More on Rashard Lewis

[FilthyFinMavs]

This is from Tribnet.com

Frank Hughes; The News Tribune

Seattle SuperSonics free agent Rashard Lewis is going to visit Dallas at the end of this week in case he can't work out a contract with Seattle.

Also, a new suitor for Lewis has popped up. With word getting out that Lewis is unhappy in his dealings with the Sonics, a source said the Houston Rockets are attempting to contact him to entice him to stay in his hometown.


However, the Rockets are attempting to acquire Lewis via a sign-and-trade deal, while the Mavericks want to sign him to an individual contract.


Sources say that Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is doing everything he can to entice Lewis to join Dallas at small forward, the only weak position in the Mavericks' starting lineup.


"Rashard can be a great addition to the team," Cuban said. "He knows we put winning over everything. And given that Rashard is so young, although we might not be able to get as large a contract here for the first several years, he is young enough to earn another full-length contract at a time when the cap will be much higher. And hopefully he will have a ring to go with it.


"We are excited for his visit and can't wait for him to see the facilities, and most importantly meet the great people we have working here."


Sources say Lewis has made clear he is not going to Dallas to sign a contract, only to check out the organization.


The most Dallas could offer Lewis is its mid-level exception, a $4.5 million salary. Lewis could take that and re-enter free agency next season, when six teams are projected to have money under the salary cap.


Or, Lewis could accept a three-year deal for $15 million and obtain his Bird rights with Dallas, which would enable Cuban to give Lewis a maximum contract in the summer of 2005.


While Cuban cannot promise Lewis a maximum contract because it violates the league's collective bargaining agreement, he has a history of taking care of his players. Next season, three Dallas players - Dirk Nowitzki, Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley - all will be making the max, and center Raef LaFrentz recently signed a seven-year, $60 million contract.


There are several different scenarios with the Sonics, because although they said they were willing to go over the luxury tax threshold this season, they have not indicated how far. Sonics CEO Wally Walker said they would like to stay as close to it as possible.


The second difficulty is determining what that threshold will be. The number being thrown around most often is $52 million, but Cuban said the Mavericks' research has determined the threshold will be around $50 million.


The most the Sonics can offer Lewis if they want to keep their team salary structure around $52 million is a seven-year, $53 million deal. It would be less if they wanted to stay close to $50 million. They could increase the offer by including incentives. Lewis is seeking a maximum contract, but would accept $90 million.


Even using today's salary numbers, Lewis, if he signed a maximum contract with Dallas in 2005, would make more money with the Mavericks over seven seasons - $65.4 million - then he would playing for what is thought to be Seattle's top available offer. Also, Texas, like Washington, has no state income tax.


Cuban is likely to appeal heavily to Lewis' Texas roots. When Lewis entered the NBA out of high school, he was told he was going to be drafted by the Rockets. He was left in the greenroom, crying, until he was drafted by Seattle in the second round.


Ever since, Lewis - who describes himself as a "homebody" - has openly wondered what it would be like to return to Texas to be near his mother, with whom he is very close, and siblings, including a twin sister.


The family makes several trips a season to Seattle to stay with Lewis, who recently purchased a large home in Houston, and Cuban will certainly point out that flights from Houston to Dallas are only one hour.


Also, while Dallas possesses one of the deepest, most-talented teams in the league, its glaring weakness is at small forward, where Johnny Newman, Adrian Griffin and Eduardo Najera all shared time last season.


Sources say Dallas coach Don Nelson loves Lewis, perhaps ever since Lewis had his professional breakout game against Dallas on Feb. 9, 2000, when he scored 30 points.


And while Lewis' weakest skill is defense, the Mavericks are a team that plays little, instead attempting to outscore opponents.


"I don't know if we have a great chance," Cuban said. "But when you come right down to it, Rashard is the type (who) wants a chance to win a ring. And we think of all the options we give him - the chance to be close to his home and his family and give him a chance to win a ring."




Frank Hughes: 253-597-8742, ext. 6120











I dont see anyway him signing with Rockets being what they did to him on draft day which I see as being very sad.