Rashard Lewis to leave Seattle, head south
The Magic ink the top free-agent for 75 million-plus
Hi, it’s Sam. Jon Wiener has been working hard on lots of behind the scenes stuff for the website, but because of some technical issues, his post has to appear under the People’s Champ flag. Jon breaks down the Rashard Lewis signing for you.
By Jon Wiener
The Orlando Magic couldn’t steal Billy Donovan away from the Gators this summer, but they appear to have secured the next best available thing: Seattle F Rashard Lewis.
Orlando radio station WKMG reported Monday that Lewis, widely considered the top free-agent on the 2007 market, will sign a max deal with the Magic on July 11th, the first day that free-agents can officially sign new contracts. Although the final figures have not been determined/disclosed, Seattle general manager Sam Presti confirmed the deal, reported to be for 5 years and at least 75 million dollars.
In Lewis, the Magic get a 6’10, 9-year veteran who averaged a career-high 22.4 points per game last season. Lewis has averaged 20+ points each of his last three seasons, and he remains one of the more dangerous long-range bombers in the league. Lewis shot 39% from three-point range last season and averaged a career-high 2.5 triples per contest.
Perhaps most importantly, the addition of Lewis gives the Magic a legitimate #2 scoring option to pair with All-Star C Dwight Howard.
“Having a guy like Rashard around would help by game out tremendously,” Howard told Orlando reporters on Tuesday. “The more shooters that we can bring in here the better. Rashard is a shooter and a scorer, and that would help our team so much.”
The Magic, however, may have to cough up slightly more than maximum dollars for Lewis’ services. The team will likely have to renounce the rights to restricted free-agent F Darko Milicic as well in order to create space for Lewis’ maximum contract.
In addition to potentially losing the rights to Milicic, a 22 yr. old who averaged 12.3 ppg in Orlando’s first-round playoff loss to the Pistons, there are significant concerns about whether or not awarding Lewis top dollars is a wise decision. Orlando has given out maximum cash to Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill in years past, and both contracts left the Magic financially-strapped and still in the lower-half of the Eastern Conference.
Lewis, for his part, is a general defensive liability, known only for his scoring, and has been labeled ‘selfish’ and ‘lazy’ during his 9 year stint with Seattle.
Those apprehensions apparently didn’t hold the Magic back. In fact, the Magic reportedly had a commitment from Lewis within 24 hours of the start of the free-agency period on Sunday at 12:01.
The aggressive courting and signing of Lewis is another indication of Orlando’s current push to return to the top of the Eastern Conference, even after Billy the Kid spurned the Orlando faithful by backing-out of his contract and returning to Gainesville.
The Magic were one of the worst offensive teams in the league last year, finishing 27th overall in points per game (94.7). Howard led the team in scoring at 17.6 per game, and Hill was second with 14.4. With those anemic offensive numbers, it is easy to see why the Magic splurged on Lewis. Anything close to his 22.4 points and 2.5 threes per game of a year ago should increase Orlando’s offensive output considerably. Whether or not his 75 million dollar contract will increase Orlando’s win total is a gamble, but a gamble the Magic front-office was willing and excited to take.
58 Responses to “Rashard Lewis to leave Seattle, head south”
Jul.3 at 1:58 pm
Adrian says:
14th
Jul.3 at 2:00 pm
Adrian says:
They’ve likely overpaid for him but I think it’s a good signing for the Magic…
Jul.3 at 2:01 pm
AJ$ says:
first!
Jul.3 at 2:02 pm
AJ$ says:
@adrian: I was first the computer just likes u better
Jul.3 at 2:04 pm
AJ$ says:
Damn racist computer!
Jul.3 at 2:04 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Rashard’s a great pickup for Orlando as he should thrive alongside Dwight Howard (and vice-versa). But I know max players, and Rashard, you’re no max player. Time for Billy Hunter to start reworking the CBA, methinks.
Jul.3 at 2:09 pm
Homie says:
@ Adrian - I think, in Rashard’s case, 32nd is more appropriate…
Jul.3 at 2:12 pm
RV says:
Fisher to Houston?
Jul.3 at 2:15 pm
Jas says:
ANOTHER DUMB-ASS MOVE. THEY ALREADY HAVE TORKUGLU AND ARIZA AT THE 3 WHO ARE MORE THAN RESPECTABLE WINGMEN. THEY SHOULD’VE RESIGNED MILICIC AND ADDED ANOTHER SHOOTING GUARD.
Jul.3 at 2:19 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
For the record, the following are max players: Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Duncan, Iverson. Shaq and Kidd used to be, and I suppose you could make arguments for Nowitzki, Garnett, McGrady, Amare, Gilbert and Melo. Maybe Nash. That’s about it, though.
Jul.3 at 2:23 pm
Hersey says:
Rashard might be worth $15 million with all the points he’ll score off Dwight. With their defense they could be good next season.
Jul.3 at 2:29 pm
Jas says:
YEAH, BUT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HOWARD, THEY DONT HAVE AN INSIDE PRESENCE. THEIR STARTING POWER-FORWARD IS TONY BATTIE. WHO’S COMING OFF THE BENCH?
Jul.3 at 2:32 pm
tsmith7791 says:
I heard they were going to move hedo to seattle in a sign and trade and try to keep darko.
Jul.3 at 2:34 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Not sure how great their defense will be next year, either. They changed coaches, and with Milicic and Hill likely to leave (and two of their starting positions manned by Rashard and the decidedly undersized Jameer Nelson), Dwight might have a lot more mistakes to clean up. Although does this mean Rashard is finally over having to sit in the green room until the 32nd pick?
Jul.3 at 2:41 pm
Zee says:
Bad move, but I bet Durant isn’t complaining. Can we say green light anyone?
Jul.3 at 2:46 pm
Nadav says:
He looks like TI
Jul.3 at 2:48 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Rashard Lewis can’t run the triangle
Jul.3 at 2:49 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
This might be a topic for a separate post, but I’ve never understood the reluctance to let someone leave “without compensation.” Because even if a team just lets someone walk, they do get something out of it—the right to not pay them whatever their new team is paying them. If I’m Seattle, why do I want $15 million worth of Orlando cast-offs? In that scenario, they would wind up signing Rashard to a bigger contract than Orlando could (rewarding him further for leaving), take on Hedo (and maybe a trade exception which they’d most likely end up not even using), and help Orlando retain Milicic. Why bother with all that? Let Rashard walk, throw Durant and Green right into the fire, and free up more money for the ‘09 free agent market. Even if Durant only turns out to be half the player people think he will, there should be no shortage of guys wanting to play alongside him.
Jul.3 at 2:49 pm
Greased Up Deaf Guy aka Clay Davis says:
Although the final figures have not been determined/disclosed, Seattle general manager Sam Presti confirmed the deal, reported to be for 5 years and at least 75 million dollars………………………………..if thats not disclosure………………………i dont really remember but i bet jay bilas was hating on young dwight being no.1, and not emeka….
Jul.3 at 3:12 pm
Tom says:
that’s a hell of a salary for the “#2″ option as Dwight put it.
Jul.3 at 3:24 pm
Big L says:
Getting Rashard helps. Letting Darko leave hurts a lot. But if Seattle can take a Dooling/Agustine package deal then we can still re-sign Darko (I am thinking VERY optimistically though).
Jul.3 at 3:26 pm
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
The Magic just committed themselves to five years of averageness. They always give max money to the wrong players; Lewis will take them nowhere, except a steady stream of first round playoff exits. Congrats, guys! And however many times the term “beast” gets attached to Howard, I’m not sold on him being all that much better in five years’ time.
Jul.3 at 3:27 pm
Allenp says:
I never knew Rashard was labeled lazy. I wonder who that label attached to him since he has shown amazing improvment as a player since he came in the league out of high school. And it’s amazing that Russ doens’t view Garnett as a max player. I mean, a clear cut max player. I don’t understand that one. Garnett is a franchise cornerstone type player.
Jul.3 at 3:58 pm
Ben Collins says:
Russ — Maybe Nash? You been drinking the Mark Cuban Kool-Aid, son?
Jul.3 at 4:04 pm
galo says:
Jas:
Darko
Jul.3 at 4:07 pm
jbn74sb says:
A couple of points, or more. First, nearly every first round draft pick is technically a max player, as their salaries are predetermined by the cap. Second, the players Russ mentioned are certainly max players, but what they really are is superstars. There are a bunch of players who are legitimate max players, many of whom are not at the superstar level - Yao, Amare, Baron Davis, Chris Paul, Derron Williams, Dwight Howard, Elton Brand, Gasol, Paul Pierce, McGrady… I am sure there are more but I need to get back to work.
Jul.3 at 4:29 pm
Jon Wiener says:
my question is, is rashard lewis going to improve or decline? last year was a career year, also a contract year…
is he a 20 p.g. guy that should get 25?
or a 15 p.g. guy that got 20 in a contract year?
i’m going with the latter. but considering the magic’s current lineup, they REALLY needed an outside scorer. lewis was the best available…i think they had to do it.
Jul.3 at 4:31 pm
paniscus says:
I think the whole “without compensation” concern applies more to teams that are unpopular with the players. Like, who wants to go to Utah to drink 3.2% beer and get yelled at by Sloan when you can go to LA or NYC? If you can attract free agents then you don’t have to worry, but otherwise you want something in return.
Jul.3 at 4:32 pm
Jon Wiener says:
correction- as i wrote, lewis has scored 20+ for 3 straight seasons…so maybe it wasn’t just the contract year, but i still think he can’t give the magic much more than 20 ppg.
which is still better than anything orlando had…so, i still think they had to do it.
Jul.3 at 4:39 pm
Detroit11 says:
Rashard Lewis is NOT a max player…..
Jul.3 at 4:40 pm
Goody says:
Rashard is worth the money. New money comes with a new attitude. Rumors always surround losing teams. They needed someone to blame for their lack luster seasons. Besides that Dwight Howard is not a go to & take over the game type player right now he needs a sidekick. The game is missing that one two punch we saw with Magic and Kareem, Scottie and Mike, Stockton to Malone, Moses and Dr. J…..
Jul.3 at 4:49 pm
Greased Up Deaf Guy aka Clay Davis says:
people, people, IT IS THE EAST!! rashard and jrich will have a HUGE impact, hawks and betcats in the playoffs??? that cant happen, right?
Jul.3 at 5:02 pm
DP says:
Hopefully things will work out for the best in orlando. They do need someone to back up Howard though. The bobcats will win the east next year. play wit it.
Jul.3 at 5:26 pm
Dontonio Wingfield says:
Right now, I would say the only guys who deserve a max deal are Duncan, Wade, and Kobe. Lebron is probably closest, but he has to sustain this year’s success. Garnett has proven that he isn’t a winner, and no longer deserves max money. Same thing with Iverson, who is only destroying the Nuggets. As a GM, you only have so much money to spend (unless the owner is willing to spend over the luxury tax). Therefore, you shouldn’t overspend on a guy who isn’t worth that percentage of your cap space. Rashard Lewis is a good scorer, no doubt, but he is not a top-3 MVP candidate year after year, nor will he ever be, and he will never be the man to build a franchise around like a Duncan. Therefore, you absolutely do NOT spend such a large portion of your cap on him.
Jul.3 at 6:13 pm
nothin _personal says:
I still like Rashard as a third option. The best third option to ever bounce the ball, it might be. He can score in every way imaginable, he’s got the perfect body to be superversatile without being hindered in any aspect of the game, but he is not great at anything. I don’t think he can handle the ball in his hands every time in the 4th with defences keying on him, and that’ definitely what he is gonna get in O town. That’s what his contract is saying.
P.s. I still think that he would have led team Usa in points, had he agreed to play, though.
Jul.3 at 6:17 pm
farman asaidali says:
It’s like going on a business trip and picking up a hooker! the more money, better the quality…….
Jul.3 at 6:46 pm
AJ$ says:
@nadav: he does!
Jul.3 at 7:20 pm
Jake Appleman says:
You’re probably not Dontonio Wingfield. You’re probably an imposter.
Jul.3 at 7:28 pm
David says:
I’m a Seattle-ite. Rashard’s okay but not amazing. I don’t think this is going to help Orlando that much, really. Hope that the Sonics don’t get stuck with Orlando’s ‘compensation’.
Jul.3 at 7:33 pm
nexus6 says:
even if he plays his heart out every night next year he doesn’t deserve that kind of money.plus,i think he won’t PHHOEN.
Jul.3 at 7:55 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Camelo is a max player, but Bosh isnt?
Jul.3 at 8:02 pm
Greased Up Deaf Guy aka Clay Davis says:
shard will feast in the east
Jul.3 at 8:08 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
If by beast you mean shoot an above average percentage from 3(.40), then yes he will beast.
Jul.3 at 9:10 pm
floe says:
man i hope orlando retains darko or else its like they just made two steps sideways and one step forward which isn’t worth 70mils+ in my book.
Jul.3 at 9:31 pm
Dontonio Wingfield says:
NO WAY IN HELL IS CARMELO A MAX PLAYER!!! He plays NO defense, he can’t pass, and he’s a liability off the court. He doesn’t have a team attitude anymore, and he’s only going to get worse being poisoned by AI. No way am I paying Carmelo anything near the max until he shows he can play defense, and be a franchise leader on a consistent year in year out basis.
Jul.3 at 10:33 pm
J-Lao says:
I don’t like it, caused I’m from Orlando, I like Lewis, he’s good, but the max contract? NO! With that kind of money we can get a better player that can play defense too. Perhaps say KOBE. Please Orlando don’t give that contract to Lewis and find a way to get Kobe to the Magic Kingdom
Jul.3 at 11:46 pm
hollywud says:
too all the Melo haterz.. stop hating
vince, tmac,nash,wade, kobe n bron play no D and they still r
and bosh is without a dought, a max player
ppl keep hatin jeeez
Jul.4 at 12:45 am
Vahid says:
^^^Nash is not making maximum $$$
Jul.4 at 1:16 am
bootlace says:
Rashard at maximum is a really bad move - hes a slightly better version of Hedo. Thats not enough take them into the Eastern elite.
Jul.4 at 3:57 am
Sesa says:
I think the front office should train Dwight Howard to handle double team first instead of signing another shooter to the team.
As of right now, Dwight Howard’s achilles heel is his inability to post-up and pass out of the double team.
Jul.4 at 5:21 am
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
@Dontonio Wingfield: Is it you, Donald Sterling? Or, perhaps, Belkin?
Jul.4 at 11:23 am
Dontonio Wingfield says:
Here’s the point I am making: Say you give Melo or T-Mac a max contract. You will have to pay at least 1 other guy in the 10-15 million range in order to have a chance to be competitive. But you have already guaranteed that you won’t win a championship because neither Melo nor T-Mac are good enough to be the best player on a championship team. So now, your best player isn’t good enough to lead a champion, and you don’t have enough money left (unless you are willing to go over luxury tax) to get a better player.
Consider Orlando. With Lewis and Howard locked up in max deals, they won’t have enough money left to get the third option that they need in order to be a contender. And even with that third option, they won’t be championship contenders. So it doesn’t matter if the owner is willing to go over the cap. Now consider the Spurs. They have Duncan in a max deal, and he has proven he can lead a team to a championship and be the cornerstone. Then, they have had Ginobili and Parker signed to deals under $10 million. This has given them the freedom to pursue whatever role players they feel that they need, while at the same time, having their big money locked into a player who is a proven champion and can be the best player on a championship team. It’s not a matter of not paying guys, it’s a matter of paying the right guys.
Jul.4 at 11:44 am
Greased Up Deaf Guy aka Clay Davis says:
5 yrs, 75 mil…. . . …15 mil a year is max??? since when?
Jul.4 at 1:09 pm
Stallion says:
5 years, $75 million dollars…..Just wait for the season ending injury/surgery…
Jul.4 at 3:31 pm
Tallon says:
If you’re a GM and theres only 10 or less guys in the league that you’re willing to offer the max to, like many of you are saying, how do you even expect to get an all star on your roster? The bottom line is that lots of players who are less than superstars demand max deals. If teams aren’t willing to put it up, another team will. So while Rashard may not fit your definition of a max player (along with a number of other good but not great players) the only way to get those players is to max them out. Under alot of your reasoning, the only way to build a contender would be to draft a superstar and surround him with reasonably priced talent and/or other draft picks. Much easier said than done. No, Rashard isn’t your typical “max player”, but over the next few years there’ll be worse guys than him that sign max deals.
Jul.4 at 6:38 pm
Dutch Rich says:
Well Rashard can always bust a Starbury claiming he’s the nicest forward in the league and go to sleep at night feeling good about himself. In reality, with pay comes the expectation of performance from the organization, fans and self (not to mention your boys and that’s real). Pretty sure he will wilt under the pressure of this ridiculous contract. Pistons chip and San Antones success all on limited responsible spending with Dudes that are hungry to prove a point. Not to prove they worth the paper. Goodnight Orlando.
Jul.4 at 7:09 pm
AJ$ says:
idk y yall keep hatin on melo
Jul.4 at 7:11 pm
AJ$ says:
@nadav: now all he need iz a completely sidewayz hat (which i aint dissin cuz i wear my hat that way 2) some wrinkles a place 2 be king of & he can sing “big thangs poppin & little thangs stoppin ball on these suckaz. do it do it do it…”