Kidd Karma
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Well 3 years and 150 or so games later, SAR is contemplating retirement. Thorn again proving to be one of the top GM's in the game, going against the grain, alienating some agents, yet at the end of the day.....IN ROD WE TRUST
http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/1085912.html
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>LAS VEGAS – Quite a few processes are going on here for Shareef Abdur-Rahim. And none are all that pleasant.
The Kings forward, who underwent his second arthroscopic surgery in six months on his right knee in early December, knows this could be the twilight of his career. It has been a process to cite "old age" as a factor when you're 31, especially for a 12-year veteran who spent most of his career as one of the league's steadiest contributors. It has been a process returning to practice at all, but he did for the first time Sunday, joining the Kings' summer league team at UNLV.
The process, however arduous, is not yet over.
"(Sunday) was the most I've done (since the second surgery)," Abdur-Rahim said by phone. "I've been on the court doing a lot of drills running and stuff three times a week. I try to do something five times a week. It's hit and miss sometimes, I won't lie."
Because he knows there's no reason to.
"I think at the end of the day with something like this, it'll make the decision for you," he said. "Anyone's body is only going to let you do what it's going to let you do. That's the thing. I haven't really mentally started adjusting to (the notion of retirement) and thinking like that. I guess my body will let me know."
And the Kings, too, of course. Three years after the Kings signed him to a five-year, $29.3 million deal, Abdur-Rahim feels obliged to give more than he has. That sentiment fits his reputation as a quality character who has won over so many within the Kings organization and the league at large. And therein lies the harsh irony.
The best outcome for the Kings would be for Abdur-Rahim to retire, as his contract (two years and $12.8 million) is insured. Although Abdur-Rahim still would be paid in full, the Kings would see his money come off a salary cap figure that is pushing the luxury tax threshold of $71.15 million.
Given the Kings' situation – a youth movement and rebuilding – Abdur-Rahim might not have been a major part of their plans even with a full recovery. A roster that was forward-heavy with Abdur-Rahim and Kenny Thomas now is tipping the scales at that position. There's starter Mikki Moore, draft pick Jason Thompson and the possibility second-round pick Patrick Ewing Jr. could make the team.
Above all, there's Abdur-Rahim's pride.
"The most frustrating thing is that it's like, What exactly did I do to get to this point other than run up and down the court the last 20 years of my life?" he said.
" … My thing is to gear in and try to give myself the best possible opportunity to be healthy and get back on the court and do what I love doing and contribute to the team."
Abdur-Rahim said his right knee's future is uncertain.
"For the most part, it's been steady," he said. "I was able to get out there and practice with them and go up and down," he said. "It's just to keep working and see how things progress and how the knee responds to the workload that's expected of us."
About the writer:
* Read Sam Amick's Kings blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.</div>
http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/1085912.html
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>LAS VEGAS – Quite a few processes are going on here for Shareef Abdur-Rahim. And none are all that pleasant.
The Kings forward, who underwent his second arthroscopic surgery in six months on his right knee in early December, knows this could be the twilight of his career. It has been a process to cite "old age" as a factor when you're 31, especially for a 12-year veteran who spent most of his career as one of the league's steadiest contributors. It has been a process returning to practice at all, but he did for the first time Sunday, joining the Kings' summer league team at UNLV.
The process, however arduous, is not yet over.
"(Sunday) was the most I've done (since the second surgery)," Abdur-Rahim said by phone. "I've been on the court doing a lot of drills running and stuff three times a week. I try to do something five times a week. It's hit and miss sometimes, I won't lie."
Because he knows there's no reason to.
"I think at the end of the day with something like this, it'll make the decision for you," he said. "Anyone's body is only going to let you do what it's going to let you do. That's the thing. I haven't really mentally started adjusting to (the notion of retirement) and thinking like that. I guess my body will let me know."
And the Kings, too, of course. Three years after the Kings signed him to a five-year, $29.3 million deal, Abdur-Rahim feels obliged to give more than he has. That sentiment fits his reputation as a quality character who has won over so many within the Kings organization and the league at large. And therein lies the harsh irony.
The best outcome for the Kings would be for Abdur-Rahim to retire, as his contract (two years and $12.8 million) is insured. Although Abdur-Rahim still would be paid in full, the Kings would see his money come off a salary cap figure that is pushing the luxury tax threshold of $71.15 million.
Given the Kings' situation – a youth movement and rebuilding – Abdur-Rahim might not have been a major part of their plans even with a full recovery. A roster that was forward-heavy with Abdur-Rahim and Kenny Thomas now is tipping the scales at that position. There's starter Mikki Moore, draft pick Jason Thompson and the possibility second-round pick Patrick Ewing Jr. could make the team.
Above all, there's Abdur-Rahim's pride.
"The most frustrating thing is that it's like, What exactly did I do to get to this point other than run up and down the court the last 20 years of my life?" he said.
" … My thing is to gear in and try to give myself the best possible opportunity to be healthy and get back on the court and do what I love doing and contribute to the team."
Abdur-Rahim said his right knee's future is uncertain.
"For the most part, it's been steady," he said. "I was able to get out there and practice with them and go up and down," he said. "It's just to keep working and see how things progress and how the knee responds to the workload that's expected of us."
About the writer:
* Read Sam Amick's Kings blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.</div>
