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.

League officials have leaked that Knicks team President Isiah Thomas is shopping Kurt around the league and has already had discussions with the Portland Trail Blazers about acquiring forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

Due to an $8 million difference in salaries, the Knicks are looking to package in Moochie Norris and Othella Harrington.

On the other hand, Portland is also talking to New Jersey about Kerry Kittles.

Amongst other players Thomas is shopping are Dikembe Mutombo and Shandon Anderson.

Although the Nets failed to advance to the conference finals after two straight appearances in the Finals, they raised ticket prices while at the same time making it far more reasonable for non-millionaires to attend games.

Seats priced over $275 increased by 6.5 percent as the average ticket price went from $70.74 to $75.31. The team also established 3,000 "Screecher Seats," in the upper level, priced at $15. Also, the Nets will offer a limited number of $10 seats per game.

"We want to increase our loyal fan base by offering more reasonably priced tickets," said Nets CEO Rod Thorn. "At the same time, due to the economics of doing business in the NBA, we will be forced to raise certain ticket prices for the first time in two years."

Most lower level seats will rise $125 to $150, with a limited number at $170. Seats priced at $75 last season will jump to $80, with others priced at $100.

ESPN has learned that ex Nets coach Byron Scott will takeover the reigns of the New Orleans Hornets head coaching position.

"They were real interested in me, as I was in them, and I jumped on it," Scott said.

Scott currently works as a tv analyst but has said he can't wait to start working as a coach again.

In the past two season with the Nets, he took his team to the Finals both times.

Brian Lewis reports that CEO Rod Thorn sings Kenyon Martin's praises, coach Lawrence Frank gives him an emphatic vote of confidence, and the restricted free agent himself wants to stay ? for the right price. Now the question is: Will new owner Bruce Ratner meet that price, likely a maximum-salary deal?

"Kenyon's a huge reason for our success," Frank said of Martin. "We [want] nothing more than to see him back. If it was my money, [I'd pay him]. It's out of my hands, but in casting my ballot, I'm 100 percent behind bringing him back."

Martin said he wants to return.

"I love it here," he said. "I love the guys, the organization, Rod, the coach. This is my No. 1 choice to be back here. But it's out of my control. There are guys making way more money than me. I just want what I feel I'm worth.

"Everybody's on the same page. Rod told you how he felt. But at the end of the day it's not his decision. He can go to bat for me until he's blue in the face, but if a higher power says no, then it's no."

Martin turned down a $66 million extension last summer. The Nets can offer him a seven-year, $105 million deal, or a six-year, $86 million pact, and he said he's worth the max.

After losing in the NBA final two straight years, the New Jersey Nets spent about $130 million (U.S.) last summer trying to guarantee another title shot.

The big outlay assured that all-star point guard Jason Kidd would continue running the team and Alonzo Mourning would join the team, giving coach Byron Scott a big man in the middle.

What the money didn't guarantee was health, luck, stability, nor another trip to the final.

Detroit's rout ended New Jersey's reign in the Eastern Conference.

Chauncey Billups scored 22 points, Richard Hamilton had 21 and Ben Wallace added 18 to lead the Pistons past the Nets 90-69 Thursday night in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinal.

Detroit took the lead for good in the middle of the first quarter and turned the game into a blowout early in the third by using its dominant defense to hold the Nets to just two points in the first six-plus minutes while opening a 24-point lead.

The Pistons, who advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year, face former head coach Rick Carlisle and the Indiana Pacers.

Richard Jefferson said it was ?overrated? that the Nets have never played in a Game 7 before as a unit.  

Jefferson also played down the enormity of the series-deciding game.  ?This is not the biggest game I?ve ever played in,? he said. ?It?s not the biggest my teammates have ever played in. This is another game. It?s a game if you lose you go home. You?re not going to be too emotional.?

Pistons coach Larry Brown concurred, saying that the Nets have proven themselves in big spots and have come out on top in important games before.

Tonight will be another important one for both teams.  The game is 8 PM EDT at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Chris McCosky gives his four keys to the Pistons pulling out the Game 7 win over the Nets and advancing to the Eastern Conference finals:

1)  Contain Richard Jefferson.  Jefferson has dented the Pistons with a 21.7 points per game average during the series.

2)  Will Rasheed Wallace's ailing left foot feel a little better with some treatment and Game 7 adrenaline?  A little more from the big man would be a big boost.

3)  Control the Nets' fast break.  Ben Wallace needs to get on the boards and keep the Nets from running the Pistons off the court.  When the Pistons slow the Nets down a bit, they win.

4)  Don't let the referees calls get under your skin.  Keep cool, leave the refs alone and play the game.

Today, on one of the biggest days of his professional life, Pistons president Joe Dumars will get a haircut.

His counterpart on the New Jersey Nets, Rod Thorn, plans to read a book.

And later, they get to the really hard task of the day: doing nothing, intensely.

Dumars built the Pistons and Thorn built the Nets, but when the teams tip off in Game 7 of their playoff series tonight, all they can do is watch.

Dumars will sit in a luxury box with Pistons executives John Hammond, Scott Perry and George David. He'll look calm. Don't believe it.

"I've just never been one to display what I'm actually feeling," Dumars said. "It's definitely a roller coaster, man. The only thing is you have no ability to affect the outcome of the game. All you can do is sit and agonize."