Lewis Worth $110 Million

In the last 48 hours, Orlando has just spend $190 million dollars. First they signed Dwight Howard to a 5 year $80 million dollar deal (no brainer), and today Rashard Lewis to a 6 year $110 million dollar deal (??…). I know Rashard Lewis is a kickass player, and is was one of the top free agents this summer but is he really worth that much money? I dunno what the Magic’s game plan is, but it almost feels like the front office from New York has moved down to Florida. :S

A few minutes before Rashard Lewis was formally announced as the newest member of the Orlando Magic, the high-scoring forward donned his white-and-blue uniform and made his way through the team’s practice facility.

“Feeling good,” Lewis said, stopping to shake hands with well-wishers. “Feeling good.”

That’s no surprise, considering he’d just received a six-year contract worth more than $110 million with the Magic and an opportunity he coveted to play with All-Star center Dwight Howard on a team that Lewis believes could quickly become a major factor in the Eastern Conference.

Lewis formally joined the Magic on Wednesday, leaving the Seattle SuperSonics after nine seasons when the teams completed a sign-and-trade deal. The Magic sent Seattle a conditional second-round pick, while the SuperSonics earned a trade exception believed to be in the $9 million range.

Otis Smith, Rashard Lewis and Stan Van Gundy

“We set out at the start of free agency to get a big-time player, someone who could score the basketball,” Magic general manager Otis Smith said. “We targeted that guy and we got that guy.”

Lewis averaged a career-best 22.4 points last season for Seattle, where he spent his first nine years after jumping straight to the NBA from high school and going early in the second round of the 1998 draft. He’s averaged more than 20 points in each of the last three seasons, and is the SuperSonics’ career leader in 3-point field goals with 973.

Orlando, Fla (AP)
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