Lewis wants to remain a Sonic
By Percy Allen
Seattle Times staff reporter
If the Sonics' concerns about Rashard Lewis potentially opting out of his contract at the end of the 2006-07 season are behind the latest trade rumor involving Phoenix's Shawn Marion, then they need not worry.
Lewis said Monday he wants to sign a two-year extension with Seattle this summer and hopes to "put an end to my name always coming up in stuff like this at this time of the year."
"I've put a lot of thought into it [signing an extension] during the season and now, and I would love to finish my career in Seattle and be on one team my entire career," he said in a phone interview. "I don't know if that will happen. I don't know if I can do that because that rarely happens in the NBA today."
Lewis, a one-time All-Star who was drafted in the second round (No. 32 overall) in 1998, has spent the past eight seasons in Seattle. At times during the Sonics' 35-47 campaign last season, he questioned the direction of the team's management and ownership, which he attributed to frustration.
Those disgruntled feelings may have soothed, but because he has stated several times he wants to play for a team contending for a championship, there's a belief around the NBA that Lewis will exercise a clause in his contract after the season that voids the final two years of his contract.
That belief may be the genesis of the speculation that has Seattle sending the No. 10 pick in Wednesday's draft along with Lewis and Danny Fortson to Phoenix for Marion, guard Leandro Barbosa and the No. 21 selection.
Reached late Sunday night, general manager Rick Sund declined comment on draft and trade rumors. However, Suns officials denied the report, according to the Arizona Republic.
Because of the players involved, a Western Conference official who asked for anonymity said he believed the Sonics initiated the talks.
According to the source, Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo would never inquire about Fortson because the Sonics forward sued him, claiming defamation stemming from a 2003 incident, in which Colangelo called Fortson a "thug" for his involvement in a play that broke former Sun Zarko Cabarkapa's wrist.
Colangelo, the managing director of the U.S. men's national team, also supposedly is upset with Lewis because he declined an invitation to compete with Team USA this summer.
Lewis doesn't know, nor does he seem to care, which side began the dialogue, but he wants the Sonics to know his intentions.
"Summertime is a time for business, and I knew it would come to this, me being in trade rumors, because of the situation I'm in with my contract," Lewis said. "The organization may not believe me, but I'm happy. I would love to stay there, but I understand that they've got to do what's in the best interest of the team."
On Friday, Sund indicated he hadn't been swamped with trade requests and declined to speculate on the odds of Seattle making a draft-day deal.
"In fairness to the players, it's always been my policy not to comment on any rumors or put any guesswork into what might happen," he said. "I'll say this: Do we talk? Yes. Or I should say, we listen more than anything else.
"This time of year, you're on the phone just getting familiar with other teams and what they need. You may not do anything now, but down the line those conversations tend to lead to something else."
Sund had been in a dialogue with Milwaukee officials for about a year before pulling off the five-player swap that included Ray Allen and Gary Payton in 2003. Sund also spoke with Denver months before the teams agreed on the four-team, nine-player trade involving Earl Watson and Reggie Evans in February.
"Rick and Wally [Walker] make those decisions when it comes to trades and things like that," said Dave Pendergraft, the Sonics' director of player personnel. "Our job, for me and Rosie [head scout Steve Rosenberry] is to make sure they have all the information they need."
Since arriving in June 2001, Sund has made two draft-day trades. Neither has been of the blockbuster variety.
Last year, he sent second-rounder Lawrence Robert (No. 55 overall) to Memphis for a future second-round pick and cash considerations. In '04, he dealt Andre Emmett (No. 35 overall) to the Grizzlies in a similar deal.
Last week, Sund appeared pleased with the direction of the Sonics despite their worst season in 30 years. He talked about re-signing forward Chris Wilcox, to whom they've extended a qualifying offer that makes him a restricted free agent, and tweaking the roster through the draft and free agency.
Coach Bob Hill has continually pushed for adding a three-point shooter off the bench (perhaps J.J. Redick), as well as a veteran big man to nurture young centers Johan Petro and Robert Swift.
Days before the season ended, Lewis said he was open to discussing a two-year extension with the Sonics. On Friday, Sund characterized the Lewis negotiations, which can't begin until September because of NBA rules, as "on the backburner" and said the team has more pressing concerns — presumably, the draft.
"I've come to expect the unexpected," Lewis said. "I've been around long enough to know that it [rumors] may be nothing, but then again, it may be something. You never know."
Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or
pallen@seattletimes.com
OT: Around the NBA (offseason thread)
