Shareef might retire!

[Inc]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... dur_rahim/

Retirement is a strong possibility for Kings' forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim as his 31-year-old body begins to wear down, according to Sacramento Bee.

Abdur-Rahim's troublesome right knee could prevent him from taking part in October's training camp, which could mean retirement and an early start to a coaching career.

The Sacramento forward said his physical progress remains "slow," and that he's "going to sit down and focus on that when I get back."

He's currently on an 11-day trip to Africa that will conclude on Monday.

Abdur-Rahim averaged just 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in six games for the Kings in 2007-08.

If he does retire (and salary comes off the cap), do you think it's in Kings best interests to aim for the 2009 offseason free agents instead of 2010, because to me, Kings have just as much chance to get a big name superstar at the 09 offseason as to the '10 offseason (which is none ) So maybe we should just have cap space to see what things come about.

[pillwenney]

I think it's important to note that the use of the word "strong" there is done only by the writer of the realgm article, not Amick. I'm not saying he won't retire, I just personally don't want to get my hopes up.

But still, losing SAR won't give us significant cap space--and it won't make finding the right deal for Brad any easier, nor will it make any team willing to give us an expiring contract for Kenny.

[Smills91]

I personally believe that he will retire. Just looking at it logically. He's over 30 and had two knee surgeries in the past 9 months. I don't think his knee will be able to handle it. I like Reef(except for his political beliefs) and think he's an overall good guy and a solid player, but I think he may be ready to transition his life into the next chapter as the Kings 'big man' coach.

As for the 2009 off-season, if you can find a potential deal that moves Kenny's dead AND has SAR come off the books, you HAVE to take it. Moving Miller I think is very possible and being the ONLY major player in the 2009 free agent market would pay off in dividends as it's more likely we won't have to OUT BID anyone and overspend on a FA.

[UKF]

This is what I think will happen and this is wha I think is best for all parties. The Kings only have so many minutes at the PF spot and most of those minutes wont be given to SAR. He had a good career, and I liked having him on this team. He will probably take some time off and then become a coach.

[SacKingZZZ]

I think the dream of an '09 offseason spending spree is over. We didn't unload Kenny with Artest instead choosing to go the "value" route, that and just about every interesting '09 piece ended up re-signing long term. So....2010 it is!

[Ballings7]

I don't think 2009 is as valuable for us than 2010 can be.

[KF10]

Yep. 2009 is NOT our year. It is 2010.

[dozencousins]

Nothing suprising to me about this i mentioned Reef may retire after last season very early into last years season.....

[sacking123]

it shouldn't really change anything IMO.
One thing it would do is get Reef onto the coaching staff quicker and into the vacant big man position and the Kings can really work with the young ones.

[deNIEd]

Our year should be 2011.

But theres no one out there in 09.

Also, Portland has just as much money, and they are looking to spend, just to spend.

Most player will all be locked up by their current team.
The rest will be too old to truly help us.
And theres Bynum.

[KM44]

2011 has horford. If thompson doesn't pan out, then Horford will be #1 on our list.

[ICMTM]

I thought if he retired he still counts against the cap, no? The only way he doesn't is if his knee forces him to retire, and we get a cap exception. If that's the case who cares if he retires. He's not going to play, and he has NO trade value.

[pillwenney]

I thought if he retired he still counts against the cap, no? The only way he doesn't is if his knee forces him to retire, and we get a cap exception. If that's the case who cares if he retires. He's not going to play, and he has NO trade value.

Well if he retires, it'll be because of his knee. At age 31, I have to think that if his knee allowed him to still play, that he would.

But even if we don't get that exception, we at least have the consolation of an extra roster spot, which we could use right now.

[King Baller]

I thought if he retired he still counts against the cap, no? The only way he doesn't is if his knee forces him to retire, and we get a cap exception. If that's the case who cares if he retires. He's not going to play, and he has NO trade value.

Well if he retires, it'll be because of his knee. At age 31, I have to think that if his knee allowed him to still play, that he would.

But even if we don't get that exception, we at least have the consolation of an extra roster spot, which we could use right now.

Yep, Last year Petrie picked up Beno when the T-wolves cut him. With an extra roster spot, Petrie might sign another good player that lost out in the numbers game somewhere else.

KB

[Ballings7]

Kind of a random thought, that I have a minor at most expectation for...

I'd be all for Stephane Lasme, as a very agile, long, tough, shot-blocking beast of a PF that can finish around the basket and make the mid-range shot effectively. I saw a bit of him with the Warriors, and some games of him with the Heat, definitely impressed me. A year around and in the NBA will only do him good. Especially around a Pat Riley environment for a decent amount of time. He is undersized height-wise, but that's really insignificant to me, and we'll have plenty of size, anyway. Eventually he'd take over the back-up PF role, if he'd be able to stick.

If anything, what we need is another big man with relatively good mobility (Moore's decent, but he doesn't count because of his age) in addition to Thompson. Not necessarily saying Lasme, but just saying, he fits the mold of this player. Like a mobile, energy kind of big man who plays both sides of the court, and being a key complementary player to the offensive sources, and likely a key part of the team's defense. The kind of big man in which we've never had, a lot of teams have, and we've missed out on.

This is of course all in a year or two mind-set.

[pillwenney]

I thought if he retired he still counts against the cap, no? The only way he doesn't is if his knee forces him to retire, and we get a cap exception. If that's the case who cares if he retires. He's not going to play, and he has NO trade value.

Well if he retires, it'll be because of his knee. At age 31, I have to think that if his knee allowed him to still play, that he would.

But even if we don't get that exception, we at least have the consolation of an extra roster spot, which we could use right now.

Yep, Last year Petrie picked up Beno when the T-wolves cut him. With an extra roster spot, Petrie might sign another good player that lost out in the numbers game somewhere else.

KB

Well not even that necessarily, just that we would then be able to do two-for-one trades, so if hypotethetically, some team offered two players that added up to expirings and a nice asset for Brad, we'd be able to do it, whereas right now we would first have to waive someone to pull that off.

[KF10]

I prefer Hilton Armstrong than Lasme.

[Ballings7]

Armstrong isn't going to be cut, though.

[KF10]

Armstrong isn't going to be cut, though.

Yeah, I know. Just throwing an idea around.

[KingInExile]

Armstrong isn't going to be cut, though.

Yeah, I know. Just throwing an idea around.

There is a guy on the trade board that was proposing trading Moore for Armstrong and Butler. Frankly, I was not too crazy about the idea since Armstrong has not really proven that he has much desire and I would rather have Moore's contract expiring in 2010 than to have Armstrong as a RFA the same summer (along with Shelden Williams).