Shareef

Abdur-Rahim

''He’s scheduled to be in training camp,’' Hawks interim GM Billy Knight said. ''His back bothered him off and on last season. It didn’t get worse, but it didn’t go away.’' Abdur-Rahim said his back has been an annoyance for most of his two seasons with the Hawks. ''I took a fall in Orlando [two years ago], and I’ve been dealing with it since then,’' he said. ''I made up my mind that I was going to get my body all the way together this offseason.’'

Portland radio station, The Fan, says this reported offer is fact and not speculation. Toronto will only move Carter if Rose and his huge contract go along with him. This may be the best chance for both teams to move their disgruntled stars.

He also won accolades for his defense against Grant Hill. “To be honest, I questioned whether Shareef could guard (small forwards),” teammate Nick Van Exel said. “I think everyone questioned it. But he has deflated that, because his defense has been great all season.” Abdur-Rahim is averaging 14.9 points (on 51.9 percent shooting), 7.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game.

Ruben Patterson said the offense is too clogged in the middle with post players Zach Randolph and Shareef Abdur-Rahim starting alongside center Theo Ratliff, so we could see Darius Miles starting, or hear more about trading Shareef.

Darius Miles owners can hope one of two things -- that Shareef will have to sit out longer, or that he’s healthy enough to be traded soon.

How convenient that his elbow becomes perfect just in time for the trade deadline. You can almost hear the sales pitch when Abdur-Rahim says, ''I feel good, I really do. I’m confident, and I don’t anticipate any problems.’' He’s expected to come off the IL Wednesday. If he remains with the Blazers, he should supplant Theo Ratliff in the lineup, depending upon the status of Zach Randolph’s knee.

There is a remote possibility he could be activated for the Blazers’ four-game trip that begins Feb. 11. It’s more likely he’ll come back when the team returns home. As to his role when he returns, the team may give him a few starts to showcase him for a trade.

Abdur-Rahim had back surgery in July. He could resume playing in games in about a week.

Coach Terry Stotts said Abdur-Rahim won’t be available until Saturday against Memphis, where he’ll play part time.

The rumor has Abdur-Rahim going to New York, Van Horn to Portland, and Rasheed Wallace to Atlanta, where his free agent contract could come off their books after the season. Doesn’t look that good for the Blazers, though, who only get Van Horn and would probably need to receive Kurt Thomas as well in a larger deal.