Sonics general manager Sam Presti said the organization is serious about re-signing small forward Rashard Lewis and Lewis' representatives appear serious about listening to the Sonics' sales pitch.

Lewis' agent, Tony Dutt, said Friday that he has a meeting scheduled with the Sonics in Houston on Sunday, the first official day of free agency. Dutt said he will meet with Lewis on Saturday to discuss the Sonics' future, the trade of Ray Allen and Lewis' potential role with the team.

The trade of Allen to Boston allows the Sonics more salary flexibility to re-sign Lewis, who opted out of the final two years and $21 million of his contract. The Sonics can offer Lewis a six-year deal for the league maximum for a player with nine years' service time, estimated to start at $15 million per season.

It would seem Jeff Green had better become accustomed to standing in Kevin Durant's shadow.

"I don't need the spotlight," said Green, who described himself as laid-back and easy-going. "I don't need it at all. I can go out and still play 40-plus minutes and do what I can to help my team to win. As long as my team wins."

During three seasons at Georgetown, Green did a little bit of everything for the Hoyas. He ranks 17th in scoring, 16th in rebounding and 12th in assists on the school's all-time lists.

The Sonics referenced Ray Allen's age and his recent ankle injuries to explain why they dealt him to the Boston Celtics for guard Delonte West, forward Wally Szczerbiak and the No. 5 pick in Thursday's NBA draft, which they used to select Georgetown forward Jeff Green.

They failed to mention that the seven-time All-Star guard is due $52 million over the next three years, but his salary is believed to have played a large part in their decision-making, according to the Seattle Times.

Whatever the reason, Allen doesn't hold a grudge.

"There's no hard feelings, not at all," he said. "Like anything else, this just closes a chapter in my career here. I just have to move forward and worry about what I need to do. It's over with here. It doesn't surprise me.

"Regardless of the time I spent with [owner] Clay Bennett or what I may have done for this team, there's no loyalties in this business. With [general manager] Sam Presti coming in from San Antonio, he's trying to make his mark, and I'm pretty sure that if Rick Sund were at the helm, there would have been a different decision."

According to an NBA source close to the situation, the Heat plans a push to acquire forward Rashard Lewis from the SuperSonics.

Earlier this month Lewis opted out of the final two years of his Seattle contract, bypassing a guaranteed $21 million to become a free agent as of Sunday.

The Heat can offer no more that the $5.5 million mid-level exception. To complete a deal with the SuperSonics, it would require getting Seattle to agree to take on about $10 million of its contracts.

The Heat would start any discussions with the Sonics by offering power forward Udonis Haslem.

The Seattle SuperSonics stayed very busy in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft by trading All-Star Ray Allen and the 35th pick in this year?s draft to the Boston Celtics for forward Wally Szczerbiak, guard Delonte West and the No. 5 pick in the draft. With the fifth pick, the Celtics selected forward Jeff Green who was sent to Seattle.

The Sonics picked forward Glen Davis out of LSU at the No. 35 pick, who was sent to Boston. The Sonics will also receive either Boston?s 2nd round pick, or Portland?s 2nd round pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, whichever is better. Boston acquired the Portland pick through a previous trade.

?Jeff Green is a player that doesn't need the ball to be effective,? Sonics General Manager Sam Presti said. ?He's a tremendous facilitator and passer. Those that have seen him play in venues other than the Georgetown system have a better understanding of what it is this guy brings to the table.?

In three years at Georgetown University, Green averaged 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He was named to the Associated Press All-American Third Team in 2006-07 and as a junior, he helped lead the Hoyas to its first Final Four appearances since 1985. He ranks 17th in scoring, 16th in rebounding and 12th in assists on Georgetown?s all-time lists.

Szczerbiak was originally drafted as the No. 6 overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1999 NBA Draft. In his seven years in the NBA, the 6-7 forward from Miami (Ohio) University is averaging 15.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He is also shooting .493 (2,996-6,073) from the field. He was traded to the Celtics by Minnesota in January 2006.

West was drafted by Boston in 2004 with the 24th pick in the NBA Draft. In his three years with the Celtics, the 6-4 guard from St. Joseph?s is averaging 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

The Sonics? 31st pick (Carl Landry of Purdue) was traded to Houston for a future second round pick and cash considerations.
                                     
?What an exciting night for this organization,? Presti said. ?We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring in two caliber players to Seattle like Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. Obviously, making a deal that involves a player like Ray Allen is a really, really difficult decision for any organization. However, where we want to go, we felt that this was the best decision for the organization at this time.?

Allen just completed his fifth season with the Sonics. The 11-year NBA veteran is a seven-time All-Star and holds career averages of 21.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

?I want to personally compliment Ray Allen; Ray Allen the person and Ray Allen the outstanding, professional player,? said Sonics Chairman Clay Bennett. ?We appreciate the career of Ray Allen in this market. And we wish him the very best.?

The Sonics and Celtics have agreed to a trade which will see Ray Allen join Paul Pierce in Boston, while the fifth pick, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak will be headed to Seattle. The Sonics will take Jeff Green with pick 5, if available.

Draft Analyst Andy Katz said moments ago that the Celtics aren't likely to make a trade with Seattle involving guard Ray Allen.

It's becoming more and more obvious that Boston is going to make the fifth pick themselves. While Yi Jianlian is certainly an option, Ainge seems excited about the possibility of grabbing one of the Gator players, whether it be Horford or Brewer.

Two league sources said the Sonics are calling around the league to gauge interest in guard Ray Allen.

KJR-AM radio reported that the Sonics offered Allen to the Boston Celtics for the fifth pick and Theo Ratliff.

Isiah Thomas has weighed options for acquiring another first-round pick and is said to be shopping Jared Jeffries while "paying very close attention to the Kevin Garnett/Jermaine O'Neal situations."  

It is also believed that Thomas has decided to "either do something big or nothing at all" before next season.

Acquiring Rashard Lewis by sign-and-trade would seem to be the most likely way the Knicks can make a significant off-season impact.

Sonics general manager Sam Presti confirmed Tuesday the team will concentrate this week on Thursday's NBA draft and will not hire a coach until Monday at the earliest.

He declined to give an update on the search or determine when the team will make an announcement. Presti said it's possible the team could begin summer-league practice in Las Vegas next Wednesday without a coach. If that were the case, Bryan Gates, who coaches the Idaho Stampede, Seattle's National Basketball Development League affiliate, might guide the team.

The leading candidates for the coaching job are believed to be San Antonio assistant P.J. Carlesimo and former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey. Sacramento assistant Scott Brooks also interviewed for the job, and the Salt Lake Tribune reported that Utah Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin met with Presti on Saturday about the position.

"It was a good interview," Corbin told the paper. "We had a good talk. ... It was a good experience for me."