Rashard Lewis says it's between Dallas and Seattle

Rashard Lewis says it's between Dallas and Seattle.

Marc Stein of the Dallas Morning News reports that the Dallas Mavericks are currently one of two teams vying for the services of free agent swingman Rashard Lewis. After receiving a whirlwind tour of the Dallas area and recruiting pitches from Michael Finley and Steve Nash, Rashard Lewis was impressed. While he didn’t promise anything, he definitely likes the Mavericks.

It's probably going to be between Seattle and Dallas," Lewis said. "The Mavericks have a real chance just because of the way they treated me and my family. Everything was first class."

Lewis is discontent with the offers coming from the Supersonics and is looking for other options. Mavs owner Mark Cuban believes Lewis is sincere when he says he’s interested in Dallas. He doesn’t think of this as a negotiation ploy to raise Seattle’s offer.

"I don't think Rashard's that type of guy," Cuban said. "I know he's very serious. This is his chance to play close to home and be near his family [in Houston]. Seattle had every chance to do something before he got here."

Cuban also acknowledges that his team is a long shot to sign Lewis. It’s unrealistic to expect a guy to accept a 3-year, $15 million contract if Seattle is offering $60 or $70 million. Especially considering Lewis turned down a six-year offer in the $50 million range from Toronto in the summer of 2000 to stay in Seattle on the promise of future riches.

"[History] is going to make it harder to do that again, but I think I'm going to do what's best for me and go where I feel most comfortable," Lewis said. "There are only three elite teams in the league – Dallas, Sacramento and the Lakers. I think I'm the missing piece to their [Dallas'] puzzle."

He hasn't even given us a chance. Come on Rudy, what are we waiting for? I get the sense that the Rockets are not really interested.

 

Isn't he meeting with the Rockets pretty soon here? I've been purposely trying to avoid Rashard threads to the best of my ability, so excuse me if they've already met. Anyway, maybe this is his way of giving the Rockets soemthing to think about before meeting with them?

 

Time to bring out the bells, whistles, Xbox, Gamecube, PS2, computer animated programmed simulations of him, 10,000 fans cheering at the airport, balloons, confetti, various trinkit gifts, guided tours, BS in the ear how he will be our #1 guy, promise of him being paid more than anyone else in the NBA, stock options, partial ownership, and of course the golden key to the city...maybe we will get back in "contention" if we do this ..........

Or we could simply sit back and nod, smile, and act like we are paying attention.

 

Sorry when i made mine I didn't see yours. I am asking that they take my thread off.

 

If the Rockets are not dying to meet him is because of moderate motivation. The Rockets team for those who refuse to acknowledge is well put together thanks to the hard work of CD and some good luck. Let's face it we would be motivated to get him more to prevent Dallas from getting him than we having a major hole and have to fill it. In fact if he gets here is because we sent out more value than him else Seattle would not do the deal. So at the end of the day there may not be any net gain for us.

Look at the comparisons below for last season between Kenny Thomas and Lewis:

KT Lewis
PPG 14.1 16.8
RPG 7.2 7.0
APG 1.9 1.7
SPG 1.18 1.46
BPG .92 .56
FG% .478 .468
FT% .664 .810
3P% .000 .389
MPG 34.5 36.4

It is no wonder that we have moderate interest because we have players, like KT, that we hand-picked and developed that are just as good and are cheaper. I do not see the need to pay Lewis big money now when you still have a cheaper KT, this year, and KT will be cheaper when next year comes. The difficulties that Clark is facing this year is a preview of what is to come next year. The most KT will cost us next year would be a little more that the MCE, because I do not see any team offering more than that for him with the plethora of free agents that are going to be around next year. It may cost us some tax but it would not be much and it would not be for long because of Rice's pending departure.

If KT shows up next year shooting the 3, then it would be further evidence that he can play the 3 and we do not need Lewis. We would simply wait for Rice to depart and then have KT and Nachbar at the 3. How realistic it is to expect him to shoot the 3? Well he shot 26% and 27% his first two years in the league, so it should not be farfetched to see a 10% improvement if he focused on that.

Speaking about Rice, I do not believe there is any big rush on the team's part to move his salary. They seem satified that they can use his veteran leadership and outside shooting this year, while the younger ones continue to develop.

Finally, I do not buy the crap that KT is not fast enough to defend the 3 spot. Not only have I seen him doing it, but he is faster than anybody we have had play the position especially, Walt, Rice, Eg, Morris, and Nachbar who is projected to play the position. If Kenny Thomas was available like Lewis, Cuban would be all over him too. I am sure Nellie would be happy to play KT at the 3.

 

One thing i am glad of 1 thing. We won't have to hear all the trades people here want to get Lewis. I say Nachbar all the way. He is faster than Rice and I believe that he will be a better shooter. His workout with the Rockets was amazing.

 

It's obvious that the guy doesn't want to come to Houston, so hopefully Rice is in shape. The last thing I want is to go after a guy who doesn't want to be here, but might play here just for a few dollars and to be close to his family, but doesn't respect the organization.

 

DearRock, its not fair to compare Lewis and Thomas. Thomas cant play the 3 and Lewis cant play the 4.

 

Don't believe everything you read. Rashard is coMING. I know it is not the same when I say it. But, if Rashard leaves the Sonics, I think he is coMING home.

 

I don't want Rashard Lewis here and I don't think we need him. We drafted Nachbar, and I say we at least do the guy some justice and let him show how good he is. To sign Lewis after drafting Nachbar is irresponsible on the Rockets' part. Plus, this is a business and Rashard Lewis isn't all that. We shouldn't sign a player that has made verbally lashing us a hobby.

 

Who is Trazanna Halstead? Some new model?

 

isn't she the reporter for News2Houston... she has a catchy name!

Trazanna Halstead

"Trazanna Halstead is an award-winning journalist and gifted speaker who prides herself in taking an active role in the community.
Born in Heidleberg, Germany, but originally from St. Louis, Trazanna attended Syracuse University and received a bachelor of science in broadcast journalism and English textual studies.

Trazanna worked as radio reporter/anchor for Jazz88, an affiliate of National Public Radio, while still in college. Her on-air break came when the news director from WEEK-TV in Peoria, Ill., took a chance on offering her an anchor/reporter position straight out of college.

In March 1997, Trazanna left Peoria and moved to Austin, Texas, as the weekend morning anchor/reporter for KEYE-TV. Two years later, she joined the News2Houston family as a reporter and in early 2000 became the weekend morning anchor.

The Radio and Television News Directors Association honored Trazanna with the Michelle Clark Fellowship for Minority News Professionals in 1998.

Trazanna also lends her speaking talents to the community. She's a volunteer with AIDS Foundation Houston, trained in AIDSTalk. This enables her to speak at schools and other organizations about the AIDS epidemic.

In her spare time, she enjoys working out, dancing and reading. Among her favorite books are "The Hobbit," mystery novels and all Stephen King books.

You can see Trazanna Halstead on News2Houston Weekend Morning newscasts and reporting during the week. "

 

Hey you must be my twin...my thoughts exactly! Shard SUX anyhow!

 

Come on 'Shard, stay in Seattle!!!

 

I don't really want Rashard here unless Seattle is willing to do a sign and trade with Rice. (highly unlikely, though)

I say wait until next summer to grab a real F.A. If Lewis was a free agent next summer, he'd be happy to get a MCE from any team.

He's a crybaby.

I don't see him pushing us over the hump. And I believe CD knows this.

 

Rashard is and alway will be a Punk high school kid who got lucky....He has not proven anything but injury in the playoffs and no shows in the rest.
He is no T-mac
He is no KG
He is no O'neil (J)
And definately he is not a Kobe
So you take all these Highschool kids above and compare them to Lewis and he ranks at the bottom.

Forget Lewis he will pay dearly by Steve and company for his remarks abut Houston.

 

There's alot of hype surrounding Rashard Lewis right now simply because he's a free agent. He IS NOT worth the kind of money that he's commanding right now. He's like the only decent free agent this summer, so he's getting alot of run. Any team that thinks Rashard Lewis can be the answer to their problems is crazy. He's a good complementary player, but not someone you can build your team around. He's not a "go-to" guy. For that, he doesn't deserve $75 million.

 

Why Rashard? We don't need him!

 

I agree he is no KG or Kobe. But T-Mac & O'Neil weren't great until recently. O'Neil's career avg. 8ppg & 6 reb., and T-Mac only started getting the #'s when he went to Orlando. And what do you mean by getting lucky, 16.8ppg & 7reb is not lucky, imagine him on a team he really likes. All he said was "I think Dallas as a better organization than Houston", who cares? Talk like that and you're not coming home.