Abdur-Rahim fails physical

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-nets-abdur-rahim&prov=ap&type=lgns

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The New Jersey Nets' trade with the Portland
Trail Blazers for Shareef Abdur-Rahim has been put on hold after the veteran
forward failed to pass a physical.

The Nets did not disclose the nature or cause of the problem, but said the
injury in question was one that neither the team nor Abdur-Rahim was aware
of. The examination was performed by Dr. Michael Kelly, the Nets'
orthopedist.

``It was a shock,'' Nets President Rod Thorn said Thursday. ``We had
scheduled a press conference. We did not think there was going to be
anything wrong whatsoever.''


The 29-year-old Abdur-Rahim missed 22 games with the Blazers last season
after undergoing surgery in mid-January to address loose particles in his
right elbow.

New Jersey agreed to a six-year deal with the veteran forward, who has
averaged 19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds during his nine-year career with
Vancouver, Atlanta and Portland.

Thorn said the team was looking at other options in case the deal doesn't go
through. In order to make a deal with another team using their trade
exception, the Nets would have until next Tuesday when the exception
expires.

``You have to have somebody to deal with, and it took a long time to make a
deal with Portland,'' Thorn said. ``In this case the time frame would be
much shorter.''

Under NBA rules, the Nets have 10 days to complete the trade for Abdur-Rahim
from the day it was announced, which would give them until Aug. 12.

s_knight8 wrote:
> http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-nets-abdur-rahim&prov=ap&type=lgns
>
> EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The New Jersey Nets' trade with the
> Portland Trail Blazers for Shareef Abdur-Rahim has been put on hold
> after the veteran forward failed to pass a physical.


http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/112...5839290

It was something he never missed a game for," Thorn said. That would
eliminate the forward's right elbow, which he had operated on last season, a
surgery that forced him to miss 22 games for the Blazers.

Sources in a Knight Ridder News Service story said the Nets are concerned
about scar tissue found in Abdur-Rahim's right knee.

Abdur-Rahim had the knee scoped in high school and has never missed an NBA
game due to the injury.

The Nets have until Aug. 12 to complete the sign-and-trade for Abdur-Rahim,
who was the focus of their offseason. They invested big money and a 2006
first-round pick in Abdur-Rahim. But this matter could be resolved as early
as today.

If the trade doesn't go through, Abdur-Rahim becomes a free agent and the
Blazers would lose that protected first-round pick next year.

"We'd like for it to happen, because we wouldn't have agreed to it
otherwise," Nash said. "It's not as critical to us as it is to New Jersey,
who's really looking forward to the services of a good player to help them
compete in the East."