And excluding the Sonics (who have Bird Rights and haven't gone anywhere in spite of Lewis & Ray Allen) and the Bobcats (who could have cap space but are notoriously frugal and have cheap young talent at the positions Rashard plays)....which team does? If Lewis goes anywhere other than those two destinations, it'll have to be a SnT. That (excluding BYC implications) comes down to attractiveness of the package going to Seattle NOT money you have or don't have.
Rashard on a Rick Adelman team with Tmac and Yao would be deadly! It would be fun to watch. But honestly I think the chances at getting him in a S&T are unlikely. But you never know. Like it was mentioned before, Rashard wants to get PAID plain and simple. If you want him, open up the checkbook. He is opting out to get paid. I think the Rockets best offer to the Sonics is: Battier+Sura+Head+2008 1st round pick. That gives the Sonics 3 assets under cheap contracts, something an organization like the Sonics might consider since their franchise situation with the city is unsettled. Can they get a better deal than that? perhaps. Like Jeff said, unless Rashard works hard for the Houston deal, it will be tough. However, something I was thinking about last night makes a whole lot of sense to me. BOSTON, a team that is scrambling with what to do after the lottery could say "we have enough young guys lets get some vets" and try to package their #5 pick+Ratliff(cap matcher) for Rashard. Hey they traded the #7 last year, they could trade the #5 this year. That would give the Sonics the #2 and #5 picks in the draft. CHEAP young talent. The Sonics could walk away with Durant and Brandan Wright/Horford/Yi/Brewer etc. That would be very appealing to them I think. You add those guys to Allen/Ridnour/Wilcox and you have a nice team. From Boston's perspective, they can match Rashard up with Pierce and Al Jefferson with West/Rondo at the PG. Plus Green off the bench. I would think that would make the Celtics happy. They could be back in the playoffs in a weak eastern conference. It's not Oden, but getting help NOW with Rashard would be more appealing to them than anything they could get at #5, even in a strong draft. [Using the same logic...On a side note, how about Portland trading Randolph+Jarrett Jack to the Hawks for the #3 pick and Claxton(salary dump). Hawks get a 20/10 guy in Randolph to help solidify their low post game and a vet PG that is a local product out of Georgia Tech. Don't forget that Atlanta would still have the #11 pick to get ANOTHER young talent. That would be THREE young guys infused into that team at once! And guys that can play right away with Joe Johnson/Marvin Williams/Josh Smith. And from the Blazers perspective it's pretty obvious. They get the #3 pick to go along with #1. They take Oden and Conley and are off. Stuff to watch for I think.]
The Rashard offer: might be a steep price to pay on our part, but you might be right on the money. But speaking of money (bad segue), doesn't BYC kick in? If Seattle signs Shard for, say, 11 mil his first year, can't they only take back half that amount (roughly)? The Hawks idea isn't a bad one, if the Hawks' ownership mess will let them pony up for Randolph. They'll get flamed for letting Conley go but they can always grab Crittenton at #11 (who went to Georgia Tech and seems like would make a good point in the pros). Then you'd have Jack and Crittenton playing the 1 and backup 2.
I am a Hawks fan on the side (live in Georgia) and honestly, I want them to take Conley (especially after seeing how great PGs can influence teams like Paul and Williams, guys they passed on). But the idea of getting Randolph and Jack would really be appealing as well. And Crittenton at #11 is a good call! Another LOCAL GT guy that helps out at the PG spot. I like the thinking. Anyway, sorry for this tangent. Back to the Rashard Lewis talk.
I just don't see how Battier, Head, Sura's contract and a pick that will likely be in the 20's is going to net you Rashard Lewis. Even the Lakers could offer a better deal than that. There are actually quite a few teams out there that could make much more attractive deals than that one. It was like years ago when we wanted to make a deal with Toronto to get Damon Stoudamire and they held out for a better deal...and got it. I think a team with Lewis, TMac and Yao would be phenomenal, but we just don't have the kind of players to make it worth it to Seattle unless Lewis makes it clear he wants to be in Houston. And for anyone who says, "He should realize there is more to life than money," would you? If someone told you that you could win the lottery and get $20 million, but the only stipulation is that you can't live full-time in your home town OR you can have $5 million and do whatever you want, which are you taking? With $20 million, I could live in freaking Aspen in the summer and spend the rest of the time in Houston. What do I care? If he turns down the money to play here, I'll welcome him with open arms, but he'd be crazy to do that (just like Bibby).
Those who want Lewis, can you spell out your analysis of his game and how it fits the rest of the roster?
Okay, let's pretend for a minute he basically forces his way to Houston and Seattle magically accepts whatever meager SnT package we have to offer: Is Rashard even good enough to run with three max contracts? I'm very skeptical about how he would fit in Houston. Rashard is NOT a PF. He doesn't play close to the basket, he's not a good enough rebounder and is way too soft. He's a below average/average defender at best and really isn't quick enough to guard most smaller SG's. That leaves him playing primarily at the three -- how does that work with T-Mac? Pairing T-Mac with Rashard at the 2/3 is a defensive nightmare. Good luck telling T-Mac he has to guard Wade, Kobe or LeBron all night and still run the offense. This is precisely why we have Battier. Battier handles the duties of guarding the opponent's best perimeter player and takes the pressure off T-Mac on the defensive end. I don't think that deviating from this strategy is smart considering how much sense it makes from our perspesctive and considering how the Sonics have been one of the worst defensive teams in the league the past few years. Running with Allen/Lewis at the 2/3 hasn't worked for them, why would T-Mac/Lewis be anymore successful? It's not that I hate Rashard or anything even remotely close to that. My point is if we really are going to go with the unconventional move of adding a third max contract it should at least make sense and be a good fit. It's like shopping for a really expensive convertible then having some annoying salesman trying to convince you to pay the some price for some sporty two-door.
Per Jeff: "I think a team with Lewis, TMac and Yao would be phenomenal, but we just don't have the kind of players to make it worth it to Seattle unless Lewis makes it clear he wants to be in Houston." I agree we do not have the resources to get Lewis. Him on this team would make us more potent ofensively. We need a 4 in the worst way- we are so weak right now-better to devote what meager resources we have to getting a Wilcox -impact player to help Yao- though we could not afford Wilcox either...
You might be right that there are better offers. Probably so. I am just saying that's probably OUR best offer. That said, even if we could agree to deal, I am skeptical Les would take on a 3rd max contract. As for the Lakers they COULD offer a better package but they wont because for Lewis they aren't going to move Kobe/Odom or Bynum. So what else do they have after that? nothing. Lakers aren't a suitor for Lewis in my opinion.
Seattle is the team in the no-win situation here. either they can let rashard leave with no compensation, or they can take battier, head and a 1st rd pick.
Except for the other 27 teams with aspirations for the top free agent this year... There are obviously more than two choices.
I dont think he will get max money, and if he does it will be a mistake. I think he will get a deal in the 5 year 55-60 million range, not the 75 million range Melo has over the next five years. I dont think he will average much more then the 11.5 million he was due per year over the next two years, but opting out should get him a slight raise and more guaranteed years.
Yeah if we could find a way to get Rashard and Mike Bibby we have a championship team.... BUT unfortunately I think it's impossible...
That is crazy. Who do you want as our playmaker. Lewis averaged 2.4 assists last year and that is much higher then his career average. Plus you want to package Alston as well? Adelman's offense will probably struggle if no one can even get the ball past half court.
We don't need Rashard Lewis. We need a thuggish athletic power forward to take the grind of off Yao and give us at least one other post option. You guys are screaming for Yao to take jumpers well you're going to have to have someone who can average more then 6 rebounds a game under the basket in case he misses. Otherwise Yao ain't going to get a clean shot off - same problem different year. Hayes was too undersized and foul-prone to get the job done - and other then back-door lay-ups had no offensive game - no ability to create a shot or hit a 5 foot jumper. But bringing in Lewis with his 6 boards a night???? It's not what this team needs unless you want us to become a jump-shooting team. What we need to do is find a QUALITY power forward - not an all-star - but a guy who's not an embarassment to start. Ideally, someone who isn't going to make the all-star team but still is up there as one of the 10 ten at his position. Where we could use a star if anywhere is at the point. I mean, that's just a monster hole. When was the last time we had a point guard situation that involved a finisher, a 3-point shooter, a high percentage shooter, and guys who played D? Why - you have to go back to Kenny Smith / Sam Cassell. Anyway, forget about Lewis - it won't happen, and he's not the right player for us anyway.
I might have missed another thread on here, but didn't Lewis make it clear it was between Seattle or Dallas? I thought he also said yet again this time around that he still doesn't like Houston's organization.
I can definitely see a Stackhouse, Terry, and Josh Howard deal done for Rashard Lewis and Gelabale. Hopefully you guys get it done. I wish you the best.
Just a thought...... RLewis---SF + Luke Ridnour--PG + Damien WilksSG 22.4 ppg------------11ppg------------ 8.8ppg 6.6 reb/g----------5.2ast/g----------- 1.9asst/g 46.1% fg-----------43% fg------------43.5%fg ................................FOR........................................... TMAC----SG 24.6ppg 5.3reb/g 6.5ast/g 43.1%fg Lewis-----Sign and trade at 12mil per Ridinour--signed at 6.5 mil for 3years Wilks---- signed at 3 mil for 3 years total:21.5 mil Tmac---------2007/2008 at 19mil
