Lewis To Opt Out In '07
24th November, 2005 - 3:10 pm

Tacoma News Tribune - As he was discussing his latest, unexpected milestone, Seattle SuperSonics All-Star forward Rashard Lewis revealed Wednesday that he plans on opting out of his contract after next season and once again becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Including this season, Lewis has four years and around $48 million remaining on the seven-year, $60 million contract he signed in the summer of 2003.

But the team gave Lewis an option to get out of the contract after the 2006-07 season, which Lewis said he will take. If he does, he will forgo $21 million over the final two years of his deal to seek a more lucrative contract.

“My mind-set is, to me, I am going to look at the last two years of my contract and see how much I can make those last two years, and how much I can get if I opt out of my contract,” said Lewis, who moved into second place on the team’s all-time list by making his 700th 3-pointer Tuesday night (he trails only Gary Payton). “There are a lot of areas I am going to have to look at.

“See what teams are going to be able to pay me, or will the Sonics be willing to pay me? Nick Collison is going to be up, Luke (Ridnour) is going to be up, there will be a lot of confusion going on after the money that Ray (Allen) got. It will be tough, a lot of tough decisions, but I do plan on opting out.”

After next season, the Sonics will have contracts committed only to Allen, who this past summer signed a five-year, $80 million deal, and Damien Wilkins. The team will have the option to sign Robert Swift and Johan Petro, and Collison and Ridnour will be eligible for free agency, though the team will hold both players’ Larry Bird rights.

Lewis has always been pragmatic about the NBA, never getting caught up in emotion, particularly after seeing his best friend, Desmond Mason, traded to Milwaukee. Lewis said he would like to play in Seattle his entire career, but he left little doubt that it will be a financial decision.

“I can see myself playing for the rest of my career here, but I don’t think that is going to be my decision,” Lewis said. “It is halfway my decision, but the upstairs office has a lot of control on every player here, where they want us to be and what they want us to do.” [READ]

we need to jump on this.

mo taylor + nate + ariza/lee

for

rashard lewis + mikki moore

Posted by djsunyc:

we need to jump on this.

mo taylor + nate + ariza/lee

for

rashard lewis + mikki moore

(rolling my eyes at this ridiculous offer)

He can opt out when he gets here. Or we let him walk!

This guy breaks all the time. I'd rather not pursue him.

I think 10 games is not enough to judge Marbs-Brown and call it a bust. Actually I think its a freaking joke to call it. The olympic thing was way to brief a stint. If anything, marbs had all summer to ponder it, discuss it with Marbs and decide if he buys in.

He is making progress most nites!

What has Lewis ever done? It was Ray Allen's team last year.

You think Lewis can carry a team you are gonna be in for a huge suprise.

Why did the Sonics agree to that... Strange unless both sides agreed that he got than less market value back in 2003.