Rashard Lewis Reacts to Trade from Orlando

Lewis tells the WaPo that though the trade wasn’t entirely shocking, he was still caught a bit off guard (and that it hurt): “Forty-eight hours after being dealt from the Magic to the Wizards, Rashard Lewis said [Monday] afternoon at Verizon Center that the shock has slowly subsided and that he’s ready to move forward with his latest challenge. ‘Going from a team that is competing for a championship to a team that’s rebuilding, the goals obviously change for me,’ said the 6-10 Lewis, who was acquired Saturday in exchange for Gilbert Arenas. ‘I thought about that ever since the trade happened. Now, my ultimate goal is to get this team into the playoffs or into the hunt to make the playoffs and help these guys grow [by] being a veteran in the locker room, not by voice but most definitely by example.’ Lewis said he had heard the rumors after Orlando’s shoot-around Saturday morning. But that didn’t take any sting out of the phone call he received shortly after lying down for his pre-game nap. ‘My first reaction was obviously a little surprise as well as a little bit upset because it happened so quick,” he said. “But my being in the league 12 years, it wasn’t as big of a blow to me because I’ve been on teams where different teammates get traded. So I think I was prepared, built up a wall to where [I knew] it could happen to anybody at any time. I’ve seen the business side of it.'”