Rockets will pursue free-agent Lewis

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets want Rashard Lewis to come back home.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said Saturday night that the club is “going after Rashard,” the SuperSonics forward who attended high school in suburban Houston and is considered one of the NBA’s most attractive free agents this summer.

“We really want him,” Morey told Houston television station KRIV-TV. “We think he would be a significant player for us. Rashard would have to be motivated to come.”

Lewis, who turns 28 in August, left $21 million behind by opting out of the final two years of his Seattle contract. The Sonics are the only team that can offer Lewis a six-year contract and the maximum salary allowed under the league’s salary cap.

Lewis was the Sonics’ second-leading scorer behind Ray Allen – the All-Star guard Seattle traded to Boston Thursday. Sonics general manager Sam Presti has said that trading Allen makes bringing back Lewis more possible, because it will free up more money.

Morey told KRIV that for Lewis to land in Houston, “it has to be through a sign and trade.”

Lewis, who has spent all nine of his NBA seasons in Seattle, averaged 22.4 points and 6.6 rebounds last season.