By MARC BERMAN
June 20, 2007 -- Good news Knicks fans: Seattle’s Rashard Lewis is indeed a free agent and plans to visit New York for a recruiting trip if Isiah Thomas invites him July 1, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Thomas will make the 6-9 Lewis his top free-agent priority and hopes to wine and dine him, perhaps on James Dolan’s yacht, in July. Lewis was the center of a mini-controversy yesterday, with the report he could lose his free-agent status on a technicality by opting out a few days too early. Though the contract language was hazy on the date, the Sonics aren’t pursuing it.

The Sonics released a statement yesterday, saying “It’s clearly understood by the Sonics and Rashard Lewis that he is a free agent.”

Agent Tony Dutt, who goes way back with Thomas as Marcus Camby’s first agent, told The Post yesterday Lewis will consider a half-dozen teams. Thomas is not allowed to talk with Lewis until July 1.

The Knicks would have to pull of a sign-and-trade to obtain the silky small forward scorer. The Knicks’ heavy interest in Lewis demonstrates their unhappiness with last season’s free-agent catch, Jared Jeffries. Lewis can score several ways and he’s only 27.

“As far as the Knicks, it’s a great organization,” Dutt said.

One roadblock in obtaining Lewis is Lenny Wilkens’ presence in the front office, as he would not want to do any favors for Thomas, who axed him nearly three years ago. However, reports out of Seattle suggest Wilkens has lost some of his power last week.

Posted by MS:

Young assets: Crawford, Nate and Frye? Lewis is an AllStar and would be one of the top 4 players at his position in the east. You do the deal if they would take it you clear up the backcourt, you open up minutes for collins and you start to win games and build chemistry

Posted by TMS:

go after Rashard & parlay him along w/whatever other assets you have left to make a run at Kobe.

if Rashard wants to use us, we can use him as well.

[Edited by - TMS on 06-20-2007 12:15 PM]

Posted by TrueBlue:



Not to mention you have to pay him. He wants a first yr starting salary considerably more than $10mil around $12-13mil, he'll also receive 6yrs if it's a S&T. He's really a i dimensional player. Is Rashard worth messing up our future cap flexibility?

Posted by TMS:

go after Rashard & parlay him along w/whatever other assets you have left to make a run at Kobe.

if Rashard wants to use us, we can use him as well.

[Edited by - TMS on 06-20-2007 12:15 PM]

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by TMS:

go after Rashard & parlay him along w/whatever other assets you have left to make a run at Kobe.

if Rashard wants to use us, we can use him as well.

[Edited by - TMS on 06-20-2007 12:15 PM]

A fine idea TMS but if we trade for Rashard, isn't there a no-trade timeperiod that will go into effect or is that only for newly signed players?

Trading and the Salary Cap

* Teams below the salary cap may trade without regard to salary, as long as they don't end up more than $100,000 above the cap following a trade.
* Teams above the cap (or teams below the cap but would end up more than $100,000 over the cap following a trade) cannot acquire more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary they trade away. There is no lower limit -- teams may divest themselves of as much salary as they wish in a trade.
* No free agent signed in the offseason can be traded until December 15 of that year or until three months have passed (whichever comes later), a rule that prevents teams from signing free agents with the intent of using them strictly as trade fodder. For draft picks this moratorium lasts 30 days.
* If a team acquires a player in a trade, they are allowed to trade that player straight-up for another individual player immediately. However, if they wish to package that player with another and make a trade, the team must wait 60 days before doing so.

Posted by MS:

Young assets: Crawford, Nate and Frye? Lewis is an AllStar and would be one of the top 4 players at his position in the east. You do the deal if they would take it you clear up the backcourt, you open up minutes for collins and you start to win games and build chemistry