<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">REDMOND, Wash. -- Seattle SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was given a one-year suspended sentence Monday, five months after he failed sobriety and breath tests during a stop on Interstate 90. Lewis was driving one of five cars speeding eastbound together early on Sept. 30, Washington State Patrol Trooper Curt G. Boyle wrote in an investigation report. His eyes were watery and speech was slurred, Boyle wrote. Lewis failed a field sobriety test and was taken to the Mercer Island Police Department, where he registered a 0.132 and 0.122 on successive breath tests. The intoxication threshold in Washington is 0.08.</div> Source
If they keep Hill they'll keep Lewis. He seems really high on Lew. It is not really making big news here, he pleaded the charge to a less offensive one and Howard may give him a pass and tell him to get a dang driver.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting psheehy:</div><div class="quote_post">If they keep Hill they'll keep Lewis.</div> How much of a say do you think Hill has in personnel matters? Regardless of Hill's affection for Lewis, Lewis will opt out of his contract in 2007. Why risk losing him for nothing when he still has great trade value? It is obvious that we are capable of winning w/o Lewis. We did it in the playoffs last season and we've done it this season as well. If we can plug this whole with a talented but cost efficient wing and a draft pick then I would be pleased. I've always been enamored with Andres Nocioni and with the Bulls having NY's first pick in the draft this season maybe they would be willing to give up a pick. Just a thought.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">How much of a say do you think Hill has in personnel matters? Regardless of Hill's affection for Lewis, Lewis will opt out of his contract in 2007. Why risk losing him for nothing when he still has great trade value? It is obvious that we are capable of winning w/o Lewis. We did it in the playoffs last season and we've done it this season as well. If we can plug this whole with a talented but cost efficient wing and a draft pick then I would be pleased. I've always been enamored with Andres Nocioni and with the Bulls having NY's first pick in the draft this season maybe they would be willing to give up a pick. Just a thought.</div> IF they keep Hill, I hope he has a lot to say in personnel decisions. Lewis is opting out for money but wants to stay in Seattle (or so he says). I think they are intending to extend Lewis before he opts out...that is how things have sounded and Lewis has said he is open to an extension. My concern here is that Hill is focused on Lewis' offensive improvement (and so is Lewis from what he has said), though rebounding is an area Hill has mentioned as well. I would rather Lewis became a defensive stopper. I think he has the length and athleticism to do it, but he has never showed the desire. If he focused on becoming the best perimeter defender on the team as a foil to Allen and played more of a Scottie Pippen type role on offense I think the team would fare much better. We don't need Lewis to win. He is entirely replaceable. I like Nocioni a lot. He plays with heart and fire. He is certainly not as talented as Lewis, but he is a good player who is better than his talent because of his competitive spirit.
