Shareef Abdur-Rahim was never going to be a long term fit in Portland after arriving there half way through the season.  Despite putting up strong numbers for the Atlanta Hawks, Abdur-Rahim found himself behind young phenom Zach Randolph at power forward in the rotation, and with Rasheed Wallace freshly removed to free up minutes for Randolph it was unlikely that Shareef was going to unplace him any time soon.  

The Trail Blazers have depth at the four spot, having Dale Davis to play minutes at the four if needed, so it is no suprise that Portland has been shopping Abdur-Rahim, previously an All Star,  this offseason.

The latest rumors out of the New York Daily News links Kerry Kittles and Aaron Williams to the Blazers in exchange for the talented forward.  Both Abdur-Rahim and Kittles are entering their final years of their contracts.

According to Ohm Youngmisuk and Mitch Lawrence of the Daily News, while Kittles and Abdur-Rahim are the principals in a potential deal, the trade could be expanded to include Portland's Ruben Patterson and the Nets' Lucious Harris and Rodney Rogers. The Nets, however, had reservations about Patterson last summer when they talked to Portland about a possible trade for Wallace.

The Nets already have another All Star at the power forward position in Kenyon Martin, but with Martin a restricted free agent this offseason who is expecting to demand big dollars Abdur-Rahim would be insurance in case negotiations break down with Martin and he leaves.  Should Martin stay Abdur Rahim can play the small forward position, having done so in Vancouver before transferring to the Hawks, allowing rising star Richard Jefferson to slide across to shooting guard.

Kittles is expected to be left unprotected for next month's expansion draft.