<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">June 19, 2007 -- WE all learn sooner or later (some the hard way) there's no penalty if the IRS receives our completed tax form after the deadline as long as it's postmarked earlier. From what I understand, contract law is different. Miss a specific date for opting out or exercising a clause and you've missed your opening. Execute the process in advance, you've also blown the deal. I may be utterly off base, but that's my perception. If my information is accurate, Rashard Lewis may not have met the requirement to become one of the NBA's most desirable free agents. If accurate, the Sonics' 28-year-old (on Aug. 8) All-Star (2005) has two guaranteed years ($10,129,870 and $10,909,091) remaining on an agreement signed five years ago when he was represented by Kevin Poston. If accurate, new agent Tony Dutt mishandled critical paperwork regarding his client's escape option. </div> http://www.nypost.com/seven/06192007/sport...eter_vecsey.htm Source: New York Post
If this is indeed true it makes Presti's job a hell of a lot easier. I don't believe anything coming from Peter Vecsey though, but a large part of me would like to keep Rashard as cheap as we could. One thing about this scenario is that it almost ensures that Sweet Lew would be gone at the end of the 2009 season. No way in the world would he want to resign with a team that searched for a loophole in order to deny him a chance at free agency in his prime.
Are we "searching for a loophole" though? I would have thought it was entirely his agent's responsibility to adhere to the terms of his contract. A lot can happen in two years anyway if it is indeed true. Poor bugger will only earn $21m... It's a tough life.
He could probably still demand a trade. He won't make as much money, but he would be playing elsewhere.
The New York Post's Peter Vecsey has sources saying that Rashard Lewis, owing to a paperwork snafu, may not be a free agent after all. UPDATE: ESPN.com has looked into this and it appears that Lewis and his agent, Tony Dutt, did not "mishandle" the paperwork for his ETO (Early Termination Option) and he is indeed a free agent starting July 1. Link It's the 4th bullet. Looks like Vecsey's sources were wrong
As much as I dislike Frank Hughes at least his sources are credible. Peter Vecsey is on another planet. There has to be some type of penalty for inappropriate and fictitious journalism. He is directly attacking Tony Dutt's ability to do his job without any evidence. These dudes can't hide behind the pen forever. One of these days I wouldn't be surprised to see a columnist get his ass beat by an athlete, a coach, or an agent. I know that Ozzie Guillen was close with Jay Mariotti.
