Sports Talk with MC

by MC

Come the end of the 2006-2007 season, the story of yet another free agent exodus will begin. The big names in the upcoming offseason’s free agent class include the Nets’ Vince Carter, and the Detroit Pistons’ Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups. Because of the magnitude of the “stars” of the aforementioned ballplayers, it sometimes becomes hard to remember that there exists another volcano waiting to erupt in the landscape.

That spitfire is the Sonics’ Rashard Lewis.

At a versatile 6,10″, 230 pounds, Lewis is a matchup nightmare on most NBA nights. The man can post up, run the break, and shoot effectively from the perimeter. One aspect of his game that has gone unheralded would be that which focuses on his passing skills. Although Seattle has floundered in the deep Western Conference this year, their basic passing game, at times, has looked sharp. Rashard, along with help from smooth-shooting Ray Allen, and dynamo Luke Ridnour, have made at least some games the team has played this year, bearable.

Lewis entered the NBA at 19 years of age, straight from Alief Elsik High School in Texas. He joined a Sonics team awash with seasoned veterans in Hersey Hawkins, Detlef Schrempf, and Gary Payton. A lot has occurred since then. Now 27, Rashard has averaged over 20 ppg per game for the 2006-2007 campaign thus far. Apart from blossoming in terms of raw basketball skill, he has also evolved in terms of being a leader on the floor. At this juncture, Ray Allen may still be the Sonics’ main gun, but Lewis has shown, in stretches, that he can shoulder the burden of possibly being the hero, or the “goat”.

With his free agency impending, the ripening of number 7’s baller IQ couldn’t have arrived at a better time. His market value has increased with age. Although the upper brass in Seattle seem intent on re-signing their athletic 3, and although Lewis himself seems content with staying put (he stands to have 15% annual raises over 6 years if he stays with the Sonics, whilst other teams can only offer him a maximum deal of 5 years with an annual raise percentage of 12.5% as per http://CNNSI.COM/NBA), concerns over whether RL will be able to fit in with the direction the franchise wants to go in for the next half decade or so remains to be seen.

While the Sonics attempt to harness a sense of identity, other teams lie in wait to see when they can pounce. Lewis would be a great fit for a team like the Jazz, perhaps, who could use an athletic wing scorer to compliment bruisers Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer, and master playmaker Deron Williams. Cellar-dwellers Charlotte and Atlanta would have enough caproom to take on a Rashard Lewis deal, and what’s more, RL would make for a good foundation for the re-galvanization of their respective franchises (not to mention the fact that the prospect of a Joe Johnson/Rashard Lewis tandem is worth a million bucks). Even upper eschelon squads like San Antonio and Dallas could use a wing player with Lewis’ skill (despite Mark Cuban being the wheeling and dealing owner that he is, I do expect him to exercise restraint in this case; I think he’d much rather retain the likes of Devin Harris and Josh Howard rather than kick the reset button; the Spurs, on the other hand, could, basically, use some youth).

All in all, it should be a dynamic offseason for the this man who, after nearly a decade in the big leagues, is finally ready to have his name placed up onto the basketball world’s marquee for all to marvel at.

Believe it.