Thursday, July 14, 2005 BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO Star-Ledger Staff As the subterfuge enters its fourth day, the Nets seem willing to wait out Portland, the Trail Blazers remain uncompromising in their demand of a first-round draft pick, and Aaron Goodwin is waiting for the best moment to start threatening everybody to get a deal done. Goodwin, the stalwart agent for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, claimed the Nets and Blazers were talking yesterday -- Rod Thorn denied it -- but Goodwin also seemed curiously detached from the process, unless that was his own way of posturing. "I know they're talking, but I don't know the particulars that either one is asking for," Goodwin said. "I just know it remains one of Shareef's options, as long as the Nets and Portland are talking." There isn't much to talk about. Blazers GM John Nash wants a first-round pick from the Nets as compensation for a sign-and-trade deal that will get Abdur-Rahim a $37 million contract. The Nets are offering a second-rounder, while telling Goodwin he has to prepare his client for the possibility that they can only offer their midlevel exception -- the extra fund capped out teams use on free agents -- which will lock the free agent forward into a deal valued between $27 million and $30 million. The only positive development was that Thorn wasn't closing the door on the Blazers entirely. "I don't think so," the Nets president said, when asked whether he has hit a dead end with the Blazers. "These things play out." As for the timetable, Thorn changed it. One day after suggesting time is running out, he said, "I don't see anything strange happening if nothing is done by the weekend. But as I've said before, we have different contingency plans that we'll proceed with if it doesn't work out with one end." Translation: Goodwin might have to be satisfied with a midlevel deal, or, short of that commitment, the Nets are ready to move on and negotiate with Stromile Swift. "He's a nice young man," Thorn said of Swift, who met with him in Las Vegas Tuesday. "The meeting went well, but that's all I'm going to say about it." As for whether Swift would be a viable alternative to Abdur-Rahim, Thorn responded, "It's certainly a possibility." Remarkably, Goodwin hasn't used his considerable leverage to push the talks, though he can easily threaten Nash and Thorn with requitals, as agents often do. In fact, he hasn't even suggested to Thorn that his client is worth the price of a first-round pick. "I don't step in until further down the line," Goodwin said. "They know what has to be done, and they're working on it. As far as my part is concerned, Shareef is negotiating with New Jersey. And the Nets have to work out a deal." As for whether he believes the Nets should surrender a first-rounder to get the deal done, Goodwin replied, "That's up to New Jersey to make that determination. I would say he is worth it, obviously, but I'm his agent." Goodwin reiterated that the more lucrative contract is important to his client, but he stopped short of saying Abdur-Rahim would commit to the Nets if they were able to work out a deal with Portland. "That's up to Shareef to decide. I'd just say that at this point, he has strong interest in New Jersey," Goodwin said. "I can't say yea or nay. I have to talk to Shareef about it, to see if he's more inclined. But it would (be beneficial to the Nets) if they can offer the best possible deal." Abdur-Rahim did not return phone calls yesterday. http://www.nj.com/nets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1121317204302120.xml&coll=1 --

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