Wed, Jul 11, 2007 at 12:00am

Rashard Lewis to Orl

The Orlando Magic acquired forward Rashard Lewis from the Seattle SuperSonics for a conditional second-round draft pick.

What does it give the Seattle SuperSonics
Essentially, the Sonics get a little something in return for a player they were going to lose anyway. They are not on the hook for the $110 Million deal they send to Orlando, and in return for helping the Magic sign Lewis, Seattle gets the draft pick. It's not great compensation, but it's better than the nothing they would have received by just letting Lewis go to Orlando on his own.

What does it give the Orlando Magic
By accepting Lewis via trade, the Magic basically get the advantage of offering him the maximum amount of cash. If Lewis had signed directly with Orlando, he would have been eligible for less maximum money (under NBA rules). Using this sign-and-trade vehicle allows the Magic to secure their star perimeter scorer, and to show him how serious they are about committing their future to him and Dwight Howard.

Fantasy impact