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There's this guy who posts on a board I visit, who for some time has been rippin on Presti for not re-signing Rashard Lewis. And now, he thinks the Thunder could've made a deeper playoff run with Lewis on this team.

No matter how many times you repeat the same response to him, that the Magic over paid for Lewis and that he really played the same position as Durant. That he's not a PF , he's a 6-10 SF. That the trade exception Presti received was eventually turned into two first round picks etc etc ............. this guy still will not back down from his position no matter how much is presented to him.

Anyway, that prefacing this so you understand my interest ..........

I read this from Steve Kyler at Hoopsworld , this morning

Why did the Bulls give Luol Deng $72 million plus incentives? Because Utah had a similar offer on the table in a sign and trade deal... Why did Orlando pony up all those dollars for Rashard Lewis? because three other teams were willing to give him that.

Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?sto ... z0msHT3e1z

I don't recall three other teams offering Lewis a max contract ???? Did that happen ? I also realize Kyler was once a Magic beat reporter, which means he could know more about the deal than others or ........ it could mean he's part of the spin to cover them over paying for Lewis.

So how did it go down ..... again ?

I don't have any sources, but it was clear at the time that Otis Smith (Orlando GM) was bidding against himself. Sam Presti had no intention of re-signing Rashard after trading Ray Allen. Other teams were interested but not at that price tag.

Even if we had re-signed Lewis for fair value his production has begun to drop and he missed a bunch of games for using a banned substance. It wouldn't have been a good decision.

Did Presti's decision revolve entirely around money ?

I read that Lewis's production drop this season, has a lot to do with opponents running him off the three point line. Which may or may not open up someone else, but it makes sense. If they make Lewis play a true PF postion instead of a stretch four, then it diminishes his value.

Rah Fentons wrote:Did Presti's decision revolve entirely around money ?

I read that Lewis's production drop this season, has a lot to do with opponents running him off the three point line. Which may or may not open up someone else, but it makes sense. If they make Lewis play a true PF postion instead of a stretch four, then it diminishes his value.

Yes. Paying Lewis the max is stupid. I don't think you could find anyone who would do that, or who thinks that was a good idea in retrospect.

Rashard is not a PF. He's like Jeff Green. If we had Dwight Howard I'm sure Jeff Green would look a lot better than he does now.

Rashard was awesome at hitting that elbow three and posting up on smaller players during his Sonic days when he was the starting small forward. Those are long gone.

He's not a max player, he never was.

I agree, the lineup and the team was and is fine, you would have went deeper in the playoffs if u didnt land the 8th seed at the last second. Even at that you had LA fans giving you the respect OK so deserve. Rahard Lewis Is good where he is a shooting team with a rebounding big man, he would have hurt this team

Hey could someone start a thread on the upcoming draft (nba) fsu center solomon alabi looks like a good 21st pick