Rashard Lewis was traded to the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, but it’s unlikely he’ll ever suit up for the team. Lewis will almost certainly be waived before July 1, according to sources close to the situation. The final year of his contract is worth $22 million, but the Hornets can buy him out at $13.95 million.  Read more after the jump.
By buying out Lewis’ contract, New Orleans will save $8.3 million. At some point in the next week, the Hornets are expected to waive Lewis, which will make him an unrestricted free agent.
The 32-year-old is currently training at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas, and sources say he’ll likely sign with a contender once he becomes available. After spending two seasons with the Washington Wizards, Lewis wants to join a winning team so that he can compete for a championship.
Last season, Lewis averaged 7.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 28 games with the Wizards. During his stint in Washington, the former All-Star was limited by a number of injuries including right knee tendinitis and a bone bruise in his left knee.
Now, sources say Lewis is healthy and capable of being a significant contributor. Lewis was traded to New Orleans in exchange for Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor. Over the course of his 15-year career, he has averaged 16.1 points and 5.6 rebounds.
