SEATTLE -- Rashard Lewis met with Houston Rockets officials
at an area airport today before flying to Orlando, Florida.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told Houston television
station K-R-I-V that despite salary cap restraints, the Rockets
would make a strong push for Lewis, who grew up in Houston.
Lewis' agent, Tony Dutt, said 20 teams had contacted him in some
form by late this morning regarding the 6-foot-10 forward, who
opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Seattle
SuperSonics to become a free agent.
But it was the Sonics -- the only team Lewis has played for --
that got the first chance to meet with Lewis. New general manager
Sam Presti led a Seattle contingent that had discussions with Lewis
and Dutt early today in Houston.
Presti and his staff presented their plan for the future of the
franchise -- an issue brought into question since Thursday's draft
when Seattle traded All-Star Ray Allen to Boston, and drafted
forwards Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, who appear to play the same
position as Lewis.
Dutt said the two sides didn't get into numbers, although Lewis
is expected to command a salary in the range of 15 million dollars per season.