Seattle would probably sign him to a 1 year 4 million dollar deal, which would be the maximum for them. Actually, if Lewis signs a one year deal, then the most that the Sonics can pay him is the $2.3M exception. The $4M/year is if they use Early Bird rights, but that has to be for at least two years. ------------------
Why would Seattle want Rashard if they know Rashard doesn't want to be in Seattle? If Rashard tells Seattle he'll sign with them for one season but that's it and that he's leaving for houston next offseason then why would Seattle even bother signing him knowing he's unhappy and that he's not staying with Seattle after this season. ------------------ You ain't gotta like me, you just mad cause I tell it how it is, and you tell it how it might be. [This message has been edited by New Jack (edited July 07, 2000).]
Wow. This brings another possibility to mind. Let's say for the sake of argument Jahidi White, a coveted free agent by the Sonics, agrees to come to Seattle for the 2.3 million exception. At the same time, Rashard is still said to be undecided on his future. So if the Sonics were to sign someone like Jahidi White for the 2.3 million exception, could Houston then step in, offer Rashard their exception, and then have Seattle unable to match it? ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!!
First, I'm sure he won't tell Seattle straight up that he's a lock to go to Houston. Second, the Sonics want to win, so even if it is for one season, why not go for it? Kind of like the Randy Johnson with the Astros scenario. Obviously, that is what they are doing and taking the risk of, because I have since read an article in the Seattle Times saying he would sign with the Sonics if he stays for one year. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!!
So if the Sonics were to sign someone like Jahidi White for the 2.3 million exception, could Houston then step in, offer Rashard their exception, and then have Seattle unable to match it? Cat, Yes, if Seattle used their exception for a player other than Lewis, they'd be unable to match what we could offer. ------------------
Lies, lies, and more lies. This nonsense about Lewis trying to come to Houston is B.S. A family friend of mine from Oklahoma is playing for the Sonics summer team and the truth of the matter is that Lewis is content in Seattle. Lewis is not demanding a trade here. I am sick of all this B.S. here. Stop the lies people, it only makes you look stupid. Expect to see Lewis sign for 2 years for nearly $8,000,000 with Seattle. Lewis has felt pressure from teamates that by taking the mid level exception will hurt the club. Also he is confident that Seattle will cut salary to match an offer which also will hurt the team. Lewis does not want to enter a situation where his contract is responsible for forcing the franchise to rebuild. ------------------
Also he is confident that Seattle will cut salary to match an offer which also will hurt the team. RT45, While I agree that I've seen no tangible evidence that Rashard is going to demand a trade to Houston, there's almost no way for Seattle to clear up any cap money. They're over the cap and the bulk of their payroll is tied up in Payton and Vin Baker. Unless they trade one of those guys, and take less back, then it won't free up enough money. ------------------ [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited July 07, 2000).]
The guy likely to go is Horace Grant. This all may be a bluff but Rashard believes it. Rashard doesn't want to go off and sign a $5,000,000 contract somewhere only to see half of the team traded so they can match the other team's offer. Seattle really wants to keep Lewis and Lewis is content on staying. ------------------ [This message has been edited by RT45 (edited July 07, 2000).]
The problem is that even if Seattle does trade off half the team, it's not going to open up that much cap space. For the sake of argument let's say that Seattle trades Grant. If they trade him to a team that is over the cap, then they have to receive at least 85% of his salary back, so they only free up $885K. The only way to completely dump Grant's salary is to trade him to a team that is at least $5.9M under the cap. The problem is that those teams (Orlando, Chicago, LAC and Detroit) aren't going to want to tie up almost $6M on Grant. Realistically the only option that Seattle has to open up that kind of cap space, would be to trade Payton and take much less back. That's not going to happen. ------------------ [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited July 07, 2000).] [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited July 07, 2000).]
I seriously doubt if he is content on staying in Seattle for the long term. Would his family, who he is so close to, lie to people about it? Would Rashard want to stay away from his family for that long? Would Rashard want to stay on a team that obviously does not have a FUTURE as bright as Houston's? The answer to all of those is no. And by the way, if this is all BS, why would the Seattle Times, the main source of Sonics information, be reporting that Rashard would sign just a 1 year deal? Answer me all of those questions. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!! [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited July 07, 2000).]
That's not what matters, what matters is the Seattle says they will cut, whether or not they do so is a different issue. What also matters is that Lewis believes they will cut salary to match an offer. ------------------
Maybe you are right, but I will have a hard time believing Rashard and his agent don't know that the Sonics can't clear up cap space for him. He may think that NOW, or you may have misinformation, but I find it very hard to believe that Rashard doesn't know and has not or will not be told that it would be virtually impossible for the Sonics to match an offer. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!! [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited July 07, 2000).]
O.K. I will. "I seriously doubt if he is content on staying in Seattle for the long term. Would his family, who he is so close to, lie to people about it?" Why would Rashard himself lie about it? "Would Rashard want to stay away from his family for that long?" I don't see Steve Francis wanting a trade to Washington. The truth of the matter it isn't that big of an issue. "Would Rashard want to stay on a team that obviously does not have a FUTURE as bright as Houston's?" That's debatable. I am skeptical about both team's future. You never know what will happen in the NBA. Some teams look like they are going to be great in the future and never do while other teams never ide 9Utah). "The answer to all of those is no." I disagree. That is your opinion and I accept it but I respectfully disagree. "And by the way, if this is all BS, why would the Seattle Times, the main source of Sonics information, be reporting that Rashard would sign just a 1 year deal?" Newspapers are never 100% correct. If you haven't learned this yet, you will eventully. ------------------
Seattle can clear cap space but it will likely send them to lottery land. How would you like to by the reason why a team is forced to rebuild for a mere couple of million of dollars in the first few years? ------------------
Sorry, but Rashard Lewis' agent isn't stupid. Seattle could tell him whatever they like but Carl Poston can do the math for himself. I'm guessing Poston knows Seattle's cap situation almost as well as Wally Walker. ------------------
And you aren't 100% correct either, so don't go off calling things BS if you aren't sure of yourself. And how has Rashard lied about it? To my knowledge he has not spoken ever about spending his long-term career in Seattle, and has never said he would sign a deal for more than one season. With Rashard Lewis family is a big issue. Just because one player doesn't value family a ton doesn't mean another is the same. Everyone is different. And there is no way IMO that the Sonics future can even compare to Houston's. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!!
Aelliott already did the math showing that Seattle could not clear cap space without trading GP, which would be next to impossible. And as stated earlier, why would a team like Chicago put 6 million into Horace Grant? Show us how they can cut cap space. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!!
Listen, I got this Lewis information through a summer league teamate of his. I am calling this forcing a trade B.S., B.S., because it is. Lewis is content in Seattle and has said so himself. Does that mean he will never play in Houston? No, but it means that he likely will be in Seattle for awhile. ------------------
And listen, I got my information from Rashard's brother, and he would know just as much as your source. There is no way Rashard's brother is less of a reputable source than a summer league teammate. Now what you said there is true. Forcing a trade is BS, because I heard from his own brother that he is content to stay in Seattle. But just for ONE year. The part about forcing a trade is BS. You're probably right on that. But what I disagree on is you saying Rashard will take that multi year deal- when I have heard from his brother, the Seattle Times, and other places that Rashard will in all likelihood sign for just one season this summer. I'm not saying Rashard will force a trade- I'm just saying he will sign a one year deal and then try to go to Houston next summer as an unrestricted FA. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!!
Seattle can clear cap space but it will likely send them to lottery land. Do you care to offer an explanation of that statement with some numbers to back it up? Here's my explanation of why they can't free up cap space and there's some numbers there to back it up: -None of the teams with lots of cap space are going to touch Baker or Grant's contract. -So, are you going to trade Payton to one of those teams and get nothing back? If so then Rashard won't want to resign in Seattle. -If not, they you've got a problem. You don't have anything that the teams with cap money would want. That means that you have to deal with a team that is over the cap. If you traded the entire roster except for Payton to one of those teams, you'd still have to get back %85 of their salaries and that only frees up $4.05M. Since Seattle is over the cap by some $3.5M, you don't even have $2M in cap space. There, now I've explained my logic. Now, I'd like to hear a realistic scenario on how Seattle can clear up enough cap space to match offers for Lewis. ------------------
