Jabroni Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 "Blazing a new trail to help Bulls? Abdur-Rahim says he's had it playing for losing teams" http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...ack=1&cset=true March 28, 2005 Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler can pity someone else these days. Perhaps a future teammate, Shareef Abdur-Rahim? Curry and Chandler were known as losers for three years despite all sorts of extenuating circumstances on the Bulls. But nobody in the NBA, and no one this good, has lost like Portland's Abdur-Rahim. He has been an All-Star and an Olympic gold-medal winner. But he has never been to the playoffs. The teams Abdur-Rahim has played for--Vancouver, Atlanta and Portland--are 213-481 in his eight seasons. That's a winning percentage of .308. No one in the NBA has a poorer record. Abdur-Rahim deserves better. He's regarded as a hard worker and a good teammate. He's an unrestricted free agent coming off a huge long-term contract that paid him $14 million this season. It seems as if he has finally had enough of the losing and losing teams. "I'm frustrated, and I'm probably at my end with it," he told Portland reporters last week. "My tolerance level is probably at its low point. At this point in my career, I really want to feel like I can win or have a chance to win for the next six, seven or eight years." Abdur-Rahim is one of the few true pros on the Portland team that is now 2-11 under interim coach Kevin Pritchard. The Blazers have gone back to playing more veterans since their insulting use of extras and rookies after the firing of Maurice Cheeks. But it's still a franchise in disarray, and it's unlikely Abdur-Rahim will re-sign. Not if he wants to be in the playoffs in this decade. Enter the Bulls. They won't have a No. 1 draft pick this season and won't be under the salary cap. How do they get better? It's likely there will be some kind of veteran's exception of about $5 million in the new collective-bargaining agreement, as there is now. What a perfect marriage. The Bulls have one true fourth-quarter scorer in Ben Gordon, and he's only a rookie. They need a big shooting guard and a power forward who can score. The 6-foot-9-inch Abdur-Rahim averaged 20.1 points and 8.2 rebounds entering this season. Despite the chaos in Portland, he is averaging 20.8 since Cheeks was fired. He recently had 25 points and 13 rebounds against first-place Phoenix and a nice 22-point, 10-rebound audition when the Bulls were in Portland earlier this month. And he's only 28, having entered the league after one season at Cal. The Bulls are a franchise headed in the direction Abdur-Rahim never has been. He's not about to get a huge contract from a team under the salary cap; the hot free agents are shooting guards Ray Allen, Joe Johnson and Larry Hughes. The teams that are well under the salary cap figure to be losers. He could be one of those next-level pieces for a team like the Bulls. As Curry said Saturday, smiling on the way to his first playoff: "Every now and then I take a look at the standings. You don't want to put pressure on yourself, but you can't help looking to see who's where and who you might face in the playoffs. Especially for me going through so much [losing], it's amazing to see the position we're in." Smith seems to think that we could keep Curry and Chandler AND sign Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 We have the mle to spend so... this makes no sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackie hayes Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 Well, it's nice to dream. For $5 mil? Please... Sam Smith's living is to formulate 'out there' moves, but this one's just wacko. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabroni Posted March 29, 2005 Author Share Posted March 29, 2005 Well, it's nice to dream. For $5 mil? Please... Sam Smith's living is to formulate 'out there' moves, but this one's just wacko. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yep, Sam Smith is a senile old man. I think his brain is rotting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodAsGould Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 idonno if that could happen we prob wouldnt be able to resign Duhon and not end up giving Curry the max(which he shouldnt anyways). Also Othella would prob be let go. Also he would have to play for cheap his first year than there could be like a sharp increase in his contract when AD comes off the books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabroni Posted March 29, 2005 Author Share Posted March 29, 2005 idonno if that could happen we prob wouldnt be able to resign Duhon and not end up giving Curry the max(which he shouldnt anyways). Also Othella would prob be let go. Also he would have to play for cheap his first year than there could be like a sharp increase in his contract when AD comes off the books. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Othella is awesome off the bench. I love the guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 Othella won't be let go. Griffin, Piatkowski, Reiner and Williams are about the only guys who should be let go. MAYBE Pargo and Nocioni as well, but I doubt it. Besides free agency, the Bulls only have a 2nd round pickto adjust their roster with in the off season. Not many 2nd rounders are as good as most of the players they already have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 Bulls don't have a 2nd rounder Isn't that right qwerty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 qwerty has a boy? Hope he isn't a cubs fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 QUOTE(knightni @ Mar 28, 2005 -> 11:39 PM) Othella won't be let go. Griffin, Piatkowski, Reiner and Williams are about the only guys who should be let go. MAYBE Pargo and Nocioni as well, but I doubt it. Besides free agency, the Bulls only have a 2nd round pickto adjust their roster with in the off season. Not many 2nd rounders are as good as most of the players they already have. Whoa, whoa, whoa i can understand griffin he has no knees left. Reiner is icky, williams is icky, nocioni is goign no where because he will be very solid in a year or two. I swear he has to league the league is offensive fouls taken. Pargo is not a bad fourth guard. If we sign marshall that means no othella since he would be over the mle slightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 28, 2005 -> 11:41 PM) Bulls don't have a 2nd rounder Isn't that right qwerty Would you like to take this out back? I mean we do leave together and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 Bring it pussy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 $10 on qwerty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 I see how it is :fyou wite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 28, 2005 -> 11:49 PM) I see how it is :fyou wite Dude, would you bet on yourself in a fight against qwerty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 Yes How strong can you be with 31 ppd on a forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 28, 2005 -> 11:52 PM) Yes How strong can you be with 31 ppd on a forum I would imagine his fingers are pretty strong from typing and clicking. Maybe he could poke you to death? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 28, 2005 -> 11:54 PM) LMAO, I love the antihotlinking message Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 Dude it doesn't work? God damnit shows up on my computer. Those sneaky bastards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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