Saturday, July 07, 2007 Sayson: Monique Lhuillier to design Eva’s gown? By Homer Sayson Second Overtime
CHICAGO - The free agency derby began at 12:01 am last July 1, and though players can’t officially sign offer sheets until July 11, when the NBA determines the salary cap threshold, it now appears that Rashard Lewis will be carting away with the most money.
Lewis, who averaged 22.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists last season, is being wooed by the Orlando Magic with a five-year deal reportedly worth $75 to $85 million.
The Super Sonics, who traded Ray Allen to Boston on draft night, will not match any offer for Lewis. The Seattle franchise has chosen to rebuild, using No. 2 pick Kevin Durant as its main rebuilding block.
At 6-foot-11, 230 pounds, Lewis is among the premier power forwards in the league. But his defense isn’t topnotch, which is why I think he doesn’t deserve a salary of at least $15 million a year.
But signing free agents is about need. Right now, the Magic need a scorer, who can complement center Dwight Howard, a young defensive force. Lewis is therefore a perfect fit for Orlando, and as far as the Magic is concerned, the price is just right.
Chauncey Billups is another big name about to make more big bucks. His offer sheet contains $46 million worth of dough for four years with the Pistons, reportedly, holding the option for a fifth year.
Billups, 30, had a lackluster playoff this summer. He was especially a disappointment in the Conference Finals where he averaged only 15.3 points and had 3.83 turnovers a game.
The 6-foot-3, 202-pound guard is however a 10-year pro with a proven body of work. He is vital to the Pistons core, and while other teams have shown interest such as the Lakers and the Grizzlies, I think Chauncey will eventually stay put in Detroit.
WHY IS MICHEL IN FRANCE? A friend of mine recently told me that Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) chairman Michel Lhuillier is in Europe, France specifically.
Not that it’s any of my business, but I think I know one of the reasons why Nyorito is in that beautiful, romantic part of the world.
Word from the grapevine is that Los Angeles-based designer Monique Lhuillier, Nyorito and Amparito’s lovely daughter, was chosen to design the wedding gown for starlet Eva Longoria, who will be married to Spurs guard Tony Parker today.
Not that it’s any of your business, but Monique and I both received Charter Day awards from the Cebu City Hall a few years ago.
Anyway, the Parker-Longoria nuptials will be held at the Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th century chateau 34 miles southeast of Paris.
Tim Duncan and his teammates are expected to attend. And so are Longoria’s co-stars in the ABC hit show the “Desperate Housewives.” Close friend and associates have also been invited.
For the record, Second Overtime did not get an invitation. Which is a good thing, because I wouldn’t have been able to contain myself losing the woman of my dreams.
E-MAIL. From Eddie Mirambel of Mandaue City: “Will this young Chinese kid Yi Jinlian make it big in the NBA?”
I don’t know. But he has potential, a 6-foot-11 forward with 3-poin range. Yi averaged a nifty 18.6 points a game while playing for the Guandong Tigers. But I think he needs to stuff more meat in his 238 pound frame to really contend with the big boys in the NBA.
The Milwaukee Bucks, who drafted Yi, are a little bit antsy these days because Yi reportedly went home to China after the draft. Normally, players who get drafted visit the city where they will be soon play for.
According to some sources, Yi is reportedly unhappy because the Chinese comprise only 1.8 of the population in Milwaukee.
Jinlian is said to be more happy if he played for Chicago, Houston or the Bay Area, where the Chinese population is thick.
