by: Anthony Dupree | Managing Editor - Buffalo Sports Day | Thursday, July 7 2005 The New Jersey Nets did a good job on the NBA Draft with Antoine Wright and Mile Ilic. However, most of their own free agents, including fan favorite Brian Scalabrine, are leaving for other teams. So now with July 1 passed, New Jersey is already negotiating with outside free agents. In the final part of the off-season series, we歓l discuss the free agents New Jersey needs, why do they need him, and how realistic their chances are. Financing: New Jersey is over the salary cap with $49 million. Jason Kidd and Vince Carter combined make over $30 million. New Jersey does have a Mid-Level Exception worth $4.9 million and a Trade Exception worth $5.2 million. Shareef Abdur-Rahim: Power Forward New Jersey旧 top priority this off-season is Abdur-Rahim. He averaged 17 points, seven rebounds, and one block per game for Portland last year. Abdur-Rahim is an All-Star player who will be added to what is currently three NBA Superstars in Kidd, Carter, and Richard Jefferson. Most importantly, it gives New Jersey a very scary starting lineup while moving Jason Collins to the bench. There旧 no question, Abdur-Rahim will make New Jersey a Championship contender. The biggest issue concerning Abdur-Rahim has is his defense. However, New Jersey does not care, and the fans certainly do not care. The Nets are offering Abdur-Rahim the $4.9 million Mid-Level Exception, but Abdur-Rahim's agent, Aaron Goodwin, said it is 続oubtful?he would take less money to play for New Jersey. However, New Jersey still has a chance because of Jason Kidd and head coach Lawrence Frank. Kidd and Abdur-Rahim played as teammates during college at Cal. Frank, on the other hand, was a scout and an assistant for the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1997. That year, Abdur-Rahim played for that team. Other Teams Interested: San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic Donyell Marshall: Power Forward/Small Forward One of the NBA旧 most underrated players, Marshall average 12 points, seven rebounds, and one block a game for the Toronto Raptors last year. Marshall, like Abdur-Rahim, is another scoring threat on the starting lineup. Marshall will also make the Nets a real threat for the NBA championship. What makes Marshall special can play both forward positions, which gives New Jersey versatility in the forwards. Furthermore, He is also a consistent shooter that will give the Nets a half-court option. Right now, he旧 the backup in case Abdur-Rahim does not sign with New Jersey. However, Marshall is being heavily pursued by other teams. Unless the Nets find out soon if they are in the Abdur-Rahim sweepstakes, they will not have a shot to sign Marshall. Other Teams Interested: Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers Stromile Swift: Power Forward/Center Option number three in the Nets?power forward search, Swift averaged 10 points, five rebounds, and two blocks per game for the Memphis Grizzlies last year. Unlike, Marshall and Abdur-Rahim, Swift isn急 a good shooter. He can rebound and he will be on the highlight reel with the alley-oops Kidd will dish out, but he has low basketball IQ. This is why he旧 the third option for the Nets right now. Being the third option would give the Nets little, to no chance, of signing him. However, with a possibility that Abdur-Rahim may not become a Net, the window is open for him as backup to Marshall. Will he take the $4.9 million is another story. Other Teams Interested: Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers Keyon Dooling: Point Guard A potential Jason Kidd backup, Dooling averaged five points, two assists, and one steal a game for the Miami Heat last year. Dooling is not a good shooter, despite last year, but he is a good defender. Rumors say that Dooling will be signed to a multi-year deal by the Nets. New Jersey is hope to split their $5.2 Trade Exception with him. Other Teams Interested: None Darius Songaila: Power Forward A possible replacement for Scalabrine, Songaila averaged eight points, four rebounds, and 0.2 blocks a game for the Sacramento Kings last year. Songaila is an OK offensive player, but isn急 good on defense or rebounding. The Nets are hoping to spilt the other half of their Trade Exception with him. Other Teams Interested: None http://www.nysportsday.com/news/njn/1120803453.html --

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