbers game and have to sign for less than they think they're worth.

If I'm a talented player and none of the teams I'm willing to play for offer me the MLE then I'm going to choose a team that can use my skills and has a chance to win a lot of games.
 

coloradosun

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Joe Mama said:
If I'm Shareef Abdur Rahim's agent I don't think I'm bringing up his defense as a selling point. :)

It's clear the Phoenix Suns were focusing on strong defenders who could also score. Marshall isn't the worst defender, but he's nothing special in that department either. He used to be much better. I don't need to say anything more about SAR's defense.

Joe Mama

The thing about SAR is that he could play the 3 or the 4. That means he could spell Amare at times and Marion at times. If Kurt Thomas or Stehan Hunter (assuming he is resigned) is on the floor with him that could offset some of his defensive liabilities. When BC or D'A talk about not changing the system, I think what they mean is that they want players than can play multiple positions that is the system. No other team in the league looks for that type of player, and both additions, Thomas and Bell, fit that dynamic. There are two exceptions on the current roster, Nash and Hunter.
 
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Joe Mama

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George O'Brien said:
Why does anyone think SAR is going to be willing to go somewhere to be a backup?

amen, that's the biggest reason he was not happy in Portland.

Joe Mama
 

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George O'Brien said:
Why does anyone think SAR is going to be willing to go somewhere to be a backup?

He will not start in either SA or Miami, so who sayes he really wants to start. I put up a quote from the Oregonian from him where he stated he "want to win and win big". I think he knows his limitations, when he was the go to guy, his teams did not win. If he wants to win he is going to sacrifice playing time.

He came off the bench in Portland at times, did not like losing playing time to a punk like Darius Miles, and the team still lost.
 

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coloradosun said:
He will not start in either SA or Miami, so who sayes he really wants to start. I put up a quote from the Oregonian from him where he stated he "want to win and win big". I think he knows his limitations, when he was the go to guy, his teams did not win. If he wants to win he is going to sacrifice playing time.

He came off the bench in Portland at times, did not like losing playing time to a punk like Darius Miles, and the team still lost.

You are right that Shareef Abdur-Rahim might not start if he signed with San Antonio, but I think you are wrong about Miami. There's a good chance he would start ahead of Haslem. There's also a good chance that Haslem will end up on someone else's roster.

Joe Mama
 

coloradosun

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Joe Mama said:
You are right that Shareef Abdur-Rahim might not start if he signed with San Antonio, but I think you are wrong about Miami. There's a good chance he would start ahead of Haslem. There's also a good chance that Haslem will end up on someone else's roster.

Joe Mama

Haslem is Miami's Ben Wallace, I don't think they will let him go. I think there is more of a chance that Payton ends up there instead of SAR. Payton's best chance to get a ring is in Miami.
 

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coloradosun said:
Haslem is Miami's Ben Wallace, I don't think they will let him go. I think there is more of a chance that Payton ends up there instead of SAR. Payton's best chance to get a ring is in Miami.

Ben Wallace? I don't think so.

Joe Mama
 

George O'Brien

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Udonis Haslem
Miami Heat
Position: F
Height: 6-8 Weight: 228
College : Florida '02
Player file | Team stats

2004-05 Statistics
PPG 10.9
RPG 9.1
APG 1.4
SPG .79
BPG .51
FG% .540
FT% .791
3P% .000
MPG 33.4

Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Portland Trail Blazers
Position: F
Height: 6-9 Weight: 245
College : California '99
Player file | Team stats

2004-05 Statistics
PPG 16.8
RPG 7.3
APG 2.1
SPG .91
BPG .48
FG% .503
FT% .866
3P% .385
MPG 34.6

SAR was playing more SF last season. He was around 9 rpg before going to Portland.
 

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