Rockets let Lewis know of interest By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle The Rockets this week "expressed interest" in Seattle forward Rashard Lewis, considered the NBA's top unrestricted free agent, though the team has not yet made an offer, Lewis' Houston-based agent Carl Poston said Wednesday. Lewis, 22 and a veteran of four seasons out of Elsik High School, is scheduled to meet with Mavericks officials today in Dallas. Like the Rockets, the Mavericks are over the salary cap and, barring a sign-and-trade deal with the SuperSonics, could offer Lewis only a mid-level exception, beginning at $4.3 million for the first season. A seven-year contract with the maximum raises permitted could be worth $65.4 million, though Poston said Lewis likely would sign only a three-year deal if he left Seattle to earn his "Bird" rights -- allowing him to re-sign with his next team in excess of the salary cap. Poston said the Sonics still have not made Lewis, a second-round pick in 1998, a firm offer. "The Rockets have interest," Poston said. "They have expressed interest informally. They don't understand why Seattle has not signed Rashard. But if they don't sign Rashard, (the Rockets) would be very interested in having him be here." Poston has not scheduled a meeting with any team other than the Mavericks, but he did plan to speak with Rockets officials again next week. He said about eight teams -- including the Bulls, Cavaliers and Heat -- have expressed similar interest. Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson is scheduled to meet with Steve Francis' representatives today in Las Vegas to discuss a contract extension for Francis. Lewis, a 6-10, 217-pound small forward, averaged 16.8 points and seven rebounds last season, making 46.8 percent of his shots. Before the free-agency negotiation period began July 1, Poston said Lewis would expect a maximum contract, worth for him in excess of $100 million over seven years. The Sonics do not appear willing to offer a contract close to that because it would send them well beyond the expected luxury-tax threshold of $50 million. The Rockets also would likely be hit with the luxury tax -- if not next season, then in the 2003-2004 season when Francis' extension would start. But they could pursue a sign-and-trade agreement with the Sonics if Lewis proves willing to force Seattle's hand.
I get the feeling that we haven't gone all out for him because we know Seattle will eventualy offer him a crap load of money. I think Dallas and Houston will be used as nothing more than leverage by the Lewis camp. Nothing wrong with that, it's how the negotiating game is played.
My problem is that Lewis is not worth the max and I don't think the Rox should take him on giving that promise. We already have superstars who deserve the max - what we need are role players.
Hey Htown Hero, You are correct Grasshopper.....But never underestimate the value Rashad sees by coming back home to Houston. You can't pay for that. I think Dallas is waisting everyones time and Cuban will see Money can't buy everything. I can't stand the Spurs or the Mavs. What can I say I'm from Houston ? Stay cool.
I don't think the Rockets are really interested in him. I think they are doing the same thing with him they did with Marc Jackson last year. Sign him to an offer sheet at a low cost and if he comes...GREAT, if not....no big deal. DaDakota
Feigan reports that Rockets show interest in Shard Feigan reported today in Chronicle that Shards agent has gotten a call to meet with him and shard next week.... Let's keep our fingers crossed
Think we could get Rashard's mom to help convince him. (She does live in Houstin, right.) She could take him to his room and fix it up. Give him his old teddy bear. Then he'll want to stay at his home in Houston. Or maybe not.
IMHO With or without him are still a lock for the sixth seed or better. So long lottery. Hello respectability!
so what happened to all the odom talk? last i heard his trade value was down. would we trade nachbar before even seeing him play? for lewis or odom? i dunno, id rather trade morris, KT or rice even though all three will be good for us this year in their respective roles.
odom schmodom... here is a chatroom post currently going on right now about Rashard Lewis from ESPN Insider's Chad Ford: http://dynamic.espn.go.com/espn/chat/chatESPN?event_id=2082 Robert (Dallas): Do the mavs have a serious shot at signing Rashard Lewis? And if they do, does that hurt Najera's chances of getting re-signed? Chad Ford: (1:09 PM ET ) I think they have a very slim shot. If the Sonics honestly feel like he'll bolt, I'm sure they'll up their offer into the $70 million range. That should be enough to make Rashard happy. If he does decide to bolt Seattle, he loves the Rockets and would probably go to Houston. Chicago would probably be option No. 2. Dallas would be No. 3
Lewis just bought a home in Houston, so he doesn't need to stay with mommy if he comes to the Rockets. I hope we go for it. We give him a 3 year or do a sign and trade to give him some more cash, though there's no way he gets the max, only the Sonics are capable of that, and they can't afford it right now. After 3 years, If Lewis trurns out to be a excellent player, why not give him a max? With his Bird rights, we can go over the cap without the hassle of the luxury tax. If he doesn't improve, he wouldn't have the leverage to ask for a max. This is definately a worthwhile move. We rave about Boki for his 3 pt touch while Lewis is one of the tops in the league at that. Not to mention Lewis is a great rebounder for a SF. I want to make the playoffs now and that would be harder witha rookie like Boki starting at SF, so I'm all for bringing in Lewis, especially since he isn't a ball hog. If Boki turns out to be a better player, there's absolutely no guarantee of that, then we let Lewis walk after 3 years. I say go for it.
The only reason I can see this could be a negative for the Rox is signing him now could put is in salary cap hell in a few years. If the Rox give him too much money, then it hurts our chances to re-sign Eddie, Yao, and the Cat in a few years when their contracts are up. If we can pull the sign and trade now, as long as we don't give Rashard a Cato-like contract, it could work out great. But if we give him too much money for too many years, it hurts our chances to re-sign our 'core' players in the next few years. I would rather keep Eddie and Yao for longer than just the next 3-4 years. They may command the max (or close to it) if they are as good as advertised... If we can get Rashard for a reasonable price, I say wrap him up and bring him back home!!
We should not under any condition even think of trading Nachbar. I would rather have him at his low salary compared to Lewis who will give us all kinds of money problems. Nachbar and shoot and he has the speed to go to the basket and dunk.
