RealGM reports: Abdur-Rahim could be held out of training camp by agent

[fordronken]

Aaron Goodwin is having a busy summer, but being busy does not necessarily translate into sucess.

While Goodwin continues to try to orchestrate a sign and trade to get restricted Bulls guard Jamal Crawford a bigger contract in New York, he is having similar luck in Portland trying to get power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim out.

According to reports Goodwin recently threatened to hold Abdur-Rahim out of training camp if his client was not traded, a threat which GM John Nash is not about to be influenced by.

"I would like to make everyone happy, but that is not my role. I have had conversations with Shareef and Aaron and we continue to monitor what is available in trade opportunities. If there was more playing time at power forward, I think Shareef would be more willing to stay. And his professional attitude last season was such that I would like to accommodate him. But my first goal is to do what's best for the Trail Blazers, and it just might be best for the Trail Blazers to exchange Shareef for a player at another position, specifically a guard, but we haven't been able to determine an opportunity we like."

 

[George O'Brien]

There are a lot of teams that would love to have SAR, but not his contract. With only one year left, he is more attractive to teams wanting to a salary dump but it is not clear that makes any sense to the Blazers. At the same time, teams that would like to have him are likely to just wait until he is a free agent next summer.

You would think a deal for Kittles would make sense, but they would need other teams involved to make the cap stuff match.

 

[elindholm]

I know I'll get lynched for this, but if the Blazers had any interest in Marion and Eisley (lol, their fourth point guard) for Abdur-Rahim and filler, the Suns would have to seriously consider it. The Suns are woefully understaffed at C and PF, and the bottom line is that, if forced to choose, I'd rather have Adbur-Rahim at PF than Marion.

 

[George O'Brien]

I know I'll get lynched for this, but if the Blazers had any interest in Marion and Eisley (lol, their fourth point guard) for Abdur-Rahim and filler, the Suns would have to seriously consider it. The Suns are woefully understaffed at C and PF, and the bottom line is that, if forced to choose, I'd rather have Adbur-Rahim at PF than Marion.

This only makes sense if you think SAR can replace Marion as the starting SF AND they will be able to re-sign him next year at a moderately reasonable salary ($14.6 is not "moderately reasonable"). Otherwise it is a pure cap dump, which I don't agree with.

I'm also not sure SAR is even as good as Marion as a defender, although I haven't seen him enough to know. Under the right circumstanced, it MIGHT makes sense although I am not entirely convinced.

 

[elindholm]

This only makes sense if you think SAR can replace Marion as the starting SF AND they will be able to re-sign him next year at a moderately reasonable salary ($14.6 is not "moderately reasonable"). Otherwise it is a pure cap dump, which I don't agree with.

Right. The trade could be contingent on Abdur-Rahim agreeing to an affordable extension immediately.

Here's a similar idea: If the Clippers match on Richardson, how about Marion for Abdur-Rahim and Stepania? The Suns use their cap space to absorb the difference in salaries (and still have about $1.6 million left, for whatever that's worth). The trade goes down only if Abdur-Rahim agrees to an extension starting at $10 million in 2005-06, which is $2.5 million less than what Marion will make that year. The Suns are stuck with Eisley, but they address (at least partially) their major weaknesses in the power positions.

C - Voskuhl/Stepania/Lampe
PF - Stoudemire/Abdur-Rahim/Vroman
SF - Adbur-Rahim/Johnson/Cabarkapa
SG - Johnson/Jacobsen
PG - Nash/Barbosa/Eisley

There's no way around the fact that that's a much stronger team than the Suns presently have.

 

[fordronken]

This only makes sense if you think SAR can replace Marion as the starting SF AND they will be able to re-sign him next year at a moderately reasonable salary ($14.6 is not "moderately reasonable"). Otherwise it is a pure cap dump, which I don't agree with.

Right. The trade could be contingent on Abdur-Rahim agreeing to an affordable extension immediately.

Here's a similar idea: If the Clippers match on Richardson, how about Marion for Abdur-Rahim and Stepania? The Suns use their cap space to absorb the difference in salaries (and still have about $1.6 million left, for whatever that's worth). The trade goes down only if Abdur-Rahim agrees to an extension starting at $10 million in 2005-06, which is $2.5 million less than what Marion will make that year. The Suns are stuck with Eisley, but they address (at least partially) their major weaknesses in the power positions.

C - Voskuhl/Stepania/Lampe
PF - Stoudemire/Abdur-Rahim/Vroman
SF - Adbur-Rahim/Johnson/Cabarkapa
SG - Johnson/Jacobsen
PG - Nash/Barbosa/Eisley

There's no way around the fact that that's a much stronger team than the Suns presently have.

I'd be really concerned about his ability to play small forward consistently.

 

[F-Dog]

SAR is a power forward only. That's his problem in Portland, and that would be his problem in Phoenix, too.


SAR for Marion would be a disaster for the Suns. Marion is quite a bit better than SAR, for one thing, and it would force SAR to play out of position for the rest of his career.

 

[cepstrum]

SAR coudlnt get minutes over D Miles and R Patterson at the SF, If I remember correctly. I think he's a helluva pf, but I dont think he can play the 3 spot. Although I have to admit, I havent seen him much to be sure.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I know I'll get lynched for this, but if the Blazers had any interest in Marion and Eisley (lol, their fourth point guard) for Abdur-Rahim and filler, the Suns would have to seriously consider it. The Suns are woefully understaffed at C and PF, and the bottom line is that, if forced to choose, I'd rather have Adbur-Rahim at PF than Marion.

I actually brought something like this up about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Pretty much got shot down by everyone.

The idea is that Q slides in at the 2, JJ at the 3, SAR/Amare at the 4 and 5.

For arguements sake you say Amare is the PF (and let him guard the opposite PF) and let SAR try and battle the other team's center. I don't know how it would work, but it could be interesting to say the least.

The suns would have 3 legitimate post up players in their starting lineup, so it may get kind of crowded down there.

Thinking about it, I doubt it would work well. Amare would have to guard the bigger player, and be called a center. That is something he doesn't want to happen.

 

[cly2tw]

This only makes sense if you think SAR can replace Marion as the starting SF AND they will be able to re-sign him next year at a moderately reasonable salary ($14.6 is not "moderately reasonable"). Otherwise it is a pure cap dump, which I don't agree with.

If in this scenario SAR leaves in FA, assuming JJ gets 5 mil starting, we'd still be 11 mil under cap and can sign any reasonablly FA better than him, say Miles for 6 mil if he takes the one-year qual. offer this season. That's why you need the cap for! In other words, dumping Marion's for expiring contract can do some wonders for you.

 

[elindholm]

I actually brought something like this up about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Pretty much got shot down by everyone.

The difference is that I have Abdur-Rahim at SF, which he can sort of play, whereas you have him at C, which is absurd.

 

[George O'Brien]

SAR is listed at 6'9" 245, which is about the same size as Amare and Dice. However, I have to admit I really doubt he is a center any more than Antoine Walker is a center.

It would be exciting though.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I actually brought something like this up about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Pretty much got shot down by everyone.

The difference is that I have Abdur-Rahim at SF, which he can sort of play, whereas you have him at C, which is absurd.

Well it is more of a 2 PF lineup. It isn't desireable, but I think we all know that wouldn't keep the suns from doing it.