http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/15/sports/basketball/15nets.html

September 15, 2004

A Trade for Kidd Discussed

By HOWARD BECK

The Nets and the Portland Trail Blazers have discussed parameters of a trade that would send Jason Kidd to the Pacific Northwest in exchange for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, although nothing is imminent, according to a person involved in the talks.

Abdur-Rahim is eager to get out of Portland, and Kidd, the seven-time All-Star point guard, is unhappy with the Nets' direction in the wake of the July trades that sent away the starters Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles.

All that mutual angst makes a deal seem logical, and their salaries for next season are a near match, which makes a deal seem possible.

But a straight-up trade, Kidd for Abdur-Rahim, was viewed as unlikely by the person involved in the talks. The 31-year-old Kidd is recovering from surgery on his left knee and is expected to miss the first month of the season. And while the Nets' interest in Abdur-Rahim is sincere, they may be reluctant to part with their most popular player.

Discussions of a trade involving Abdur-Rahim began at least six weeks ago. The Nets made an initial offer of Kittles, Lucious Harris, Aaron Williams and a draft pick. The Blazers balked and asked for Kidd, and negotiations halted there.

The potential Kidd-for-Abdur-Rahim deal was reported yesterday by CBSSportsline.com, with the Blazers' president, Steve Patterson, confirming the talks.

"It's early,'' Patterson told CBSSporstline.com. "It's interesting, but I don't know if anything will happen.''

Portland General Manager John Nash and Nets General Manager Ed Stefanski declined comment last night. Patterson did not return a phone call, and a Portland spokesman said team officials would not address the story. Nash said he was unaware of Patterson's comments, adding, "It is my policy not to talk about trade rumors.''

A trade of Kidd would nearly complete the demolition of a team that won conference titles in 2002 and 2003. It was Kidd's arrival, in a 2001 trade for Stephon Marbury, that revived a moribund franchise. The Nets' prospects dimmed considerably with the trade of Martin, who wanted more money than the new team owner, Bruce C. Ratner, was willing to pay. The Nets' star power forward was traded to Denver for three first-round picks in July. Two weeks later, the team dealt Kittles and cash to the Clippers for a second-round draft pick. Unloading Kidd, who is owed more than $90 million over the next five years, would only confirm fans' fears of a major cost-cutting campaign.

Abdur-Rahim's salary next season, $14.625 million, is close to Kidd's ($14.796 million). But Abdur-Rahim's contract expires next summer, making him attractive to teams seeking to pare payroll.

The Blazers, Western Conference finalists four years ago, are in the midst of a massive overhaul themselves. They unloaded a pair of troublesome stars, Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells, in separate trades last season, and have positioned themselves to shave more than $40 million off their payroll next summer if they hang on to Abdur-Rahim.

The contracts of point guards Nick Van Exel ($11.827 million) and Damon Stoudamire ($15.75 million) are also expiring after the season.

If the Nets seek a point guard in return for Kidd, it could lead to a homecoming of sorts for Sebastian Telfair. He was drafted straight out of Brooklyn's Lincoln High School in June and has a salary ($1.6 million) that could be easily absorbed into a Kidd-Abdur-Rahim deal.

In the short term at least, a trade for Abdur-Rahim would significantly upgrade the Nets' frontcourt. Abdur-Rahim has averaged 20.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in eight pro seasons with the Vancouver Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks and Portland. He could be paired with Richard Jefferson and, perhaps, a healthy Alonzo Mourning, if Mourning succeeds in a comeback from a debilitating kidney disorder.

Chris Broussard and Steve Popper contributed reporting for this article.

Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company

I hope the Nets do this. They would start to suck again.

Atta boy Bonn, thanks for the heads up! The devil is in the details and had we not seen your protesting of a duplicate subject in a forum with a different tittle, the world would fall on its face and life as we know it would be caos.

The nets have Kristic, Morning, jeff, Collins and adding reef would keep them ok. Adding Telfair, a Brooklyn star would make for an interesting trade. The nets reduce major dollars off the payroll and build with an eye on the future. One that does not exist with an aging Kidd. They have 3 first round picks, some can be to incubate some soft euro players whom can actually shoot the ball, and they will have some of their own picks, if they suck would be lotto bound.

Kenyon martin is not worth max money, and Kidd's contract is awful, especially on a not so great team. They are blowing it up but can see a much stronger return in a few years.

A strong Brooklyn-Nets rivalry is great for the city. A celler dweller net team is really no fun. Rivalries are born from strong teams, not weak. Lakers-Clips are certainly not intense cuz one dominates the other. Strong Competition from the nets will force the Knicks to maintain a strong team, thus a better product.

A telfair-Marbury thing in the city might be a very cool thing.

Bonn, please feel free to check my errors and correct any spelling errors I may have made. It is ok that I posted here? Or continued elsewhere? I know these things might give you irritable bowel syndrime if not properly aligned in your world.

if the Nets are smart they would ask for Rahim/Telfair and a 1st round pick

<p>They should ask for Telfair but Portland would never do that deal. This is a good deal for the Nets because they don't need to make an investment this big on a player that is only going to be a distraction, evereyone gets what they want.

<p>Portland is in the Playoffs and maybe further is Miles matures and Randolf gets better, and the Blazers have a team that can take out anyone if they play together

Posted by tkf:

this is a horrible trade for the nets, I bet they could get a lot more, I would explore trading kidd to the lakers for odom and butler, or to the nuggets for nene and miller and throw in a future picidd is a difference maker, he can make a team a instant contender, why would the nets consider this trade?

no one wants Kidd right now. The only trade the Nets can pull is one similar to the Portland trade. The Lakers would be stupid to give up ODOM and BUTLER for a over 30 point guard with a bad knee.

Shareef is not good but he's not a bad player to have if you're rebuilding and like someone else said they can let him walk after next year. The Key would be getting Telfair and a 1st round pick.

This would be a great trade for the Nets to get done. No one is going to want to touch Kidd after this surgery and a season of the Nets struggling which is going to happen. Also, Telfair would be great for marketing when the Nets come here in a year or two.

The team with Martin and kidd were built to stay in jersey and go to newark. Selling the team and moving is a different story.

Jeff did not get maxx money, 75 mil is (sic) resonable in the market. Martin was a by product of Kidds skills. Good player though, and should do well in Denver, just not statwise.

This is a great deal.

The Nets want to save money. Ratner doesn't care about alienating his fan base since he'll be moving them soon, and they're losing money to begin with.

He gets Abdur-Rahim for a year, then he's out. If he adds Telfair and a pick, that's a great move.

Marketability is Telfair's middle name, and if he was playing in his hometown of Brooklyn it'd be a huge boost for the fans in BK. He and Jefferson, plus 3 first rounders from Denver (via other teams, some of which could be lottery), a first rounder from Portland, their own lottery pick this year, and the high 2nd rounder from LAC for Kittles, and they'll be rebuilt in no time.

This is how the Knicks should've approached Ewing leaving, instead of dealing for Glen Rice. The Nets COULD be in better shape to win a championship than the Knicks in 5 years.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by timmyTtop:

Posted by gunsnewing:

if the Nets are smart they would ask for Rahim/Telfair and a 1st round pick

reef for kidd straight up would mean blazers r getting totally jipped
THINK OF THE SALARY! telfair and a 1st rounder? give me a break.

I agree with that.

If healthy, Kidd is the top point in the league. I think the blazers give a pick or Telfair, but not both. That side to it was speculative thinking by Times writer as some sweetner would be needed.

Reef would not be resigned by nets, so they would need a future asset.

Key to deal is POrtland eating the 90mil left. They gain cap space to sign an free agent out right if they want. They could have lost Kidd for nothing. WIth the picks, space, Kristic and Jeff in place, they could be strong for a long time. Rahim gives them points and at least we finally see him up close.