Marc Stein of the Dallas Morning News reports that the Dallas Mavericks are currently one of two teams vying for the services of free agent swingman Rashard Lewis. After receiving a whirlwind tour of the Dallas area and recruiting pitches from Michael Finley and Steve Nash, Rashard Lewis was impressed. While he didn?t promise anything, he definitely likes the Mavericks.

It's probably going to be between Seattle and Dallas," Lewis said. "The Mavericks have a real chance just because of the way they treated me and my family. Everything was first class."

Lewis is discontent with the offers coming from the Supersonics and is looking for other options. Mavs owner Mark Cuban believes Lewis is sincere when he says he?s interested in Dallas. He doesn?t think of this as a negotiation ploy to raise Seattle?s offer.

"I don't think Rashard's that type of guy," Cuban said. "I know he's very serious. This is his chance to play close to home and be near his family [in Houston]. Seattle had every chance to do something before he got here."

Cuban also acknowledges that his team is a long shot to sign Lewis. It?s unrealistic to expect a guy to accept a 3-year, $15 million contract if Seattle is offering $60 or $70 million. Especially considering Lewis turned down a six-year offer in the $50 million range from Toronto in the summer of 2000 to stay in Seattle on the promise of future riches.

"[History] is going to make it harder to do that again, but I think I'm going to do what's best for me and go where I feel most comfortable," Lewis said. "There are only three elite teams in the league ? Dallas, Sacramento and the Lakers. I think I'm the missing piece to their [Dallas'] puzzle."

Marc Stein of the Dallas Morning News reports that the Mavericks pulled out all the stops in entertaining Seattle free agent Rashard Lewis. The free-agent forward was greeted by a couple hundred well-wishers at the airport, shown to his would-be locker at American Airlines Center housing a LEWIS No. 43 jersey and treated to the sound of faux play-by-play from Mavericks radio voice Mark Followill while he signed for a pack of yelping kids.

"I'm very impressed," Lewis said. "I'm still impressed."

The Mavericks are ultimately looking for a signed offer sheet from Lewis. They are offering their entire mid-class exception, totaling $15 million, for 3-years, but they know that they are a long shot in the Lewis sweepstakes.

The Sonics have the ability to pay much more than any other team and have reportedly offered more than $60 million over 7-years. Houston can offer the same amount ad Dallas, but has the advantage of being Lewis? hometown.

Mavs owner Mark Cuban said that he wasn?t going to pressure Lewis into a decision. "I'm not even going to try" to get a read on Lewis' intentions.? Cuban said that the ?full-court courtship? was merely a meeting to answer Lewis? questions.

Cuban, though, might have scored one victory already. Asked if leaving Seattle came down to a choice between the Mavericks and his hometown Rockets, Lewis gave the advantage to the former. "I think Dallas has a better organization than Houston," Lewis said.

Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald reports that the Bulls are now free to sign Matt Harpring without restrictions. Yesterday the Sixers rescinded their qualifying offer for Harpring making him an unrestricted free agent. In doing so the Sixers lose their right to match other team?s offers for the forward.

While Sixers GM Billy King says the move does not mean they can?t resign Harpring, it clearly means they aren?t eager to bring him back. The Sixers are reportedly pursuing Celtic?s free agent Rodney Rogers to fill their front court. Rogers is now available since the Celtics traded for Vin Baker.

Harpring?s name has been listed on the Bulls wish list, but GM Jerry Krause did not admit having interest in Harpring. Krause has not denied that the Bulls are seeking a veteran big man. The question is whether they want to spend the money to pry Popeye Jones away from Washington or settle for a less expensive choice such as Danny Manning, Corie Blount or Brian Skinner, and thereby make a more substantial offer to a small forward.

Marc Stein of the Dallas Morning News reports that Seattle free agent Rashard Lewis is going to talk to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. Lewis is seeking a 7-year deal worth $80-90 million dollars. The Sonics are reluctant to dedicate that much money to a player with the looming luxury tax and are offering a package worth $50-55 million.

It is not known if the Mavericks have a legitimate chance at signing Lewis. The most they can offer is their $4.45 million mid-class exception, which would total $15 million for 3 years.

"Rashard would add a lot to our team," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said. "Obviously having him at small forward and forcing a power forward to guard Dirk [Nowitzki] would be great for us. I don't know if we have a great chance, but when you come down to it, Rashard is the type that wants a chance to win a ring."

If Lewis really does intend to sign elsewhere, the Rockets will probably be considered as well. They also have their mid-class exception and they have the distinct advantage of being Lewis? hometown. Lewis has said repeatedly that he would love a Rockets homecoming if he doesn't return to Seattle.

Peter May of the Boston Globe sounds off on yesterday?s Sonics/Celtics trade, ?Isn't it interesting how basketball economics work these days? An owner won't dare spend $3 million to bring back someone who has had a demonstrable and positive impact on his team. But he will turn around and agree to take on more than $50 million owed to someone who, to be charitable, has been a classic underachiever the last four years.?

The Celtics played hardball with Rodney Rogers, whose play off the bench was one of the factors to propel them to the Conference Finals last season. But they open the checkbook for perennial underachiever Vin Baker. This, May explains, is one of the mysteries of the luxury tax. Rogers, re-signed at $3 million would cost more than Baker, making more than $12 million.

While losing Rogers is not a good thing, making a deal to try and replace his production, is. The Celtics recognized that they couldn?t bring Rogers back, but rather than let him go with nothing in return, they traded for some help in the middle. And, if you look at it as a 2-for-1 trade, Baker and Shammond Williams for Kenny Anderson, it doesn?t seem so bad.

Anderson wasn?t the only Celtic traded away, but he was the only one who was important to the team?s success. Joe Forte never played and Vitaly Potapenko missed the playoffs with an injury, but the Celtics never missed him. Williams wan a key factor in the C?s success last season and they have no one to adequately replace him.

So be prepared for the following statement: ''A lot of our offense runs through Antoine [Walker] anyway.'' That will be the party line to minimize the loss.

Jerry Krause, the GM of the Chicago Bulls, outlined two dire needs for his team as the offseason signing period started; a backup big man who can defend and rebound and a defensive-minded small forward.  K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune is reporting that thus far Krause has brought in Danny Manning, Corie Blount and Brian Skinner - all of whom fit the bill for the first need - so what is happening with the second?

According to Johnson the Bulls are not trying to sign a small forward, instead they are trying to acquire one via trade.  Even though both teams claim otherwise, Krause is trying to pry forward Mike Miller away from the Orlando Magic in exchange for power forward Marcus Fizer.  The hang up at the moment is the Magic are also trying to include Jamal Crawford to which Krause will not budge.

Should a deal not be able to be made between the two teams Chicago still has interest in Philadelphia free agent Matt Harpring, but Harpring's restricted free agent status has prevented the team from making him an offer, especially while talks with Miller are still taking place.  Philadelphia has said it plans to match any offer for Harpring which means a sign and trade might be necessary, Fizer's name again popping up.

Another option for the Bulls, albiet a long shot, might be Rashard Lewis of the Seattle Supersonics who is unhappy with the offer his current team has put to him.  Lewis is the best prospect available this offseason.

So where does this leave Eddie Robinson, the high flying foward the Bulls signed to a $31.2 million deal last summer?  According to Johnson some in management believe that starting Robinson alongside Jalen Rose, who will play shooting guard, will leave too many defensive deficiencies for the Bulls.

UPDATE: The trade was announced as official on Monday
afternoon.

Shira Springer of the Boston Globe reports that the much-rumored Celtics/Sonics trade may go through as early as today. The deal would send Kenny Anderson, Vitaly Potapenko, and Joseph Forte to Seattle for Vin Baker and Shammond Williams.

If the details get finalized and the league approves the deal, the Celtics could announce the trade during a press conference tomorrow. General manager Chris Wallace canceled a scouting trip to Lithuania, which would have started this Friday, because ''too much is going on.''

Springer writes that according to sources, there are a few sticking points to be considered before the trade is officially completed, but no deal-breakers. The Celtics are reviewing all aspects of the trade, from a basketball standpoint to a financial one, and are considering team chemistry, as well. Boston is taking a long look at Baker's contract and the many clauses it contains. The Knicks also have expressed interest in dealing for Baker, but they don't have as many favorable contracts to offer as the Celtics.

The Celtics would have no front-runner for the point guard spot but they will have a re-stocked front court without re-signing Rodney Rogers. This deal will apparently signal an and of the Celtics attempts to keep Rogers.  

According to RealGM estimates, after this trade the Celtics would be saving about $1 million in salaries for the 02-03 season but gaining over $28 million in salaries over the life of the contracts.

Jerry Brewer of the Orlando Sentinel reports: The Orlando Magic, desperate for active bodies in the post, have turned to 21-year-old Nigerian center Olunide Oyedeji. In what could be their final move to add new players during this free agency, the team signed Oyedeji (his name is pronounced oh-LOOM-uh-day oi-yah-DAY-gee) on Sunday. His deal is believed to be for one year and worth the league minimum for a player with 2 years of service which is $587,435.

Oyedeji played in only 66 games the past two seasons with Seattle. In 36 appearances last season, he averaged 1.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 6.1 minutes.

Also, there was some confusion over whether Oyedeji was a restricted free agent or but the magic confirmed that he was unrestricted because Seattle did not make him a qualifying offer.

In other magic news, Magic GM John Gabriel said that Patrick Ewing is leaning towards ending his 17-year career and that he has had discussions with Ewing's agent, David Falk, about a buyout of the final year of his contract in which he will make about $2.3 million. (Note: If Ewing was bought out, the amount of the buyout would count against the cap for the coming season and if the buyout is for less than the $2.3 million figure, it would give Orlando a little more wiggle room between their current 2002/2003 payroll figure of $48,373,650 million (assuming first round pick Ryan Himphrey gets 120 percent of his rookie scale salary) and the league-projected 2003 luxury tax figure of $50 million (RealGM thinks $53-55 million).

Finally, The Magic are inching closer to an agreement with Garrity, according to sources on both sides of the negotiations. A deal could be reached within the next few days. There was no mention in the article about the terms but it's believed that Orlando is offering Garrity a multi-year deal at around $2 million a season.

If so, the Magic would then turn their attention to re-signing Williams and signing rookie forward Ryan Humphrey.

Note: There was no mention of guard William "Smush" Parker who has been a standout on Orlando's summer league team and this along with the fact that Orlando has close to a full roster could mean that "Smush" could be in another team's training camp this fall. Stay tuned to our RealGM's Orlando Magic Affiliate, MagicPride (a.k.a. magic.realgm.com) for more developments on this story.

ESPN.com reports that the Orlando Magic have signed Seattle free agent center Olumide Oyedji.

An athletic but raw talent, the 6-10, 255-pound Oyedeji joins the Magic after spending his first two seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics. Last season, Oyedeji played in 36 games, averaging just 1.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per contest.

A native of Nigeria, Oyedeji had a chance to impress the Magic, playing for the club's team in the Orlando Professional Summer League, where he averaged 7.8 points and 7.2 rebounds.

Percy Allen of the Seattle Times reports that Boston and Seattle may have already agreed to a Vin Baker for Kenny Anderson trade. He writes that the Sonics? negotiations with Rashard Lewis may be put on hold while the two teams try to hammer out a deal.

A source close to the deal says that the two teams have agreed on the trade, but another player must be added from Boston to make the trade work. Deciding on the other player has slowed talks. Boston appears willing to part with Vitaly Potapenko, a 6-10 forward/center, while the Boston Herald reported the Sonics are interested in 6-8 forward Eric Williams.

Seattle also would like to unload disgruntled guard Shammond Williams, perhaps for Boston guard Joseph Forte.

(RealGM note: According to our estimates, Baker for Anderson and Potapenko does not work within the rules of the CBA, while Baker for Anderson and Eric Williams does. If Potapenko is included by the Celtics, expect another player to be added by the Sonics, likely Shammond Williams. If Shammond Williams and Forte are added to the deal, the trade will work with either Potapenko or Eric Williams.)