RE: Rashard Lewis?

["Ravi Singh" <kelticsfan@attbi.com>]

This from the Sonics report in the news@bskball.com
_______________________________________
Rashard Lewis wants the max?  Is this guy serious?  It appears so as
Lewis told the News Tribune that he plans to opt out of his contract
this summer and become an unrestricted free agent with the expectation
that the Sonics pay him the maximum salary allowable, a contract
starting at $10.6 million per season, or potentially lose him to another
team.  "I am going to look at my options again this summer, like I did
last time I was a free agent (in the summer of 2000)," Lewis said. "I
think I will have more options this summer, I have a better chance to go
on to a place where I want to go. I am definitely going to look at my
options if they want to mess around or play around money-wise."  Seems
Rashard fancies himself  a player with the potential to be a Kobe
Bryant.  "My numbers compare to Kobe Bryant's numbers when he was a
rookie in the NBA, and his next two years, and our numbers are pretty
much around the same area," Lewis said. "I am developing well, the same
way he developed as the years went by."  So let's get this straight.
Rashard Lewis, a one and a half dimensional player, thinks he compares
favorably talent wise to perhaps the top guard/forward in the league?
One and a half dimensions.  The guy can spot up and shoot the jumper and
he can rebound, sometimes.  He has absolutely no handle, can't create
his own shot, can't defend even the worst offensive players in the
league, and can't create for his teammates.  Worst of all, he came into
the league without these abilities and he still doesn't have them four
seasons later.  Yet he believes he is progressing like Kobe, a baller
that brings every skill imaginable to the court, even showing flashes of
them as an 18 year old rookie.   Bryant is a player an entire team can
be built around.  Rashard Lewis is not.  He may think so and the Sonics
may have led him to believe so, but realistically, at this point in his
career he is more like Dale Ellis than he is Kobe Bryant.  "They pretty
much told me that I would be here for the future and that they would
build the team around me, but you never know what could happen in the
future. You could get traded, or they could pick up somebody else, there
is just no telling. So I want to be on the safe side. I know Houston is
my home, and that is where I am always going to go, regardless."
Rashard, maybe you best pack your bags.  

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com] On Behalf
Of pmaurice
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 7:44 AM
To: celtics@igtc.com
Subject: Rashard Lewis?


It's probably impossible. It's early and I can barely breath so there's
no way I can figure out salary cap implications but Rashard Lewis
certainly would look good in Celtic green.

Paul M.

Will Lewis opt out?
Uncertain future: Forward wants Sonics to pay him max salary or will
consider leaving

Frank Hughes; The News Tribune



Seattle SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis confirmed to The News Tribune
on Monday that he plans to opt out of his contract in the summer and
become an unrestricted free agent.

Lewis also said that he wants the Sonics to pay him the maximum salary
allowable, a contract starting at $10.6 million per season, or he is
going to explore joining another team.

"I am going to look at my options again this summer, like I did last
time I was a