Rashard Lewis update

[TheKid]

The Poston brothers represent Lewis, they ALWAYS have issues with teams. They try to squeeze every penny out of owners they can, for whatever reason they always think their players are worth the world. I don't know if Cuban even wants to be bothered with them, now that I know they represent Lewis, there is NO WAY they're going to accept what we can offer.

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Rashard Lewis said he was disappointed in an offer made by the Sonics that with incentives could push the total value of his contract to $75 million.

Rashard Lewis is returning to Seattle. But don't read anything more into that statement.

The free agent has agreed to meet with the Sonics later this week in what has been categorized as another step in a very long negotiating process, according to a source close to the discussions.

The logistics of the meeting have not been finalized, but the contract talks will take place in Seattle. That is a good sign for the Sonics, who initiated this latest gathering.

Two weeks ago, the Sonics dispatched a five-man crew — owner Howard Schultz, President/CEO Wally Walker, General Manager Rick Sund, David Pendergraft, the team's director of player personnel and associate head coach Dwane Casey — to Houston to meet with Lewis.

They talked with Lewis, his mother and his agent for four hours without reaching common ground.

Lewis, 23, will undoubtedly be accompanied by his agent, Carl Poston, but it's unknown whether they'll meet with the entire Sonics management team like they did before. It is clear that Schultz will play an active role in the discussions.

If not for the Lewis matter, Schultz's basketball agenda would have revolved around his other team — the Storm — who open the WNBA playoffs against Los Angeles today at KeyArena. The best-of-three series shifts to L.A. on Saturday for Game 2 and a third game, if necessary, on Monday.

Schultz, however, has indicated that re-signing Lewis is one of his top priorities.

Negotiations began slowly, and the Sonics eventually made their initial offer of a seven-year, $60 million deal that includes incentives that could push the total value up to $75 million.

Lewis, a 6-foot-10 forward, said he was disappointed with the offer and has since visited the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, two teams close to his hometown of Alief, Texas.

Although both teams can only offer a three-year, $15 million deal, Lewis said he would sign with one of the Texas teams if the Sonics did not increase their offer.

At the urging of Poston, the Sonics have had preliminary discussions with several teams regarding sign-and-trade proposals involving Lewis, but so far it's been nothing more than talk.