Rahard Lewis Update (NY POST) - Missed Deadline May Hurt Lewis

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06192007/sports/missed_deadline_may_haunt_lewis_sports_peter_vecsey.htm

How does this affect our chances of landing Lewis????

June 19, 2007 -- WE all learn sooner or later (some the hard way) there's no penalty if the IRS receives our completed tax form after the deadline as long as it's postmarked earlier. From what I understand, contract law is different. Miss a specific date for opting out or exercising a clause and you've missed your opening. Execute the process in advance, you've also blown the deal.

I may be utterly off base, but that's my perception.

If my information is accurate, Rashard Lewis may not have met the requirement to become one of the NBA's most desirable free agents.

If accurate, the Sonics' 28-year-old (on Aug. 8) All-Star (2005) has two guaranteed years ($10,129,870 and $10,909,091) remaining on an agreement signed five years ago when he was represented by Kevin Poston.

If accurate, new agent Tony Dutt mishandled critical paperwork regarding his client's escape option.

According to a lawyer privy to the language in Lewis' contract, in order to void his obligation to the Sonics in 2007-08 and 2008-09, he had to do it in writing and deliver it personally or by registered mail either on the date of his team's last game (regular season or playoffs) or on June 1, 2007 . . . whichever was later. Fastened to that stipulation is a five-day grace period; hence, June 5 was the cut-off date.

Late May reports (AP/ESPN) out of Houston, where Lewis lives in the offseason, quoted Dutt saying he'd officially alerted the Sonics in writing on Friday, May 25 (or maybe Saturday, May 26) his client had opted out.

Both days, bordering Memorial Day weekend, were cited by Dutt. He was unsure. But it sure wasn't April 18, when the Sonics' season ended in a rout by Dallas. And it sure wasn't within the predetermined June 1 to June 5 time limit.

If this argument is accurate, Lewis has forfeited colossal leverage.

If Lewis' maneuvering has been curbed, there goes the twice-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a rich millionaire. Think it didn't pay to get a jump-start out of high school? Think that might've been on David Stern's mind when he implanted a minimum age of 19?

If free to bargain with all 30 teams, Lewis would be assured of getting overpaid (try convincing him he's not worth the max; $12 million to $14 million, at worst) by the Sonics (Kevin Durant's pending arrival should enhance Rashard's contribution not eradicate it . . . unless relatively new owner Clay Bennett plans to progress on the cheap) or someone else.

As we've all learned time and time again in this business as unusual called professional sports, there's always someone else.

Has Lewis become the NBA's free agent faux pas? The league's version of the 49ers' Terrell Owens? Is Seattle management aware of the apparent breach of contract?

A call to freshly installed GM Sam Presti was made late yesterday afternoon. I decided not to leave a message explaining my exact reason for reaching out. I hear he's pretty busy head coach hunting and is close to making a decision; P.J. Carlesimo appears to have the edge over Rick Carlisle and Dwane Casey.

Assistant GM/legal VP Rich Cho is the team's lone front office leftover. I suspect this might the first time a significant Sonic has opted out on his watch. He might want take the time to scrutinize the fine print.

Is this big news or a non-issue? Is Lewis on line to become free on July 1 or is Dutt on direct course to be his very next ex-agent?

 

nice....