Shareef Abdur-Rahim retires

[Truthiracy]

Shareef has officially retired.

http://www.nba.com/transactions/current ... tions.html

[andaaaay]

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/

Posted on the sacbee kings blog.

[KingInExile]

Best of luck to Shareef in his next endeavors...hopefully as a big-man's coach for the team. I have always liked his game, but I think we all knew for most of this last year that this was inevitable.

[SacTown Kings]

I think Shareef made a wise decision, it has been obvious that he can no longer play at a high level. I have always liked Shareef throughout his career and wish him the best. Hey so does this mean his salary comes off the books?

One power forward down, one to go. Please Kenny accept a buyout, you will not get any playing time here, at least I hope not.

[SadKingsFan]

Well its a good choice for him at this point in his career, he is a great person and was a very good player blah blah blah...does his salary come off the books or not?

[a-rod]

He is a great athlete, a great man and role model, as sad as we all are to see him off the court, it would be by far more devastating to see him with a crippling injury.

Best of luck to Shareef in his next endeavors...hopefully as a big-man's coach for the team. I have always liked his game, but I think we all knew for most of this last year that this was inevitable.

I hope so because he's a fantastic role model for the young players to have...

Well its a good choice for him at this point in his career, he is a great person and was a very good player blah blah blah...does his salary come off the books or not?

While the Kings most certainly wish Abdur-Rahim's decline hadn't come with two seasons left on his five-year deal worth $29 million, there is a silver lining in the situation. There is a strong possibility that they will have Abdur-Rahim's salary ($6.6 million) come off of the salary cap for the 2009-10 season. It would be unexpected relief at a time when their long-term vision of clearing cap space and completing the rebuilding process would be coming into focus.
According to the league's collective bargaining agreement, the Kings would have to apply for his salary to be covered by insurance because his career was cut short by injury. If the league's medical folks confirm his condition as the reason for retirement, the Kings get the relief. For the record, it is already too late for the Kings to be absolved of his 2008-09 salary. In order for that to take place, Abdur-Rahim would have had to make his decision during the 2007-08 campaign.

[SacKingZZZ]

Thanks for the effort Reef! Hopefully he does become the big man coach.

[pillwenney]

Great situation for both sides assuming league doctors okay getting his salary off the books, this is a good thing for all parties. It is good for SAR and his health, and with this, the Kings may be up a big man coach, down some salary, and down a roster spot.

Udrih\Jackson\Brown
Martin\Douby
Salmons\Garcia\Greene
Moore\Thompson\Thomas
Miller\Hawes\S. Williams

[PaKwAn]

Next stop kenny's retirement

[KF10]

Shareef was a truly a class act throughout his career. I always liked him. But too bad he didn't have barely playoff experience...I wish Shareef the best post-NBA...

[dozencousins]

2 points to make i am finally glad he retired i mentioned this was going to happen before last years season !

also for those who are asking if his salary comes off our books the answer is no the kings pay him his full salary but what this does is have his salary not count against the salary cap !

[Scoot McGroot]

According to the league's collective bargaining agreement, the Kings would have to apply for his salary to be covered by insurance because his career was cut short by injury. If the league's medical folks confirm his condition as the reason for retirement, the Kings get the relief. For the record, it is already too late for the Kings to be absolved of his 2008-09 salary. In order for that to take place, Abdur-Rahim would have had to make his decision during the 2007-08 campaign.

Actually, I think this is incorrect. Since SAR's last game played was November 12th of 2007, you could apply to have his salary removed from the books exactly one year from the day of the career-ending injury.

According to Larry Coon and his guide to the Collective Bargaining Agreement:

If the waiting period expires mid-season (on any date prior to the last day of the regular season), then the player's entire salary for that season is removed from the team's team salary. For example, in March 2003 the Knicks were allowed to remove Luc Longley's entire 2002-03 salary from their books (and since the luxury tax is based on the team salary as of the last day of the regular season, the Knicks avoided paying any tax on Longley's salary). This provision can also be used when a player dies while under contract.

Teams are not allowed to trade for disabled players and then apply for this salary cap relief. Only the team for which the player was playing when he was disabled may request this relief.

If a player retires, even for medical reasons, his team does not receive a salary cap exception to acquire a replacement player.

Much like Indiana had Jon Bender's salary removed from the books a year after he retired, but right before the season ended, you could have SAR's salary removed if you go through the proper channels and have a doctor and league doctors declare that his retirement is due to an injury that he suffered while playing with the Kings. I'm sure the Maloof's and Petrie are smart enough to go through the rigamarole. SAR likely won't be counted against your cap for this season.

[PaKwAn]

2 points to make i am finally glad he retired i mentioned this was going to happen before last years season !

also for those who are asking if his salary comes off our books the answer is no the kings pay him his full salary but what this does is have his salary not count against the salary cap !

If thats true then its good and does it open us another roster spot?

[dozencousins]

It will open a roster spot however tha spot will likely only be taken up in 1 of 2 situations

1. a summer leauge or preseason roster hopeful makes the team on a cheap contract

or

2. we do a trade such as brad miller in a 2 for 1 even a trade of us tradibg 2 players for 3but i dont see this scenerio even possibly happening until late in the season before the trade deadline !

[cdt3]

Thank you Shareef in helping the Kings continue their winning ways with the Maloofs. He wasw supposed to be a bigger chunk of the success, but injuries hampered the last 2 year, which is why we are a little behind with the post Webber Kings. How ever, Shareef was a leader on and of the court, and will fit nicely in our great newly remodeled coaching staff. Just wanted to tell Shareef thanks for his help.




Please don't say the Moore/Miller front line it makes me ill. Moore was a shotblocker out of college, but is now a Miller outrebounded and doubled his blocks. Moore could be a quality vet off the bench for a playoff team, but I think Miller is in the longterm plans if he has a very good player next to him. I think this will be Shelden's year to continue his development. It is his 3rd year, he took until his Jr year at Duke for him to be a dominant guy( 21/11/4blks). I think he can be a 2+ block a game guy here to cover for Miller. Artest was great 1 on 1, but not scary as a team defender in the paint with only .7 blocks a game and a gamestopper on offense too. This team is full of scorers, who are going to get a ton of passes in this offense. It will be half court where this team will be successful, with enough athleticm to play uptempo with the young bigs at times. I really like this team. My biggest question will be Shelden, if they have decent team d, this team will be a playoff contender this year. If it doesn't look like it is working, we can still develop Hawes and Thompson more quickly. I don't see how teams will match up with our offense. If Shelden doesn't work out his option won't be picked up and we are talking about nearly $20 mil in capspace to go after a difference maker. If I know anything about Reggie Theus he will have this team improved from last year.

[KM44]

I think this was the right decision, and I hope that he left with no regrets from his lack of postseason play. He had a great career and hopefully people will remember him as one of the best PF of the 90s and early 00s. Thank you shareef and good luck

[Adobozz]

A class act, wish him the best in his coaching career. Go ReeF!