Nets call off trade for F Abdur-Rahim
August 9, 2005
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - Shareef Abdur-Rahim will not be playing home games in the Meadowlands next season.
The New Jersey Nets on Tuesday called off their trade for the Portland Trail Blazers forward, five days after team president Rod Thorn announced the deal was on hold after "a question arose" concerning Abdur-Rahim's physical examination
New Jersey had until August 12 to complete a sign-and-trade with Portland for Abdur-Rahim.
The Nets and Trail Blazers had agreed on a deal, pending a physical, that would have sent the nine-year veteran to the Eastern Conference squad in exchange for New Jersey's lottery-protected first-round pick in 2006 and the team's trade exception as a result of the Kerry Kittles deal to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2004.
"We were anticipating adding Shareef to our roster," Thorn said Tuesday. "However, during the course of his normal physical examination, some questions arose that gave us cause for concern. After consulting with several noted specialists, we feel that rescinding the trade is our best course of action. We will now look in other directions for ways to improve our team for the upcoming season."
Abdur-Rahim was to receive a six-year contract worth $38 million in the sign-and-trade.
Abdur-Rahim, 29, averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting better than 50 percent last season for Portland, where he accepted a reduced role with the Trail Blazers.
He was to have manned New Jersey's frontcourt with improving center Nenad Krstic. The Nets have one of the best perimeter trios in the NBA in Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson.
Last season, the Nets were 24th in rebounding margin and 26th in blocks margin.
The third overall pick in the 1996 draft, Abdur-Rahim has averaged 19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds in 672 games for Vancouver, Atlanta and Portland. He was an All-Star in 2002 with Atlanta but has never played in the postseason.