“It is a lot of to-do about nothing,” said Tony Dutt, Lewis’ agent, who was hired in February to replace Carl Poston. “The Sonics came out and said he is a free agent and the (players) union said he is a free agent and I said he is a free agent. There is no legs to (the report) at all.”

The Post’s Peter Vecsey cited a “lawyer privy to the language in Lewis’ contract” as saying Lewis had to opt out of the final two years of his contract either April 18, the last day of the regular season, or between June 1 and June 5 – though Vecsey was not clear because his report said June 1 was the second deadline with a five-day grace period, which would make the last date June 6.

In any case, the report said that because Dutt informed the Sonics of Lewis’ intentions either May 25 or 26, he might not be permitted to opt out and must play out the final two years and $21 million of his current contract.

“Rashard is a free agent,” Sonics spokesman Tom Savage said. “The Sonics understand that Rashard is a free agent, and Rashard’s side understands that Rashard is a free agent. There is nothing else to say.”

Vecsey questions his own source in the story, writing, “I may be utterly off base, but that’s my perception.” He then goes on to question the veracity of his story four more times, writing, “If accurate ...”

“It just makes zero sense,” Dutt said. “Everything was done properly, it was verified by the union. There is just nothing to it. I wish stuff like this would not be written because it is a waste of everyone’s time.”

Lewis will be one of the most coveted players when free agency begins July 1, though it remains to be seen how many teams will have the money to pursue him.

Though Lewis said April 19 he would allow the Sonics to match any offer he gets from another team, Dutt said he would like Seattle to extend Lewis an offer July 1.

“We have asked for that,” Dutt said. “We just felt like that was the approach at this stage – he is theirs to lose. We want them to have first crack and see where they are. All we are asking is to find out where they are at.”

It is unclear if the Sonics will make Lewis an offer on the first day of free agency because they could end up bidding against themselves.

Only the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats have enough money under the salary cap to offer Lewis, though the Magic might have a healthy chunk of that space eaten up if they make an offer to their own free agent, Darko Milicic. Charlotte already has several small forwards under contract – including former Gonzaga star Adam Morrison – and it seems unlikely the Bobcats would pursue Lewis.

If no other teams have the money to sign Lewis, it might behoove the Sonics to allow the market to settle – though they do have leverage because they can give Lewis a six-year deal, while other teams can offer only five.

“That may be the way they come at it,” Dutt said. “We are not telling them how to do (their business). We are asking.”

The Sonics also will field calls from multiple teams about potential sign-and-trade deals, though it is unlikely Seattle will entertain any unless it becomes clear it will lose Lewis for nothing.

“At this stage, we are just going to sit back and watch things happen,” Dutt said. blogs.thenewstribune.com/sonics