Yes there is. GREED. Remember the movies Wall Street starring Michael Douglas. Greed can really motivate a man and sway his decision.
I can just imagine the scene if Mike James chooses Dallas or some other team other than the Rockets. Mike: Honey, we are going to move to Dallas/Minnesota now. I need to work there. Angela: What? We are moving again?! *rants on about how Houston is much better and the kids are just settling, and maybe a couple of slaps *
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2515905 It's getting worse and worse. Of course Dallas is closer to the championship. Then he said "Do you really believe in me"? LOL. Do you think he had someone in his mind when he said so? Fortunately, he skipped the third and the most important requirement: MONEY. If we offer the same money as Dallas, he's gone. If we really want to have him, we must OUTBID mavs.
that interview pretty much sealed it for me...for those who keep sayin he looked "pissed"................my friends he WAS PISSED........no doubt about that one......you gotta be Stevie wonder to not see that..........time to take the rose colored glassed off people...... I just hope and pray that CD(which i already know he isn't)........isn't sittin at the toyota center with his thumb up his A**...............don't just be waitin on this MJ thing before you have a plan B in place like a good GM would no use in crying if he wants to go to dallas...cuz guess what?........We are still gonna have a next season, regardless if he signs here or in Dallas so I would think we have got to move on at this point, ......stop beggin the guy......he not worth all this........get Flip on speed dial and maybe fred jones, sign up lorenzen or collins, or maybe some kind of K-Mart deal......we still have 2 players named t-mac and yao in case some people have forgot After that draft day debacle CD, and now probably this MJ debacle, I pray to the high heavens that you had better have some kind of trade or free agent plan splash just waiting in the wings becuz its gonna get straight merciless on this board if you dont......god help you
I guess MJ would join Dallas as Cuban is able to give him enough money. Obviously,money is the most important to MJ!
Well now, we must hope to hell that his wife will really enact the scene I played out. Hopefully, reminding Mike James of his kids and his wife will make him think straight.
i bet dallas woos him. after all, they DID make it to the NBA finals and Cuban is rarely shy with giving money.
Ole Cuban and Avery must have some black magic on their side. As many players as they've shuffled through in the last 4-5 years... and they get away with knocking the Rockets for moving a guy. At this point I wish the Rox would pull their offer and focus on someone else. This is just like one of those relationship threads... But first, call his wife and have her offer him the sofa for 5 years.
Evidently the Rockets have expressed interest in Ariza http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/SPORTS/607110331/1002 Magic's Ariza draws interest from several other NBA teams BY JOHN DENTON FLORIDA TODAY MAITLAND - -- Already locked in a heated free-agent contract battle with DeShawn Stevenson, the Orlando Magic could be headed toward another contentious negotiation with small forward Trevor Ariza. Ariza, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound small forward, is garnering what his agent calls "substantial interest" from several NBA teams, making his return to the Magic anything but a guarantee. Since Ariza is a restricted free agent, Orlando has the right to match any offer he receives. But Magic general manager Otis Smith continues to insist that he isn't about to overpay. The Magic acquired Ariza, 21, in February from the New York Knicks in the Steve Francis trade. In 21 games with the Magic, he made quite an impression, showing flashes of star potential at times. He averaged 4.7 points and 3.9 rebounds with Orlando, hitting double-digits in scoring four times. His play apparently didn't go unnoticed around the NBA. Ariza's agent, David Lee, said Denver, Houston, Sacramento and New York have expressed interest in offering Ariza a contract. Knicks general manager/coach Isiah Thomas also is a big fan and inquired Monday about Ariza's availability, Lee said. Teams and players can't officially sign deals until Wednesday. If Ariza signs an offer sheet with a team, Orlando would have 10 days to match the offer or allow him to leave. Lee said he hopes it doesn't come to that because Ariza wants to return to Orlando. Ariza, who played for the NBA minimum last season, likely is seeking a deal worth more than $3 million a season. Stevenson is asking for a deal in excess of $4.5 million a season for five years. "Otis and I have had a number of conversations, and he's aware of the substantive interest in Trevor," Lee said. "We hope that we can do this without pushing the envelope." Lee said Ariza has been working out twice a day for the past two months, claiming the 200-pound small forward has added nine pounds of muscle. He also has worked hard to shore up his one glaring weakness -- his wayward jump shot. Said Lee: "He's a jump shot away from being an All-Star."
RIVALDO2181, This cracks me up, guy. I didn't know you posted here. I was with my girlfriend at First Colony Mall on Saturday when we bumped into each other. Then saw you Sunday morning at service. Way to go with Mike James, that's cool. AND to the REST: If Doc Rocket says no worries, then no worries. This isn't the first guy whose agent got to him to sweat out more money.
Even if james dosent come, i personally think Head is gonna fill the gap with his ever improving game. with last season under his belt, luther will be the better for it. mike james is trying to make us sweat. maybe he sees it as payback for trading him. i dont know?.. anyhow, if he dosent come, i'm cofident that luther will stepup to fill that void.
What the hell was Mike James doing flying commercial? Why didn't one team (Cuban espescially) send the company plane for him? Yes Mike sounds pissed in the Ch. 2 interview but I think he sounds pissed because no team will bite on the 4th year. I think he thinks Houston should up their ante as payback for trading him to Toronto. Remember players playing in Canada have to pay substatially more taxes than players in the US. It probably cost Mike a substantial amount off his net pay to go there. ( I know the NBA allows for bonus money for contracts signed with the Raptors for salary cap purposes but I don't think there is any bonus for existing contracts)
BINGO! This is ALL on the Rockets right now. After the Gay/Battier fiasco the LAST thing they need is to come up short AGAIN!
Supposedly the Timberwolves bit on the 4th year. NBA NOTESMavs coach courts ex-Raptor guard in Las Vegas By DWAIN PRICE STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER Mavericks coach Avery Johnson had a meeting Monday in Las Vegas with guard Mike James as he tried to convince the free agent that his basketball future is in Dallas. Late last week, James met with owner Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson, the Mavs' president of basketball operations. Now it's a waiting game. James has narrowed his choice of suitors to the Mavs, Houston and Minnesota. The 6-foot-2, 188-pound James is expected to make a decision on where he plans to play next season by Wednesday, the first day players can sign free-agent contracts or extensions, under terms of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. Last season with the Toronto Raptors, James posted career highs in scoring (20.3 points), assists (5.8), field-goal shooting (46.9 percent) and 3-point shooting (44.2 percent). James, who plays shooting guard and point guard, is also a solid defender. Adding James would allow Mavs point guard Jason Terry to play shooting guard, putting another steady defender on the floor. The Rockets have a history with the 31-year-old James. He played 27 games for Houston during the 2004-05 season before being traded to the Raptors on Oct. 4 for Rafer Alston. James is believed to be seeking a five-year contract for the mid-level exception, which starts at $5 million. The Mavs and Rockets have each offered three years, while Minnesota reportedly offered four. http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/nba/dallas_mavericks/15012223.htm
I think Mike James just took the Rockets on a rafting trip in West Virginia....... Mike James: I'm gonna make you squeal like a pig. Weeeeeeee! CD: Weee! Mike James: Weeeeeeee! CD: Weee!
I would be willing to bet Cuban flying James in a company plane is illegal by the CBA. In case you don't remember, the Rockets were fined for treating their own team to Vegas as a reward during a successful road trip. IIRC, the fine was $100K.
