From the Dallas Morning News: Seattle works to keep Lewis Sonics owner scheduled to meet with free-agent forward on Thursday 08/01/2002 By MARC STEIN / The Dallas Morning News Executives from the Seattle SuperSonics are heading to Houston in an attempt to convince free-agent forward Rashard Lewis to re-sign with the Sonics instead of joining the Mavericks. Sonics owner Howard Schultz is among those scheduled to meet with Lewis on Thursday. Lewis has been openly unhappy with Seattle's offer of $60-plus million plus incentives and is considering a three-year, $15 million deal with Dallas instead. Lewis came away from last week's Mavericks recruiting trip saying his choice is "between Seattle and Dallas." Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, while acknowledging salary-cap restraints still make signing Lewis "a long shot," remains optimistic that the chance to compete for a championship and play in his home state will sway the 22-year-old. "It should be clearer after tomorrow," Cuban said Are the Sonics just trying to show Lewis a little love or are they starting to worry that he REALLY MIGHT sign in Texas? Would they bring the owner if there wasn't some real concern or are they trying to keep it from escalating to real concern?
Yeah, if by winter, you mean November 5 and if by being "in Houston" you mean at the Compaq Center playing for Seattle.
i have a bad feeling, that reshard won't be coming to houston but signing with the damn mavs. geesh. damn that cuban
i don't know what he will do. Man it would be tripped out if Nachbar ended up being better than lewis. **********note i said tripped out***********
This is what will happen: Lewis won't turn down Seattle next offer of 78M or so, and he'll return. Bostjan Nachbar will be the backup, but will show the potential to be better than Lewis in the NEAR future. 2 seasons from now, Nachbar will be handed the new "Best foreign player" award, while Seattle will be wondering why they thought Rashard Lewis was their franchise player. Lewis is one of the best supporting players in the NBA. But he's no franchise player.
Two views from Seattle's side: Sonics brass double-team Lewis Walker and Sund travel to Houston for meeting today Thursday, August 1, 2002 By DANNY O'NEIL SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER The Sonics can't sell Rashard Lewis on their city like the Dallas Mavericks did last week. After four years in Seattle, Lewis has seen the sights of the Puget Sound. So instead of flying the free agent into town, Sonics general manager Rick Sund has traveled to Houston to meet with Lewis today. Wally Walker, Seattle's CEO and president, also made the trip as the Sonics try to keep the unrestricted free agent in Seattle, instead of playing at home in Texas next season. Lewis' free-agent waltz has escalated into a tango between Dallas and Seattle. The Houston Rockets -- Lewis' hometown team -- also eye a possible turn on the dance floor. Houston general manager Carroll Dawson reportedly met with Lewis' agent on Tuesday, but Seattle and Dallas are the only teams known to have offered the unrestricted free agent a contract. The Sonics' first offer was for seven years at more than $60 million. Dallas can only offer a starting salary of about $4.5 million, about half the salary he would receive from the Sonics. Lewis visited Dallas after receiving the Sonics' first contract offer more than a week ago. It's not known whether the Sonics' offer has changed since then. "It's a decision between management presenting him the offer and Rashard feeling comfortable with it," said Sonics coach Nate McMillan, who did not go to Houston. "In a way, it is out of my hands and into the hands of the people who are making the deal." Dallas owner Mark Cuban said yesterday he did not know of any timetable for Lewis' decision. When Lewis visited the Mavericks last week, he told the Dallas Morning News that his decision would likely come down to the Sonics or Mavericks. The Rockets apparently are an outside possibility. Dawson met Tuesday with Lewis' agent, Carl Poston, according to the Houston Chronicle. Dawson declined an interview request yesterday, but Lewis has not met with anyone from the team nor arranged a free-agent visit with the Rockets. That leaves Seattle and Dallas, and the difference between the two choices is more than money. In Seattle, Lewis is considered a cornerstone in the foundation of a young team. In Dallas, he would be a complementary piece playing alongside Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Michael Finley. In Dallas, he would be playing for a Western Conference contender, but he could make only $15 million over the next three seasons. After that he would be eligible for a long-term, lucrative contract, but Raef LaFrentz's recent deal shows maximum-salary contracts aren't a sure thing even in Dallas, which re-signed him for seven years at a reported $69 million. A seven-year deal with Seattle would make Lewis the biggest contract commitment on the roster. The question is whether Seattle's money will measure up for Lewis. "He knows the direction of the club and his role and future here in Seattle," McMillan said. "Right now, it's not about his role as opposed to his contract. He understands the direction of the club and what we want from him in the future. Now, it's about what he feels that should be worth." AND ALSO: Lewis still pondering options for his future By Percy Allen Seattle Times staff reporter The silence is deafening. It's been nearly a week since Rashard Lewis left Dallas and returned to his home in Houston to mull over contract offers from the Sonics and the Mavericks. For two days, Lewis was the main event of a circus-like recruiting trip complete with a raucous airport reception, limousine rides and a helicopter tour of the city. When it was over, Lewis confirmed that it was a neck-and-neck race between Seattle and Dallas. Since that announcement Friday, he's faded from public view without making a peep or giving any indication as to when he'll make his million-dollar decision. Not even his agents, Carl and Kevin Poston, who did not return messages, will speak for Lewis. A few sources close to the Sonics' unrestricted free agent suggested that he'd make a decision this week, but those opinions are unsubstantiated. Still, it is widely believed that Lewis will make a choice before he celebrates his 23rd birthday Aug. 8. Like Lewis, the Sonics have remained silent on the negotiations. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, however, isn't optimistic and estimated his chances of landing the unrestricted free agent are slim. "He's going to regret it if he doesn't come here," Cuban told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram a few days ago. "Even when you get a raise of any type, it's all great the first couple of weeks, then it's back to business as usual and you've got to deal with the real world." The Sonics offered Lewis a seven-year deal in the range of $60 million-$70 million. Cuban would not confirm if he ever formally offered Lewis a deal, but the most he could give would be a three-year, $15 million contract. The difference is staggering, but Cuban, who has a reputation of taking care of his star players, could provide Lewis a maximum contract in 2005. That scenario offers few guarantees because the collective bargaining agreement prohibits the two sides from entering into an agreement that promises future riches. No other team is expected to make a last-minute pitch for Lewis and the Sonics have repeatedly denied reports of being involved in a sign-and-trade deal.
THE QUESTION for Rashard? How badly does Dallas want me? If I'm Seattle time to play hard ball. I'd tell Rashard: HEY! 65 for 6~7 yrs . . OOORRRRR 90 mil in Sign and Trade with Dallas. TELL MR CUBAN THAT . . . WE WANT FINLEY and Something!!! So then . . . if Cuban love him so much . . he has to decides if he loves Rashard more than someone else. The sonics should make Dallas make some decisions. . . plus dump a HUGE contract on them Rocket River
I admit, I love the Rockets. But I don't understand how/why so many people think our guys are destined to be the next "best player at [insert position here]". I agree the what I've seen about Nachbar sounds pretty good. But really, what are the chances that he will be better (any year) than a 17-7 player like Rashard was last year? It seems reasonable to look at a player entering his 3rd year in the NBA and saying he has the potential to achieve [insert lofty goal here]. But before he plays his 1st NBA game, so many people on this board are declaring him better than Lewis. Do we need to dig into the archives and identify everyone who thought Dan Lanky would be awesome? (Confession: I thought he would be good) In my opinion, if we can afford Lewis and he will accept our offer, we should go after him. You don't pass up proven, young talent. Especially when it's home grown. --Drof
I'd say hes going to be back in Seattle. I really don't care, and not caring is a great position to be in, that means we are good!
We are clearly out of this one and I love it. This team has four small forwards and the versatility and diversified risk against injury that that provides is more attractive than Lewis. The interest that CD showed was protocol, because Lewis is from Houston. If he was from anywhere else, yesterday's contact would not have taken place.
Let me get this straight, with Lewis coming out of <b>high school</b> people were declaring him great and it was ok, but if people think that Nachbar is going to be good after playing professional basketball overseas it's silly? His situation isn't any different then Lewis. Dig into the archives. What's the difference between people saying that Lewis will be destined to be the next great player and saying that our player with a ton of potential (Nachbar) can be the next great player? People act like Lewis came out and suddenly dropped 17-7, it took him a few years to get to that point. The only similarities between Nachbar and Langhi is that they're white. Other then that, Nachbar's situation is more similar to Lewis then it is with Langhi's. Both Lewis and Nachbar came in with a lot of fanfare, and little experience (Nachbar a little overseas basketball, Lewis high school but no college), both are tall and lanky, both can shoot, and can block shots in limited fashion, and both have somewhat similar styles but have a ton of upside. Langhi played 4 years of college basketball and still hasn't reached the potential of Lewis and Nachbar so comparing to Langhi makes no sense at all.
Seriously, Drofnarc makes the most sense when it comes to a realistic view of Boki. There is NOT A SINGLE GM in the league who'd rather have Nachbar over Lewis. Come on people, take off your Rocket colored glasses and realize that Boki may not be the sure bet you think he is. And I don't really care much for Lewis and his high contract demands either, but for the mid-level exception, you are absolutely r****ded not to sign him if he's available. Of course he probably won't be, but anyway.
He knows what we can offer. Cuban is offering the same thinkg we can except he's offering the reach around with a happy ending in 3 years. If Rashard wants to come home, let him. If not lets see how Nachbar does.
RocksMillenium, I think I completely agree with you. There is a real comparison between Lewis out of High School and Nachbar out of the European leage. Primarily, there is a lot of talk, a decent amount of hype and a whole bunch of unknowns. Langhi was probably a bad example, because folks had seen a lot more of him in college. But, the hype on Clutchcity was similar (although not quite as high). But I still stand by the fact that if Lewis was obtainable, I would take him over the potential of Nachbar. I would take the risk. You know Lewis will not suck. --Drof
