Mr.Bottomtooth
09-18-2006, 04:18 PM
Sonics, Lewis place negotiations on hold
FRANK HUGHES; The News Tribune
Published: September 18th, 2006 01:00 AM
With the sale of the Seattle SuperSonics not yet finalized, the team and forward Rashard Lewis have decided to place on hold their discussions for a contract extension until after the ownership change is official.
Lewis is eligible for a two-year, $25 million extension that would carry him through the 2010-11 season, essentially assuring that he will be with the Sonics through the prime of his career. He could have signed an extension Sunday.
However, general manager Rick Sund said the sides decided to table the discussions until the Clay Bennett-led ownership group is approved by the league’s Board of Governors on Oct. 24.
Lewis did not return messages left on his cell phone.
Meanwhile, Sund said the Sonics and forward Nick Collison have decided not to discuss an extension on his rookie contract until after this season, in part because there is so much uncertainty about Collison’s future in Seattle.
Over the summer, the team agreed with Chris Wilcox on a three-year, $19.5 million contract, presumably making him the starter this season.
With the Sonics also having three young centers, Collison’s playing time seems uncertain and so, Sund said, both sides agreed to wait until after the season to determine what their respective futures will be.
Sund said the Sonics and point guard Luke Ridnour are currently in discussions for an extension on his rookie contract, though no agreement has been reached.
Sources said Ridnour has told friends that he does not want to sign an extension because of the uncertainty about his playing time. Ridnour sat during the fourth quarters of games last season after the team traded for Earl Watson.
Fastbreaks
A report in Georgia Today, a European Newspaper, quotes forward Nikoloz Tskitishvili as saying he is going to sign a contract with the Sonics once the season ends for the Georgia national team. Tskitishvili, the No. 5 overall pick in 2002 who played for Phoenix last season, said he does not know the terms of the contract. ...
Yotam Halperin, the Sonics’ second-round pick from Israel, is on the verge of signing a three-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv with a buyout clause that would allow him to leave for the NBA.
FRANK HUGHES; The News Tribune
Published: September 18th, 2006 01:00 AM
With the sale of the Seattle SuperSonics not yet finalized, the team and forward Rashard Lewis have decided to place on hold their discussions for a contract extension until after the ownership change is official.
Lewis is eligible for a two-year, $25 million extension that would carry him through the 2010-11 season, essentially assuring that he will be with the Sonics through the prime of his career. He could have signed an extension Sunday.
However, general manager Rick Sund said the sides decided to table the discussions until the Clay Bennett-led ownership group is approved by the league’s Board of Governors on Oct. 24.
Lewis did not return messages left on his cell phone.
Meanwhile, Sund said the Sonics and forward Nick Collison have decided not to discuss an extension on his rookie contract until after this season, in part because there is so much uncertainty about Collison’s future in Seattle.
Over the summer, the team agreed with Chris Wilcox on a three-year, $19.5 million contract, presumably making him the starter this season.
With the Sonics also having three young centers, Collison’s playing time seems uncertain and so, Sund said, both sides agreed to wait until after the season to determine what their respective futures will be.
Sund said the Sonics and point guard Luke Ridnour are currently in discussions for an extension on his rookie contract, though no agreement has been reached.
Sources said Ridnour has told friends that he does not want to sign an extension because of the uncertainty about his playing time. Ridnour sat during the fourth quarters of games last season after the team traded for Earl Watson.
Fastbreaks
A report in Georgia Today, a European Newspaper, quotes forward Nikoloz Tskitishvili as saying he is going to sign a contract with the Sonics once the season ends for the Georgia national team. Tskitishvili, the No. 5 overall pick in 2002 who played for Phoenix last season, said he does not know the terms of the contract. ...
Yotam Halperin, the Sonics’ second-round pick from Israel, is on the verge of signing a three-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv with a buyout clause that would allow him to leave for the NBA.