Rashard Lewis to Orlando

[Eurostar]

sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2924228

now do Durant and Green start at the 3 and 4 next year for Seattle?

[hoyaLS05]

I think they might start at the 2 and 3.

I think I read somewhere that the Sonics might get Darko in a sign and trade for Rashard. That might re-clog things somewhat.

[RDF]

Darko is an unrestricted FA as of last night--Lewis signing, Magic give up the rights to Darko--so he's free to go wherever he wants.

Lewis is a nice talent, but he's not worth the max contract Sonics would've had to give up to keep him. If anything, it clears up salary cap for future and rids Sonics of a 6'10 shooter who can't play any defense or doesn't care to, and you can re-shape this team. Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis weren't bringing Sonics anything, so who cares if they are there or not? Time to start over and best to get rid of the guys who think they are "Franchise/Stars" and couldn't get your team anywhere and start with fresh outlook.

What's with Magic--they always sign FA's due to the location and they always SUCK! This team isn't going to do anything more with Lewis and Howard then they did with McGrady in his years there. I like Howard's game a lot and think he's a fine young man, but Rashard Lewis at that salary is going to be expected to provide a level of play he's uncapable of producing.

[ExcitableBoy]

rdf said:

Darko is an unrestricted FA as of last night--Lewis signing, Magic give up the rights to Darko--so he's free to go wherever he wants.

He's unrestricted, but can only sign a five year deal with the Magic--as opposed to six with the Sonics. A sign and trade would benefit Lewis, the Sonics, and might help the Magic with cap space(?)

[wphoya]

RDF- what the hell are you talking about? McGrady was amazing in Orlando...and how can you say Lewis and Howard won't do anything more than with McGrady? Howard wasn't even there when McGrady was there. All T-Mac had was Grant Hill for a few games a year. The magic with Lewis and Howard will be pretty dang good. I have to admit, however, losing Darko at this point in his career will haunt them for years to come.

[HoNYaSaxa]

The Sonics withdrew their qualifying offer to Darko, effectively making him an unrestricted free agent. He can't be used in a sign and trade this way. I'm not sure he'll ever amount to much, but he had trade value and the Magic weren't smart to let him go.

I thought that, perhaps, the Sonics would force a sign-and-trade by signing Lewis to the max six year deal (the Magic can only sign him to a five year contract) and then obtain Darko and Jameer Nelson from the Magic (reuniting Nelson and West in the Sonics' backcourt to split or occasionally share time).

Now, it looks like Lewis walks away from the Sonics and leaves them a ton of cap room. The Sonics can go after Gerald Wallace or Chauncey Bilups in the free agent market to fill the 2 spot. Or, they can trade Ridnour and Wilcox for Rip Hamilton (as has been reported in some places). Or they could do both...A lineup of Billups or Wallace, Hamilton, Green, Durant and center-by-committee wouldn't be bad.

I'm not sure giving up Wilcox is a good idea, but the Sonics have got a glut of forwards...

[GIGAFAN99]

I actually think the Sonics are probably about done and they've gone about this exactly the right way.

In three years, the Sonics will have a seasoned Green and Durant, a mid-career Ridnour and Wilcox, and Sczerbiak off the books to pursue anyone they want. Three years until the Sonics are scary. If one of their centers develops (Swift maybe?) they're in really good shape.

[idhoya]

They'll also be in OKC in three years. Anyone see where PE was hired as coach?

[SFHoya99]

PJ hired as Seattle coach. I wonder if a few years under Pop have mellowed him?

I'm with Giga. I'm not sure I don't let myself struggle, load up on draft picks, then use my money in three years to resign Green and Durant and someone else. I suppose I'd go for Hamilton or Billups if I didn't have to commit to too many years.

[RDF]

wphoya said:

RDF- what the hell are you talking about? McGrady was amazing in Orlando...and how can you say Lewis and Howard won't do anything more than with McGrady? Howard wasn't even there when McGrady was there. All T-Mac had was Grant Hill for a few games a year. The magic with Lewis and Howard will be pretty dang good. I have to admit, however, losing Darko at this point in his career will haunt them for years to come.

Tracy McGrady is GARBAGE. If you are a FRANCHISE player, get paid like one and can't advance past the First Round of the Playoffs--you are a "ROBIN"--and McGrady can't even "Robin" with a funtional 7'5 post presence and homecourt advantage. McGrady is perfect example of a kid who left a good situation to seek stardom, never earned stardom--well in the sense it should be judged--he earned it from making money and stats--but WINNING trumps that in my opinion. A franchise player can carry teams to wins and that means Playoff time--which McGrady has been a loser and until he proves differently--there can't be an argument. He chokes, gags, goes ghost--whatever you want to call it--he's a LOSER. Grant Hill is the same--and yes he was injured but what did he do in Detroit? LOSE.

So now they have Howard, who I do like--and a highly overpaid, one dimensional 6'10 shooting guard who doesn't play any defense. Yeah that's a great move. This is BAD management and until you get players who have proven they make differeneces as far as winning/competing to win titles, why pay them like those who do prove they are legit franchise changers/contention makers?

[RDF]

Speaking of Grant Hill, what in the hell does Phoenix want with Grant Hill? Slow 6'8 players who can't shoot or defend are available every year via Draft, Street Free Agents, etc... and his track record of winning in the NBA is non-existent, so what exactly does Hill bring to the team other then a player who can't excel in an open court game and would be injured all of the time? Steve Kerr has not impressed in his short time with Suns--had trade for Stoudemire done--Atlanta vetoed it--and Stoudemire is the future--Nash is old and has about another year in his window--2 max--and with his best 3 seasons of basketball, you've not even made the NBA Finals--so that window is closing in a hurry--KG replacing Stoudemire does nothing but take away any threat of inside scoring and adds a soft player in big moments. I do agree with him looking to dump Shawn Marion-but I've never been a big believer in his game. Nice 4th/5th option but when he's considered higher on priority list--not a fan.

As for Kerr, the key will be how quickly he wakes up and realizes that Boris Diaw's career is more of what you saw last year and in Atlanta and less of his "'06 Playoff performance"--which was also spotty--one game on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, you can do better and move him--that creates space on your cap. If I'm Phoenix--Jerry Stackhouse would be a better fit then Grant Hill, Stackhouse plays the style of ball Suns like--and he gets to FT line and hits 3's--Hill does neither--as everyone plays him for his broke jumpshot due to fact he can't get by anyone any longer.

My other hope--Billy King dumps a huge contract on DARKO! That would be too funny.

Pistons are also talking to Seattle about giving up Rip Hamilton--as Dumars is trying to get one of their bigs--Chris Wilcox-who I'd like to see given an opportunity to play with Jeff and Durant with a healthy Swift--who has some tools but needs to stay healthy and show it on court. If Hamilton goes to Sonics, what do Pistons do at SG? Well they too like Grant Hill--why? I don't know but my guess is it's either to have him play Endless Love on the Piano to impress fans or to see more of his wife Tamia-which I could at least understand--she's got more going for her then anything Grant does on the court.

[SFHoya99]

The biggest mistake that most NBA GMs make is signing mediocre players to max or near max contracts.

Rashard Lewis isn't worth max. Orlando would be better off with a worse but cheaper shooter.

[RDF]

sfhoya99 said:

The biggest mistake that most NBA GMs make is signing mediocre players to max or near max contracts.

Rashard Lewis isn't worth max. Orlando would be better off with a worse but cheaper shooter.

Great point--and why does Orlando do this when they know players want to live in Florida? (no state tax, nice weather, good city....)Would like to think they would understand this isn't way to go when the last time they invested max type money--they were burned--McGrady didn't do anything to make them a contender and Hill spent majority of his contaract rehabbing an injury everyone knew he had. Stupid business and I wish better for them--especially now that Patrick Ewing is an assistant coach, but you can't help someone who is so blinded by baloney/agent speak and sees something that isn't there in a player--Lewis is not going to help them get to next level as one of their top 2 players.

[RDF]

Hill to Phoenix--unreal and ridiculous. How this guy fits is beyond me? If he had a pedigree of winning, I'd understand but the first Playoff Series he'd be involved on winning side would be if Suns advance past First Round. Maybe Steve Kerr thinks Nash is Hurley and this is the "Duke Days" all over. Steve sits around and thinks "Hey--you know what our uptempo team could use? A slow footed, often injured, 30+ SF who CANNOT shoot or play defense, that's a great fit!".

Now, I've seen rumors King is interested in bringing Darko to PHILLY!!! LET IT HAPPEN BILLY!!!! This is why King is the disgrace he is and nobody deserves "DARKO MANIA" more then King, Brown, and Snider.