Could Lewis be the key to unlock Seattle?

by shralpster on Jun 5, 2007 12:13 AM PDT

I'm not sold that Rashard Lewis is the type of player the Blazers need even we could arrange a trade or if we could get him for a reasonable salary. However, after leafing through a Sonics forum a few minutes ago, I saw a topic that made me think of another potential bonus in attaining Lewis. The thread discussed whether or not Seattle fans would continue rooting for the Sonics if they move to OK City, and to my surprise in this small sample there were not many that would still support the Sonics... many said they'd pull for the Blazers.

If the Sonics do move, stealing Lewis away would be one less reason for Seattle fans to root for their transplanted team and one more reason for them to transfer their loyalties south. Considering that we seem poised for success, it may not be that tough to turn us into a much bigger market while and if Seattle is NBA-less.

Here's the topic...
http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=666953

Do other Sonics forums or blogs show similar opinions? Could this even play any role in going after Lewis... a few more seats sold and a bigger broadcast audience, perhaps? Would Lewis even matter? Perhaps Seattle would fall in line anyway. Could a teamless Seattle, drawn in by the enduring dynasty 200 miles south, rediscover their passion for the NBA and find the road back to having a successful franchise? Wow, I get ahead of myself. I must remember the sun does not revolve around the Blazers, the sun does not revolve around the Blazers...

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I've heard

Drexler is working on Lewis to get him to play for Houston (is/is near where Lewis grew up). I think it involved trading Battier. Houston wants a third scorer, and Lewis fits the bill. That team could go very far, health permitting.

Oh, Nancy! The Superpan is not magical, it will burn you.

by supremepuntiff on Jun 5, 2007 12:35 AM PDT reply actions

I wonder

whether Rashard would really go to Houston, after they broke his heart by passing on him three times, and making him be one of the most tragic guys in the green room on draft day ever. (Guys Houston picked in the first round instead of Rashard -- Michael Dickerson, Bryce Drew, Mirsad Turkcan.)

by howlingfantods on Jun 5, 2007 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Bryce Drew?

Ouch.

by bfan on Jun 5, 2007 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Drexler? What a nube.

He should be trying to get players to come to Portland, not Houston.

by bfan on Jun 5, 2007 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

he won a championship in houston

and I believe he was from there. Pretty sure he went to college in Houston as well

mye

by myemic23 on Jun 5, 2007 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions

It

would be nice to have Lewis, but not for the $$ he wants.

by blazerprophet on Jun 5, 2007 8:41 AM PDT reply actions

If we are trading Zach to get him...

Then the $'s are pretty comparable. Look at what people think we can get for Zach...Rashard is by far the best and if the only downside to the deal is having to add a few yrs. onto the max deal than I say yes in a heartbeat.

by porterfan30 on Jun 5, 2007 8:54 AM PDT reply actions

Not the best deal

I would rather do some deal with the bulls for the #9 pick than get an overpaid Lewis who wants to be the #1 option. I like lewis and his game, but not at that price. I would rather get a Jeff Green in the draft and let the team develope together.

by usmcr3049 on Jun 5, 2007 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions

If Zach left,

we would need a #1 option. Roy/Aldridge/Oden aren't strong enough to hold that torch yet, especially in the next two seasons.

- Sam

by Samuelson on Jun 5, 2007 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions

I predict Roy

averages 20 a game.

Welcome Greg Oden

by junit3123 @ Blazer's Edge on Jun 5, 2007 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions

I second this

I think Roy doesn't get enough credit for his scoring, his average increased every month, to above 18 in March and above 21 in April. He has also said a few times that he is going to really work on his outside shot this off season, which he already had an avg of about 38% and that also increased every month, I believe. I think he is going to be one of our main offensive options.

Brandon Roy 007

by TimG on Jun 6, 2007 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions

why cant we get shane battier??

He would fit onto our team perfectly. Defensive stopper, shoots well from 3, good culture guy, and just a smart, veteren player. We should offer zach up for him, mind you they might want a pg to, like maybe jack.

mye

by myemic23 on Jun 5, 2007 9:14 AM PDT reply actions

yes a 3 way myemic 23

seattle-zbo*webster
pdx-battier*collison
hou-lewis*jack

that way everybody is happy
seattle get a frontline of
zbo-durant-wilcox-houston
big 3 of ming-t*mac-lewis
and portland gets a defensive
3 in battier and a frontline
of oden,aldridge,and battier.

by fatty on Jun 5, 2007 9:24 AM PDT reply actions

That's not bad.

I wouldn't mind having Collison back up Aldridge, and Battier is exactly the type of player I'd like to see play the 3 for us. I'd still like Jeff Green because I think he'll be a better version of Battier, but this would be a great trade for us.

The other option would be to send Randolph and either Webster or Outlaw straight to Houston for Juwan Howard and Battier and their draft pick. We might then be able to parlay that pick into something else we need down the road.

by bfan on Jun 5, 2007 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions

I am not so sure about giving up Webster

Webster could be part of the solution to our deep ball problems and he is still a kid as well. I think you have to keep him one more year and see if he can have a breakout year with better players around him distracting the defense. I just dont want to see his silky smooth shot leave just yet especially if we can draft Green and he is as good as btfan thinks he could be.

mye

by myemic23 on Jun 5, 2007 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions

sorry bfan

typo

mye

by myemic23 on Jun 5, 2007 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions

I really want Jeff Green

I just love this idea, I really hope it happens. I liked him for much of his season, and then when he "disappeared" in the Final Four game, I wanted him even more, because he seems like he would be a great role player, but more athletic and talented than your typical "role-player" type.

Brandon Roy 007

by TimG on Jun 5, 2007 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Not bad fatty

I kind of like this one myself.

by timg56 on Jun 5, 2007 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Kudos

I like this trade but, and I know you will kill me for this fatty, I would hate to see Webster go somewhere else and have a break out season.

Feel free to respond when you are done laughing.

by tssbro on Jun 6, 2007 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions

Lewis

Is already penciled in on the Most Over Payed Free Agent List of 2007

by BlazerBandit on Jun 5, 2007 1:41 PM PDT reply actions

He reminds me

of a baseball player in their 'contract' year on steroids. He was asked to score a lot- so he did. How would he adopt to our team is another matter. He would not be the #1 or 2 'go to' person. Also, with Outlaw and a (hopefully) developing Webster, he may not be even needed for whatever he has to offer.

by blazerprophet on Jun 5, 2007 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions

agreed

plus his team sucked. They came in last with another all star on the team.

Welcome Greg Oden

by junit3123 @ Blazer's Edge on Jun 5, 2007 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions

In my opinion, Lewis may not be a worthwhile move

... but I was pointing out that support for the Blazers from Seattle hoop fans left teamless could be affected by bringing one more Seattle link to Portland.

Does it surprise anyone else that a good portion of Seattle fans would be willing to support the Blazers? It looks like that sentiment exists even without Lewis and would probably be more significant with him here, for what it's worth.

by shralpster on Jun 5, 2007 2:16 PM PDT reply actions

You're probably right.

But with Roy and Martell both being from Seattle, and the fact that we're going to be so freaking good, I think we'll have their undivided attention regardless of having Rashard or not. I don't think I'd want to overpay Rashard just to solidify that link.

by bfan on Jun 5, 2007 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions

schadenfreude

While I agree that Rashard might give Seattle fans a reason to root for the Blazers, I'd rather not have that as a motivation for picking him up. I would much rather have two teams in the Pacific Northwest than have a larger market for the Blazers caused by the Sonics moving out. I'm sure you probably feel the same way, but I just wanted to say it more explicitly before we let ourselves get overcome with schadenfreude.

by bocious on Jun 5, 2007 5:02 PM PDT reply actions

I want webster...

we give up om youngsters too soon. His jumper will come along...smooth release reminds me of Ray Allen

ODEN

by wiseblazer on Jun 5, 2007 8:55 PM PDT reply actions

Webster's Crossroads

I would like to keep a shooter like Webster in Portland to take the pressure off the inside game.

However, he is in dire need of some serious minutes and experience to develop his game and right now, the way things are going with Portland's deep roster (especially if we add Lewis), he is not going to get those minutes.

Throw Webster into the starting lineup and see how he develops as an all around player.
Send him to the Development league
or trade him. He is not fit to continue losing his confidence playing 10 minutes per night.

by VegasNed on Jun 5, 2007 9:51 PM PDT reply actions

Webster missed the turn

Isn't it too late to send Webster to D-League? I seem to recall that only first- or second-year players can be sent down.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Also, if we're gonna ship Zach off so early, we think Battier when we can dream Tayshaun?

by hugs on Jun 5, 2007 10:03 PM PDT reply actions