Apr. 30 - Rashard Lewis may have played his last game for the Sonics. Lewis will spend the next three weeks rehabilitating his partially separated shoulder. If things don't go well, he may have to have off-season surgery. After that? He plans to test the free-agent waters this summer. "I'm not really worried about me coming back for this series," Lewis told the Seattle Times. "My main focus is my future. . . I think it's bad for me to be injured going into being a free agent. But, hopefully, this team still has the same interest in me and other people still have the same interest in me. I don't think this is going to affect me in any way because it's not a career-ending injury." Lewis said his first option is re-signing with the Sonics this summer, but he's made no secret about his desire to join the Rockets -- the team that promised him it would draft him in 1998. Only the Clippers have enough cap room to sign Lewis. The Wizards and Bulls, with some creative cap moves, might be able to get in a position to make an offer.
NJRocket, %$@#@! I wanted to post it first. Anyway, here's the link for the longer version of the story: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/134445570_soni30.html
If Rashard wants to come home, I say Rice + #5 pick. I'd send Mo but coming off an injury, 't'ain't gonna happen. Of course, Rice was hurt, too, but his contract lasts only two more years.
I would probably have to agree, though it's really hard to give up a pick that high. If they did trade the 5th, I just wish they could somehow move up in the draft to 8 or 9 by packaging the 15th with Kenny. If the Rockets could just somehow come out of the draft with Wilcox or Stoudamire that would be fine with me.
i'm sorry but does that mean he don't care to play in the playoffs but rather care bout his own a$$ instead? maybe i'm reading too much into it. ROXTXIA-i think, even w/ my low postcount, that and #5 pick for lewis is a tad much
I think Mo and the 15 would be plenty for Lewis...this way they can use the 15 and their pick (16 or 17 i believe ) to possibly move up
he's a quality player but he's not the prodigal player everyone in the NBA thinks. he's good but that ego trip bout being on the level of Kobe ....that just makes me think that his guy really don't know what he's talkin bout
I think a lot of players in the NBA look at the Grant Hill situation when it comes to their health vs their team success...
I've never liked him NJ.....he's average at everything other than standstill shooting.....he's a poor ball handler, poor post-up player, and cannot create his own shot. And then you take into account his head - he thinks he's a star yet is soft as marshmallows and never even dives for loose balls. If this fool was on my squad I'd beat his ass b4 paying him anything in the same galaxy as the MAX. I hope the Rox Front Office just uses him this summer the same way he's trying to use us for a fat contract, and he gets assed out w/ a $15M over 3yrs in the end.
I think giving up the #5-8 is a lot, but, at the same time, whoever's drafted there will likely be semi-suck for a couple years anyway. Now, if we manage Quintel Woods or Caron Butler, then I could change my mind. But both the Rox and the Bulls are saying the same thing: we want an impact player, i.e., not a freshman. So what to do? And I'm still trying to daydream Glen Rice's contract onto another team.
true....either way it's still some kind of loss. if hill didn't play that last moment (OT i think) against miami he wouldn't be warming the bench in his street clothes right now but quite frankly, i'd take odom over lewis ..but that's another thread
true...#5 will get you a project but it's STILL a #5 (ie high) pick. i rather roll the dice w/ the pick than to give lewis anything more than 5-7 mil a year
#5 + Rice for Lewis will need an S&T to get done since Lewis has a Player Option. Rice makes 9.2m so that's the value the Sonics would have to resign Lewis prior to an S&T. I don't think Rashard is worth the Max (10.2m) on the open market. Is Lewis worth 9.2m to the Rockets? I like 5 + 15 + Rice for Lewis @ 7.2 and Jerome James @ 2.0 but I don't think that Sonics would buy it. Plus Lewis and James may both think they can get more on the open market.
I think it is a very good possibility that at 5 or 6 we could easily end up having our choice between Butler and perhaps even Woods...assuming Williams, Ming, Wagner, Wilcox and Gooden go before them.....at the very least we should have a realistic shot at Butler even if we end up at the 7
actually #5 plus #15 and another player besides rice sonics will jump at it. your idea ...they MIGHT bite...after GP leaves/retires, you start major rebuilding. with the #5, they can get a big man. and yea lewis will think he's worth more than that...which he ain't
Oh, boy! A bidding war! I can hardly wait! Let's offer the max salary (plus picks and players to the Sonics) for a guy who wants to come home anyway!
exactly. i rather take a chance and build a rookie than to get lewis. the rockets are still no where near ready to battle w/ the big dogs in the west. they'll vie for the 8th seed but probly won't get better than that until another year or 2 when griffin explodes.
