Portland Still Working On An Abdur-Rahim Deal

According to Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune, Portland has been discussing trades with a number of different clubs.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim will the center of any deal. One of the offers has been to Toronto for Vince Carter,"but so far, they have rejected our proposals," Portland GM John Nash says. "They are not as interested as we are at this point.”

Another potential deal, Abdur-Rahim to New Jersey for Jason Kidd, is on hold until Kidd returns to the Nets’ lineup. The Nets like Abdur-Rahim and would be interested in keeping him instead of letting him go after his contract expires at the end of the season, says Chief Executive Officer Rod Thorn.

The Blazers, like other potential suitors, want to see how Kidd responds to offseason knee surgery before making a deal. The Nets will consider a trade, though "I think we will probably keep (Kidd)," Thorn says. But if they continue to lose, they would have more reason to trade the veteran point guard.

If the Blazers would be willing to part with rookie point guard Sebastian Telfair, they could almost surely make the deal. But, given Portland’s stance on Stoudamire, whose contract ends after this season, "wait and see," Nash says.

Via The Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets, Toronto Raptors

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Bill Harris of Canoe Confirms Carter Trade Talk

In an article by Bill Harris of Canoe, the speculation surrounding a trade involving Vince Carter is much greater than mere speculation.

'The Raptors' intent has become clear. Ownership and management have wrapped their hearts and their heads around the notion that Carter has to go.

It no longer is a question of whether Carter buys into coach Sam Mitchell's system.

It's not a question of how Carter is playing, although that may have a slight impact on his market value.

It's not a question of Carter getting benched late in games.

It's not a question of Carter wearing an iPod.

It's not a question of Carter dunking or not dunking.

And it's not a question of Carter getting booed by Toronto crowds, or threats against him by idiots on the internet.

It's about what presently is being perceived as the best thing for both the team and the individual. On that, Carter and the Raptors now find themselves in agreement.'

Many NBA teams are evaluating how they might be able to acquire Carter. Pretty much any Carter deal would also involve Jalen Rose, who has an enormous contract that Toronto would like to free themselves of.

The NBA's trade deadline is February 24th.

Via Canoe

Toronto Raptors

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Marbury: Carter's A Goner

According to Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, who guarded Toronto Raptors star Vince Carter on Saturday night, the Raptors look like a team who have already moved on from their superstar.

Marc Berman of the New York Times reports that Marbury was suprised with how the Raptors under utilized Carter's talents, from running Carter off screens to free him up to utilizing his height by posting up the smaller Marbury when Carter was his defensive assignment.

"They don't run any plays for him," Marbury said. "He doesn't get the ball at all. You could tell he's not the focal of the team anymore. I don't understand it, but hey, he doesn't have to be the focal when he plays against us."

"I don't think the offense is geared for him," Marbury said. " I'm just speaking of just guarding him. When you're guarding him, you expect to be running off a lot of screens, having a lot of isolations, For him to be posting me up. There wasn't any of that."

Carter is expected to be traded from the Raptors after requesting to be moved.

Via New York Post

Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks

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