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Lewis now Magic man

Rashard Lewis averaged career-high 22.4 points for Seattle last season. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
John Denton Florida Today
Rashard Lewis averaged career-high 22.4 points for Seattle last season. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Rashard Lewis was the most coveted free agent on the market this summer, but no one was more excited Sunday night than Lewis when the Orlando Magic phoned his camp.

Just as the Magic targeted Lewis as their top target, the 27-year-old small forward also pinpointed Orlando as the team he most wanted to play for.

Lewis and the Magic agreed on a five-year, $75 million deal late Monday night, a pact that can’t officially be signed until July 11 because of NBA rules. There is a chance, Lewis’ agent Tony Dutt said, that the deal could extend for six years and $85 million if the Magic and Lewis’ former team, the Seattle SuperSonics, can work out a sign-and-trade deal.

To clear room for Lewis’ deal under the salary cap, the Magic on Tuesday withdrew their qualifying contract offer to Darko Milicic, making the 7-foot center/power forward an unrestricted free agent able to sign with any team.

Previously, Milicic was a restricted free agent, meaning the Magic had the right to match any contract offer he received from another team. This past season, Milicic averaged 12.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in the playoffs and 8.0 points and 5.5 rebounds during the regular season.

Lewis told Florida Today on Tuesday afternoon that he couldn’t be more excited about his deal with the Magic.

“Orlando was my main focus and No. 1 on my list from day one,” Lewis said at Orlando International Airport just before boarding a flight to his hometown of Houston. “Me and my agent sat down and talked about it after the season and we determined that Orlando would be No. 1, and when they gave me that call on the first (of July) I was just so excited.

“I’m just extremely excited because this seems like the perfect fit. We’ve got a great big man in Dwight Howard and the team is still real young, so we’re only going to get better and better together. If you look at it, if you want to win a championship you have to have that big man, and with Dwight here we can do that.”

Lewis said he felt an instant chemistry with Howard and Magic point guard Jameer Nelson, who gave Lewis a tour of the area Sunday and Monday. Dutt and Magic general manager Otis Smith worked into Monday night to reach a deal.

Lewis, who turns 28 next month, is a former All-Star. He averaged career highs in points (22.4), rebounds (6.6) and assists (2.2) this past season for Seattle. He feels his best years are ahead of him.

“I feel like I’m just now hitting my prime,” Lewis said. “I feel like I have the kind of focus and knowledge of the game to keep on improving every part of my game. But my main focus is to win ball games and bring a championship here. If we can still add more pieces and role players, we should be in perfect position.”

Lewis said the instability of the Eastern Conference and an easier chance to get to the NBA Finals than in the rugged Western Conference appealed to him. Orlando was 40-42 this past season before getting swept out of the first round of the playoffs by the Detroit Pistons. Those days, Lewis stressed, are over.

“Orlando made the playoffs last year and I see no reason why we shouldn’t just go up from there,” he said. “I could see anybody going to the Finals from the East because it’s so wide open. Cleveland went this year and they’re still a lot of good teams, but a championship chance is right there for a lot of teams.”