Sonics' forward Rashard Lewis expressed satisfaction about the team's foundation and optimism about his contract situation.

"I feel very good about the direction we're going in," Lewis said before the Sonics 90-87 loss to the Miami Heat. "We have a different head coach; they are bringing guys in; we signed Chris Wilcox, we signed Nick (Collison) and Luke (Ridnour) to contract extensions.

"That's what I was pretty much talking about. You have to have a group of guys that know each other and can grow together."