By FRED KERBER http://www.nypost.com/sports/nets/25698.htm July 1, 2005 -- When he was laboring in the NBA's Land of the Lost — a/k/a Vancouver — Shareef Abdur-Rahim struck up a close working relationship with an assistant on coach Brian Hill's staff. That assistant was named Lawrence Frank. According to Abdur-Rahim's attorney, that friendship between the player and the man who's now the Nets' head coach could prove invaluable to the Nets on the free-agent market. "That could be a huge factor," Aaron Goodwin, who last year tried to broker a trade to get Abdur-Rahim from Portland to the Nets, said yesterday. "I would say the Nets' chances [of signing him] are good. He likes the Nets. A year ago we tried like heck to get something done." Abdur-Rahim is one of the prized targets for the Nets as free-agent negotiations officially opened at 12:01 a.m. today. With the moratorium in place over ratification of the new collective-bargaining agreement, teams will not be able to sign free agents for three weeks. After drafting swingman Antoine Wright, who heads an impressive summer league roster that starts play in Las Vegas on Wednesday, the Nets want to address their size need through free agency. Abdur-Rahim, Donyell Marshall and Stromile Swift are the top three on the Nets' wish list. "We are going to address our frontcourt issues as quickly as we can," said team president Rod Thorn. Abdur-Rahim, also expected to be courted by the Spurs, Heat, Wizards and Knicks, made $14.6 million last season but will take a massive cut. He wants a winning situation — his nine seasons have produced a 216-492 record (.305) despite career averages of 19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds. The only winning he has known was a 17-15 stint with Portland after an in-season trade from Atlanta. The Nets have the $4.9 million mid-level exception for teams over the salary cap and another $4.9 million trade exception acquired in the Kerry Kittles deal. That trade exception, desirable because teams over the cap need not take a player, must be used by July 29, one year from the Kittles trade. And the Nets, who established depth as a priority, will look beyond power forwards. Even with Jacque Vaughn back, the Nets want to add depth at point guard. They could consider Miami's Keyon Dooling, who'll opt out of the last year of his contract ($807,506). Another to look at is Milt Palacio. Utah swingman Raja Bell also is on the depth wish list. "We've targeted since the offseason guys that we think can help us get back to the elite level we were at," said Frank. "We need to continue to bolster our depth. It's not about necessarily where you're not happy with what you have. But we need to get more or better. Where we've consistently gotten hurt is ... playing Jason [Kidd], Vince [Carter] an unbelievable amount of minutes." The Nets formed their summer roster with two guys they truly felt would be drafted, Clemson forward Sharrod Ford and Florida guard Anthony Roberson. They landed experienced NBA guys with 6-foot-11 Ken Johnson, late of Miami, and 6-10 journeyman Jelani McCoy. Other familiar names are Awvee Storey, with the Nets last year, and 6-7 Sam Clancy, an '02 Sixer draft pick. --

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