Sports briefs for September 15, 2004

Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004 | 9:45 a.m.

Nets and Blazers discuss Kidd trade

The New Jersey Nets and the Portland Trail Blazers have discussed parameters of a trade that would send Jason Kidd to the Pacific Northwest in exchange for forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, although nothing is imminent, according to today's New York Times.

Abdur-Rahim is eager to get out of Portland, and Kidd, a seven-time All-Star point guard, is unhappy with the Nets' direction in the wake of the July trades that sent away the starters Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles.

A straight-up trade, Kidd for Abdur-Rahim, was unlikely, the newspaper said.

Discussions of a trade involving Abdur-Rahim began at least six weeks ago. The Nets made an initial offer of Kittles, Lucious Harris, Aaron Williams and a draft pick. The Blazers balked and asked for Kidd, and negotiations halted there.

The potential Kidd-for-Abdur-Rahim deal was reported Tuesday by CBSSportsline.com, with the Blazers' president, Steve Patterson, confirming the talks.

Cubs sue paper carrier

The Chicago Cubs are suing a former Hartford Courant newspaper carrier Mark Guthrie to get back $301,000 in pay that was intended to go to a former player with the same name. The Cubs and Courant are both owned by the Chicago-based Tribune Co., which deposited the checks in the newspaper carrier's account in October. "The Cubs and the Hartford Courant use the Tribune's accounts payable system," said attorney Paul Guggina, "and both Mark Guthries were coded into the system as vendors."

Wranglers re-sign Ask

Center Morten Ask, who had four goals and four assists in eight games after being acquired in a trade in March, re-signed with the Las Vegas Wranglers for the 2004-05 season.

Mid-Amateur final set

Virginia Derby Grimes, a two-time Curtis Cup player who underwent spinal fusion surgery in 2002, and Corey Weworski won their semifinal matches and were to meet today in the championship match of the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur at Knoxville, Tenn.

Tulane game off

Tulane postponed Saturday's game against Louisville because of the threat of Hurricane Ivan and tentatively rescheduled it for the weekend of Dec. 4.