... atleast for one night and it looks permanent -- it's the first time all season James hasn't started. Randy Foye started and played 34 minutes in Minnesota's 109-107 win over the Celtics Sunday. I noticed from the Star Tribune that James wasn't too thrilled: "They're getting what they want. It's just that, it's tough at times. I just feel like, if I'm not a fit here ... like they always said, if it ain't one place, it can always be another." The time to acquire this guy is right now, while his value has dropped. http://www.startribune.com/511/story/995939.html Foye happy about start; James left puzzled By Steve Aschburner, Star Tribune There was a changing of the guard for the Timberwolves Sunday, with rookie Randy Foye starting at point guard in place of Mike James. For Foye, it was his second NBA start. He got into the starting lineup of the Wolves' game at Phoenix on Jan. 21 thanks to Ricky Davis' one-game suspension. For James, meanwhile, it marked the first time in 51 games that he did not start. One guy was a lot happier than the other, as one might expect. "They were preparing him and they were seasoning Randy," James said after the Wolves' 109-107 victory over Boston at Target Center. "This is what they've worked for. They're getting what they want. It's just that, it's tough at times. I just feel like, if I'm not a fit here ... like they always said, if it ain't one place, it can always be another." Coach Randy Wittman said he relied on his "gut" when he woke up in making the switch, but he didn't specify which morning. Foye said he learned of his assignment after practice Saturday. "[Wittman] just said, 'I think we need a change' and he asked me if I was ready," said Foye, a rookie from Villanova. "And obviously I'm not going to say no. So I said yeah. He said keep playing how I'm playing. Go out there and make plays." Foye played 34 minutes 22 seconds and finished with 10 points, eight assists, five rebounds, one steal, one blocked shot (on Paul Pierce with the Wolves down 105-103) and just one turnover. His last assist was his best, interrupting his drive to the basket to find Davis open on the right baseline for the game-winning jump shot. Most of this season, Foye has tended either to attack the rim or hoist three-pointers, and dishing on his way into the lane hasn't been very common. So this qualified as progress. "Young fella's had so much pressure on him to be good, and ... to be good now, he falters under that," teammate Kevin Garnett said. "I try to tell him, you're human, man. You're going to make some mistakes. Don't worry, no man ever plays this game perfect. Play it with a lot of energy and never let one play dictate your [game]." James, a valuable reserve for most of his career until he became a 20-point scorer with Toronto last season, played 13 minutes 38 seconds, scored five points and had three assists and no turnovers. He has averaged 10.8 points, 4.2 assists, 1.9 turnovers and 28.2 minutes, but often has seemed stuck between setting up other players and searching for his own offense. Wittman said he hoped James could play more aggressively and look to score coming off the bench. It remains to be seen how well he handles the switch. 'Challenges' It wasn't that long ago that Boston coach Glenn (Doc) Rivers had the pleasure of coaching several of the players his pal Wittman currently oversees. In particular, Rivers referred to Davis and Mark Blount as "a challenge."Ricky is a challenging personality," Rivers said before the game. "But there was a lot of communication -- I think that helped with him. I think we still forget how young Ricky still is. "The one thing I told Mark all the time, 'If you ever just played ... When he plays well, he's one of the better bigs in our league at times. He's not consistent, but you can see it there."
Houston Trade Breakdown Outgoing Bob Sura 6-5 from Florida State No games yet played in 2006/07 Vassilis Spanoulis 6-3 PG from Greece (Foreign) 2.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.0 apg in 8.5 minutes Incoming Mike James 6-2 PG from Duquesne 10.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.2 apg in 28.6 minutes Change in team outlook: +8.5 ppg, +1.6 rpg, and +3.2 apg. Minnesota Trade Breakdown Outgoing Mike James 6-2 PG from Duquesne 10.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.2 apg in 28.6 minutes Incoming Bob Sura 6-5 from Florida State No games yet played in 2006/07 Vassilis Spanoulis 6-3 PG from Greece (Foreign) 2.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.0 apg in 8.5 minutes Change in team outlook: -8.5 ppg, -1.6 rpg, and -3.2 apg. Successful Scenario Due to Houston and Minnesota being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. Houston and Minnesota had to be no more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
I'd be down with that. Getting James would solidify our PG position. And we wouldn't have to see Luther bringing the ball up anymore.
i'm torn. i want Mike James back in a Rocket uniform but i also want T-wolves to do well enough for the Clippers to get their 2007 pick (top ten protected)
Spanoulis and damaged goods for Mike James looks like no-brainer. Like how the Rockets traded Reece Gaines and change for Mike James the last time. Still call me crazy but I wouldnt want to trade Spanoulis. I think patience is the key with a young player, like how the Wolves are doing with Foye. Though if the above deal was on the table it'd be awfully tough to pass up. It was bound to happen, James losing his role over Foye. I wasnt a big Randy Foye guy at ALL, did not even buy into all that hype. Just thought he was another guard over at Villanova. Its apparent though he has something to offer on the NBA level. There's a nice fluidity to his offensive game and he can create shots for himself and hit jumpers with range. At the same time it just looked tougher for Mike James to get his. Houston needs another guard and besides Francis (yeah Francis though it wont happen), can't think of none better. Wouldnt the trade kicker still be in effect if he was dealt.
what does the trade kicker do? best thing for mj is to come home. bob sura + killbill or Snyder fo him sounds good fo me. Remember the dallas series, he was our 3rd best player and the only one who could somewhat contain terry (Sura was useless)
screw mike james......he is a head case who thinks he is better than he really is.....minn is a much worse team than us and is benching him so why would be want that arrogant looser!
Minnesota would be more likely to deal James to the East, if anyone there wants him, or wait until the summer. If we were to acquire MJames, it would take more than a Euro that JVG doesn't want (Vaselinus Spoogalotackus) and Bob Nearly-Expiring-Contract Sura.
I think Mike James is a stop gap measure, he would be an upgrade for sure but for how long? The guy is a massive chemistry risk......there were times he was here the last time that he was making waves. I know some people think he would be perfect here, but IMHO, he has not been perfect ANYWHERE he has been. I would not give up anyone more than Sura to get him......certainly not V-Span or Novak, or Snyder....those guys are our future........ DD
Seriously, is anybody really suprised? I think putting up inflated stats in a contract year should be officially named "pulling a Mike James"...
minny are still in the playoff race. 2 or 3 wins would catapult them to 8th i think. if rockets were to be trading partners i can't see them not wanting at least either head, bonzi or snyder as part of a package deal.
There you go! Though in all fairness, MJ wasn't exactly the first player to do it. MJ is a flakenut, made his own bed and now gets to sleep in it. Sweet dreams.
Pass, pass, and pass on trading any of those three guys for Mike james. The last thing the Rockets need for their chemistry is to bring in a backup PG who thinks he should be the starter. If he's in the doghouse in Minnesota I see no reason to believe that he will get along with Van Gundy.
Mike James had burnt his bridge with Rockets when he turned down the Rockets deal to sign with the Wolves and whined about it afterwards. I don't think either CD or JVG is thrilled to get him back.
Yeah, but Mike James (sorry, I can't bring myself to call him "MJ") was probably the first player to openly admit that he was playing for a big payday. All last year, he willfully admitted that he was looking for a big contract first and winning was secondary. He didn't put up some BS facade like Dampier, Cato, Kaman, and all those other pretenders did. He may be a money grubbing weasel, but at least Mike James is an honest money grubbing weasel. THAT is why this distinction should bear the Mike James name...
This guarantees continued mediocrity for the Wolves. IMO, Wittman is not NBA head coach material. His prior record in Cleveland and the tank job since he's taken over in Minny doesn't speak well. I'm sure Mike James is thrilled. [BTW, A-Train, you make a good point] http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2762776 Taylor says Wittman will coach Wolves next season ESPN.com news services Randy Wittman, who was promoted when the Timberwolves fired Dwane Casey on Jan. 23, will return as head coach next season regardless of whether Minnesota makes the playoffs. Team owner Glen Taylor's decision was reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune for Monday's editions. Wittman is the Wolves' third head coach since the firing of Flip Saunders two years ago. Casey was given just 1½ seasons in his first head coaching job. He went 33-49 in his first year, a season made more difficult by an eight-player trade in midseason that upset the Wolves' chemistry. "Randy had a three-year contract as an assistant coach to assist Casey when he came back from Orlando," Taylor told the Star Tribune. "I redid his contract, paying him a bonus now that he is a head coach." The Wolves are 4-7 under Wittman and 24-27 overall following Sunday's 109-107 victory over the Celtics. Minnesota needed former Celtic Ricky Davis' jumper from the corner with 0.2 seconds to prevent Boston from winning for the first time since Jan. 5, a losing streak that now spans 18 games. If the regular season had ended Sunday, the Wolves would have finished one game out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Taylor has been frustrated by Minnesota's continuing erratic play. "I can't see how we beat a team like Phoenix and then continue our inconsistent ways" Taylor told the newspaper.
Can't blame him. This was his last chance to get a big fat check afterall. Hey, A-Train, how come you never post in the GARM anymore?
