Lewis putting the finanical screws to the Sonics

[Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx]

One thing for sure is that Lewis complaining is keeping the pressure on 
Seattle to make a Baker deal. Now that Watson is out of the picture, you look 
at Seattle's roster and try to see what else they could do to sweeten the 
deal. The only other reasonable guy that we would want would be Mason or 
Radmanovic and they aren't going to do that. Therefore, the only other way is 
to add a no.1 pick....

DJessen33


< Lewis annoyed by Sonics' latest attempt to sign him
Added: 20th July, 2002 

Frank Hughes of the news Tribune reports that the Supersonics and free agent 
Rashard Lewis are not seeing eye-to-eye. Sources say that Lewis is extremely 
unhappy with the teambs efforts to re-sign him and is considering leaving for 
another team. According to one source, the Sonics offered Lewis $49 million, 
less than half of the $102 million contract he is seeking. 

Lewis recently learned that the most the Sonics can offer him without going 
over the luxury tax limit is about $56 million. One source said that this 
fact has him considering the option of signing a short-term deal with another 
team for their mid-level exception. Lewis believes the Sonics are being 
disloyal to him after he proved his loyalty two years ago. 

At that time, Lewis turned down a 6-year, $46 million offer from the Toronto 
Raptors because he believed the Sonics indicated that he would be rewarded in 
the future. He settled for a 3-year, $13.2 million contract with the Sonics, 
which had an opt-out this summer. Lewis chose to opt out of the contract and 
is expecting to get paid. 

The Sonicsb approach to the negotiations hinges on the fact that no other 
team can offer as much they can. It appears as if they willing to chance that 
Lewis will make the sound financial decision instead of a decision based on 
emotion. 

Lewis is asking for a contract that is roughly equivalent to that of Vin 
Bakersb $86 million deal. He feels that since he contributes more than Baker, 
this shouldnbt be a problem. He is further disappointed by the fact that the 
Sonicsb proposed deal would only pay him about $500,000 more than Jerome 
James. Lewis averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds a game. James averaged 6 and 
4. 

If Lewis does not re-sign with the Sonics, he has several options. He could 
take a three-year, $15 million deal from another team to earn his Larry Bird 
rights, which would enable him to re-sign with that team for any amount. 

Or, he could sign a one-year, $4.5 million contract and go back into free 
agency next summer, when six teams will have substantial money under the 
salary cap to pursue a list of free agents that include Jason Kidd, Tim 
Duncan, Alonzo Mourning and Jermaine O'Neal.