NBA Rumors: Will Alleged Altercation Force Wizards to Dump Rashard Lewis?

Sometimes when it rains it pours, and right now it’s coming down in buckets for the Washington Wizards.

They are off to an 0-8 start which is the worst start in team history. Their star No. 1 overall pick from 2010, John Wall, is regressing, and now their highest paid player is allegedly getting into fights.

CSN Washington is reporting that Rashard Lewis got into a heated argument with assistant coach Sam Cassell before Sunday’s 92-73 horrific home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lewis didn’t play because of what the Wizards called a "sore knee."

After practice on Monday, Lewis denied the report:

"

The only reason I didn’t play was because my knee was sore. No argument. No argument at all. I don’t know what’s going on. Maybe because we haven’t won a game yet somebody is trying to make up stories, I guess. Point the finger at somebody. I don’t know.

"

Lewis dealt with knee tendinitis last season and had a plasma procedure in March, so it’s certainly not a stretch. With Cassel's infamous loud mouth, it sounds like nothing more than a disagreement that was louder than most. 

Does this mean the Wizards could potentially deal the player with one of the top five worst contracts in the NBA? Lewis has two years left in a contract that pays him $118 million over six years. Next year he’ll be the second highest player in the league behind Kobe Bryant.

Fat chance.

No team is touching Lewis with a 10-foot pole. He is comically overpaid and has shown signs of serious decline in his time in Washington. The Wizards decided not to use their amnesty on the 32-year-old and the results have been less than ideal. In fact, it has been awful.

He is averaging a mere 8.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists this season. That’s in over 30 minutes of game action. His speed has disintegrated as has his will to win. Lewis is going through the motions and laughing all the way to the bank.

Expect the Wizards to be stuck with Lewis for the remainder of an already lost year. Over/under on Feb. 15th when Lewis goes under the needle again for another procedure on his knee.

If/when the Wiz amnesty him in the offseason, then teams will begin pursuing Lewis again. For now, he’s stuck in Washington and the Wizards are stuck with him.