Rashard Lewis reportely opting out of Sonics!

[CMJ3]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2883178


He will be a hot free agent, i hope the Bobcats or someone like that can get him, its gonna be weird seeing him on another team actually..

[Indy]

Not at all surprising. I expect to see him in Orlando next year unless they can get Vince.

[Sauru]

i still feel he is overrated and he will get overpaid to produce minor results

[Anthony15]

Yeah, he got scared of Durant coming to the Sonics and he'll end up on the bench, probably he'll go to Orlando or Charlotte, if they want to have him at 2.

[dan_suth]

I heavily doubt Rashard Lewis would come off the bench...

Rashard may be overrated... I'm not too sure. It's hard to figure out considering he's been on such an awful team the past few seasons. One thing I can't complain about is his fantasy impact - I loved having his 3ptm and 3pt% on my team.

[Its_asdf]

This was expected. Another "star" player that is going to be after "superstar" money.

I love Lewis' game, but for a 6'10 foward that can jump out of the gym I'd expect him to grab a few more boards and have a bigger impact on the defensive end than he does.

[---]

Rashard is the exact type of player I love to watch, but if it means Durant coming off the bench in his rookie season, I don't care where Shard plays. Still, he's a nice player. If he developed a post game like Durant has it his size he could become very good.

EDIT: Its_asdf, I think we are soul mates.

I started writing this post before I even saw yours.

[Indy]

Yeah, he got scared of Durant coming to the Sonics and he'll end up on the bench, probably he'll go to Orlando or Charlotte, if they want to have him at 2.

Please. Rashard was leaving anyways. That's been known a long time. And he definitley is not a 2, and nobody would sign him to play the 2.

If Rashard even had the slightest idea how to play defense he'd be one of the top 15 players in the NBA. He is an elite scorer that can do it a ton of different ways.

As big as a Lewis fan as I am, I think there are really only 3 teams that he will improve big time if he lands there. Philadelphia, Orlando or Toronto. All 3 of those teams would see huge jumps if they got Rashard.

Philly: Rashard is the perfect compliment to Iguodala, man would that be an outstanding wing punch. 2 guys who are very athletic and can score from all over the floor with a point guard like Andre Miller? That's horrifying to the rest of the Atlantic. Pair those 3 guys with a guy like Reggie Evans or one of the Collins brothers and you'd have a team that could contend in the East.

Orlando: Orlando simply doesn't have enough scorers.

Toronto: Rashard would fit in very nicely in Toronto. He's a guy that's fit to play in a style like Toronto plays. I think he could boost them to the next level of contenders.

If Phoenix trades Shawn Marion this offseason, which I consider to be highly likely, then Rashard would be not too bad of a downgrade for them. Playing with Steve Nash Shard could be a 27 ppg scorer. Imagine if Phoenix moved Marion and Bell for say Michael Redd (purely hypothetical.) Imagine how much Steve Nash/Michael Redd/Rashard Lewis and Amare would score. Almost as much as they would allow!

[maes]

I thought he finalized this months ago...

I expect he'll be back with the Sonics unless there's a team crazy enough to throw All-Star money at him. He'll get a minor raise, $1m a year? But over 6 years that adds up to quite a bit.

If Orlando or another team wants to give him Duncan money, that's their option.

[grusom]

Yeah, he got scared of Durant coming to the Sonics and he'll end up on the bench, probably he'll go to Orlando or Charlotte, if they want to have him at 2.

Please. Rashard was leaving anyways. That's been known a long time. And he definitley is not a 2, and nobody would sign him to play the 2.

If Rashard even had the slightest idea how to play defense he'd be one of the top 15 players in the NBA. He is an elite scorer that can do it a ton of different ways.

As big as a Lewis fan as I am, I think there are really only 3 teams that he will improve big time if he lands there. Philadelphia, Orlando or Toronto. All 3 of those teams would see huge jumps if they got Rashard.

Philly: Rashard is the perfect compliment to Iguodala, man would that be an outstanding wing punch. 2 guys who are very athletic and can score from all over the floor with a point guard like Andre Miller? That's horrifying to the rest of the Atlantic. Pair those 3 guys with a guy like Reggie Evans or one of the Collins brothers and you'd have a team that could contend in the East.

Orlando: Orlando simply doesn't have enough scorers.

Toronto: Rashard would fit in very nicely in Toronto. He's a guy that's fit to play in a style like Toronto plays. I think he could boost them to the next level of contenders.

If Phoenix trades Shawn Marion this offseason, which I consider to be highly likely, then Rashard would be not too bad of a downgrade for them. Playing with Steve Nash Shard could be a 27 ppg scorer. Imagine if Phoenix moved Marion and Bell for say Michael Redd (purely hypothetical.) Imagine how much Steve Nash/Michael Redd/Rashard Lewis and Amare would score. Almost as much as they would allow!

If they trade Marion they'll do so for salary reasons - and I bet Lewis is expecting the same kind of money if they want him.

[Andrew]

i still feel he is overrated and he will get overpaid to produce minor results

I wonder if he'll try to hold out for a maximum deal as he did a few years ago.

[Sauru]

i would not be suprised if he got a max.

[TomCat]

The Blazers should sign him, and trade Randolph for a good PG. Then they would be a great team! Although they will probably not sign him. I can't wait to see hw he plays with his new team though....

[Sauru]

the blazers should do anything they can to get a true point guard, a pass first point guard. thats what oden needs, someone to make sure he gets the damn ball.

[scrub]

Would be a nice pickup for the Bobcats to replace Gerald Wallace who might opt out. Would also go well with the Blazers if they could get a sign-and-trade with him for Randolph to fit Aldridge into their system.

[Indy]

If they trade Marion they'll do so for salary reasons - and I bet Lewis is expecting the same kind of money if they want him.

Marion is disgruntled because he feels like for as long as he's there he'll be in the shadow of Nash. Yes, they are in salary hell this season, and they will need to make moves for the cap, but Shawn could ask for a trade and it has nothing to do with money.

But it is all a moot point because you're right that Phoenix couldn't afford Shard.

[-Young Buck-]

Im thinking maybe the Bucks will try to sign him, they really need to get a good small forward. Not sure if he would want to play here though. I hope we can land Gerald Wallace if not Lewis.

[dan_suth]

Marion is disgruntled because he feels like for as long as he's there he'll be in the shadow of Nash.

Where'd you come up with that? As far as I've heard, Marion (and the rest of the team) loves being in Phoenix and playing with Steve Nash...

If anything, Marion would be in the shadow of Amare, as they are both huge contributors because of Nash... Amare seems to pull down more boards and score a couple more buckets a game now, though (especially through the latter part of this season).

[Dro]

If anything, Marion would be in the shadow of Amare, as they are both huge contributors because of Nash... Amare seems to pull down more boards and score a couple more buckets a game now, though (especially through the latter part of this season).

Yup...Marion has publicly expressed that he feels undervalued by the organization. Lots of people in Phoenix believe that there were a lot of hidden problems with team chemistry this year, and tension between Marion and Amare could have been the cause of it.

But...Marion disappears in important situations. Amare steps up when it matters most. If I had to choose who goes, it's Marion in a heartbeat.

[Rip32]

the blazers should do anything they can to get a true point guard, a pass first point guard. thats what oden needs, someone to make sure he gets the damn ball.

Rumor has it they want to trade up and get Conley to pair with Gregory again. Smart move I think, but only if they find a way to get rid of Zack Randolph in the process.

Randolph and Jarret Jack for Atlanta's #3 pick? Sounds good to me.

[LakersRule24]

Lewis to LA.

[Jackal]

With the cash that Bryant gives you to give him head? "Butt" ofcourse.

[Indy]

the blazers should do anything they can to get a true point guard, a pass first point guard. thats what oden needs, someone to make sure he gets the damn ball.

Rumor has it they want to trade up and get Conley to pair with Gregory again. Smart move I think, but only if they find a way to get rid of Zack Randolph in the process.

Randolph and Jarret Jack for Atlanta's #3 pick? Sounds good to me.

Portland would be insane to do a deal like that. I love Conley, and I know reuniting Greg and Mike would be a good idea, but Jack has shown far too much to be thrown in a deal like that. Randolph for the number 3 pick, sure. But Jarrett Jack is thought very highly of in the Blazer organization and rightfully so.

If Portland were really shopping Jack I would be willing to give up Granger and Jermaine for Jack/Roy and a future first.

[Its_asdf]

Toronto: Rashard would fit in very nicely in Toronto. He's a guy that's fit to play in a style like Toronto plays. I think he could boost them to the next level of contenders.

He'd be free to roam the perimeter as much as he pleases in Toronto's system, but financially it is next to possible to get this guy. Unless the Raptors trade away a guy like Ford for a sign and trade of some sort it is unlikely, especially since it would make Colangelo look bad trading Villanueva for him and then dealing him off as soon Toronto signs him to a multi-year deal.

I'd rather see the Raptors acquire another young talent and try to package Peterson/Graham to acquire a better swingman/big through the draft.

[Indy]

You're right. Financially neither Toronto or Phoenix could get him. I was only taking in terms of basketball, where he would play well. Orlando is definitley the most likely destination.