The_Matrix

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports...ory/76773.html

FRANK HUGHES; The News Tribune
Published: June 2nd, 2007 01:00 AM

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Houston Rockets intend to contact the Seattle SuperSonics to discuss a potential sign-and-trade deal for free-agent forward Rashard Lewis.

The Rockets will offer forward Shane Battier and their No. 1 draft pick, 26th overall, in an attempt to lure Lewis home to Houston.
The Sonics say they want to re-sign Lewis, a one-time All-Star who has opted out of his contract, and they have the negotiating leverage to convince him to stay because they can offer a longer-term contract than any other suitor.

But the Rockets are hoping that they can cajole Lewis to leave the only NBA team he has played for with the enticement of being close to family and friends.

If the Rockets cannot land Lewis, they will consider offering Battier for Chris Wilcox, who thrives in up-tempo systems because of his ability to run the court. Wilcox could lose his starting power forward position in Seattle if Lewis and Kevin Durant, the team’s expected No. 2 overall draft pick, play together.

Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, who works as a television analyst for the Rockets, has told team officials he has breakfast daily with Lewis and that he thinks he can help persuade the player to join a Rockets organization that passed on Lewis three times in the first round of the 1998 draft.
Drexler also has told the Rockets’ decision-makers he might be able to convince Lewis to leave the Sonics and take a shorter-term deal for the midlevel exception, though Houston acknowledges that is an unlikely scenario.

The Rockets had one of the best records in the league this season (52-30) but were bumped out of the postseason in the first round by the Utah Jazz, after which they fired coach Jeff Van Gundy and replaced him with Rick Adelman.

Now, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is attempting to reshape the roster to fit the more up-tempo philosophies employed by Adelman, who led the Sacramento Kings to eight consecutive playoff berths with an exciting brand of basketball.

The Rockets want to keep Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, but they are trying to put in place players who better complement the two All-Stars while fitting in with Adelman’s approach.

The Rockets plan to talk with the Minnesota Timberwolves about swapping veteran forward Juwan Howard for scoring point guard Mike James, who enjoyed two of his best seasons in Houston before going to Toronto.
They also are attempting to send the expiring contract of retired guard Bob Sura to the Golden State Warriors for little-used guard Sarunas Jasikevicius, a move that would save the Warriors almost $3 million.
But the player the Rockets really covet is Lewis because of his size, versatility and, perhaps more than anything else, availability.

Battier has fallen out of favor with the Rockets because he does everything well except score.

The Sonics in the past have expressed to Houston their admiration for Battier’s all-around game.

The Rockets hope that intrigue, combined with the enticement of another first-round pick in a deep draft, is enough to make the Sonics consider a sign-and-trade.

The likely only way the Sonics will consider a sign-and-trade, however, is if they fear they will lose Lewis in free agency and get nothing in return.
There are only two teams – Charlotte and Orlando – that can come close to giving Lewis the same financial security that the Sonics can offer. That is a fact Seattle will use as leverage in their negotiations with Lewis in July.

azirish

The general consensus is that Portland will take Oden, even though their biggest need is at SF, leaving the Sonics with Durant even though their biggest need is at center.

IMHO, the most logical move would be for the Sonics to trade the #2 and something else for Portland's #1 pick.

Diawsome

I don't really understand why Houston would do this. They already have Yao and McGrady who are both going to get their shots and I don't see why Lewis would want to take a backseat to both of them and I don't see why Houston would want to pay Lewis that 10 million-ish contract he is looking for to do nothing but camp out on the 3 point line.

Divide Et Impera

Maybe there's a way we can work a 3-way. The Rockettes would do much better for getting Marion instead of Lewis.

Any ideas?

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azirish

The Rockets are going to change coaches and presumably offensive strategies. Lewis proved he could co-exist with a great shooter in the case of Ray Allen.

I'm less convinced that Battier would be a good fit on the Sonics.

Diamondback Jay

I don't see why the Rockets are so hell bent on trading Battier.

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Rest in Peace Jim, Tim and Danny.

BEERZ

Wonder if they would have interest in M.Banks who before this year was considered a pretty solid PG. They could try to salvage a player, while we save cap space.

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Quit inserting logic into my fantasy.-jf-08

AnotherHOMER

I would be afraid of that team!! I think Lewis would be a great pickup. At the loss of Battier? Sign me up.

Lets hope that doesn't happen.

Jizz

azirish

Shane is an odd player. He averaged 10.1 ppg, which is exactly what he averaged in Memphis the year before. He averaged 44.6% and 42.1% for three. His rebounding was down, from 5.7 rpg to 4.1; but that was mostly due to being a much better rebounding team.

You have to wonder what the Rockets thought they were getting other than being rid of Swift.

MigratingOsprey

the rockets have had a love affair for lewis for a while now - i thought for sure he was going to be back in houston the last time his contract came up - he's a local boy and both sides have always spoken pretty freely of each other

The_Matrix

What makes the situation even more laughable is the Sonics' first round picks the past three years. 2004 Robert Swift, 2005 Johan Petro, 2006 Saer Sene. And now they still need a good center.

azirish

The Sene pick was insane. Robert Swift has shown some talent in those brief periods when he's been healthy, but Sene is so raw it is hard to believe. IMHO Petro is more of a PF, but with Collison and Wilcox available he's at center.

MigratingOsprey

petro is a little soft to be a true center - swift was looking very good last season, now we need to see how he comes back from blowing out his leg

mo sene was drafted as a project and a defensive guy in the middle - i like a lot of what he's shown, but he's still a long way off

you have to remember swift came out of HS, petro wasn't expected to be in the league his first year and sene was drafted as a project - they were all building picks and all 3 have some talent

azirish

I'm not a big fan of "projects". I've never seen a detailed analysis, but it is my impression that a very high percentage of total flops were project centers.

devilalum

And with the new rules "franchise centers" are not as valuable as they used to be.

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