Hmmmm, what's an extra $1.65 mill amongst friends? An older on the downside Shaq vs. an on the rise world superstar in Yao? Sharing minutes, with Walker and Posey or starting and getting 30 minutes a night on the floor with TMac and Yao? 5 shots a game or 10 shots a game? Come on Finley, sign the contract with the player option the 2nd year.
That's one of the good things about this situation. The difference between $2.8 and $1.15 is a lot closer than $5 mill vs. $1.7 mill. This makes it more likely that Finley will go for the best fit over money. The difference in cash just isn't that big. If Finley really is in town to speak with CD, then we got a legitimate shot.
i wonder with finley, backed up by wesley, where would barry fit into our offense. unless we package him with james to cleaveland, for a 1st rounder, and maybe their exception which we then use to pick up jay williams 1)sura, williams 2)finley, welsey o to dream...
Don't see it. Same thing over there. He's playing behind Manu and Bowen and competing with Barry for minutes. Here he's a starter. Yeah, he could win a ring over there but would he feel that he really contributed or just rode the team's coattails. Here, he's a starter and the 3rd offensive option with significantly more shots, more minutes, and the same chance to win a couple rings.
that can't be true because a player would have no financial incentive to sign in one city over another. It can't be 100%, as a matter of fact whatever percentage it is probably isn't set in stone.
If Finley goes to Miami, they are the favorites bar none. If he goes to the Spurs, they are the favorites again. Miami has already made very solid moves, it wasn't like the those two teams were very far apart last year. If it was Manu and not Wade who had that freak rib injury it would have been Miami who would have won the title. Miami is the only elite contender that for sure can offer Finley a starting job. Wade plays the 1 and Finley the 2, or Finley plays the 3 (he is a better 3 than either Posey or Walker). One way or the other, Miami can guarantee him a starting job, SA would have to bench Bowen, I don't think they would agree to that b/c it allows Manu to play the weaker link on the wings. Miami can also offer him more money. If I were Detroit I do a full court press for him too, both to keep him from Miami and because they need wing 3 point shooting badly. I don't know if Det could committ to him starting (maybe over Prince), but they could assure Finley of a lot of minutes as after Hamilton and Prince Det's wings are pretty weak. He would get Detroit right back in the mix as co-favs with SA and Miami with this move as well. I bet he goes to Miami, and unless Det pulls some magic in another move Miami will represent the EC this year. The Spurs would be the favs from the West even w/o Finley, I think we are the only other serious darkhorse that could compete with these elites if all goes well for us. If we had a full MLE we might have been in the Finley picture, but Swift was more important, particularly medium-long term so no regrets about not having it.
Since Bowen is one of the best defenders in the league, I bet he would get the nod from Popavich over Finley, who isn't a very good defender.
Yep, this is especially true if he stay in Texas. Not only would he not have to pay an income tax, but he wouldn't have to buy a house or have to move all that far. There is no income tax in Florida as well IIRC, but having a 3-5 hour drive is much different than having to pack your bags and fly everytime you want to go home.
The problem with Miami is what have they promised Walker in order to get that big S&T done? If they have promised AW a starting spot at the 3, or if they have promised him so many minutes, then they can't really promise Finley as much. I would have to think that there was discussion with Walkers camp concerning the role he would be playing in Miami. Then if you are going to give Finley what was to have been Posey's minutes, then you are have subtracted defense for offense and just flip flopped your talent on the floor at that position (more offense less defense). I don't see a significant gain to Miami by adding Finley because of the talent that is already there in place. It's all going to come down to what Finley wants. It's his call to make. Can CD and Van Gundy along with TMac sell him on our situation? Stay tuned. I would really like to have Finley, but at this point, there are too many options out there for us to get stuck here. We give him our best deal, the LLE, and we give him a clearly defined role as the third scorer, playing major minutes with TMac and Yao. If he wants it, we'll take him. If he doesn't......................next. We're gonna get our players.....period.
Finley would fit well on the Spurs, backing up Bowen and Ginobilli. He would get 20-30 minutes a game. Same with the Heat, even if they promised AW a lot of minutes because AW will cut into Haslem's playing time at PF. I don't see him ever playing SF with Haslem and Shaq on the floor with him because that lineup would be too slow (over 800 lbs for 3 players). If Finley went to the Pistons, playing time could be a problem. Both Rip and Prince are young so Finley would see 20 minutes only in a garbage game. I think the best fit for him is the Rockets. He would start, we would probably trade Wesley, and Finley would be the #3 option on offense from Day 1. Phoenix would also be a good fit for him. My guess is he goes to Miami and starts at the SF. The Heat can fit him into the starting lineup AND give him more money.
In fact, if the new salary cut dollar-for-dollar into the old one, the player would have an incentive to take the lowest available offer, because that way he'd get the same money while counting as little as possible against his new team's cap, thereby clearing room to add more talent to the roster.
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/12395145.htm Posted on Tue, Aug. 16, 2005 Despite production reduction, Finley won't stay unemployed By DWAIN PRICE Star-Telegram Staff Writer Although he's 32 years old and coming off surgery on his right ankle, swingman Michael Finley has suddenly become the most sought-after player on the free-agent market. Never mind that Finley's scoring average has decreased in each of the past five seasons and that hamstring and ankle injuries have sidelined him for 54 games over the past four seasons. Several general managers and player personnel directors view Finley as a polished veteran who can improve a team drastically. Miami, Phoenix, San Antonio, Houston, Indiana, Chicago, Denver and Detroit have expressed the most interest in acquiring Finley, who was waived Monday by the Mavericks. Suitors must wait seven days until the 10-year veteran clears waivers. Finley, meanwhile, has told close friends he has a strong desire to play for the Heat, which can offer him as much as $5 million for this season. The Heat -- with Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, James Posey and Udonis Haslem -- could give Finley a shot at his first NBA title. Miami needs a 3-point threat, and Finley shot a career-best 40.7 percent on 3-pointers last season. Miami traded Eddie Jones and Rasual Butler, lost Keyon Dooling in free agency, and might lose free-agent point guard Damon Jones. In an effort to match the Heat's moves, the Pacers will likely make a pitch for Finley. Indiana is in need of a shooting guard to replace Reggie Miller, who retired after last season. The defending Eastern Conference champion Pistons can certainly use a 3-point shooter; they had a poor showing in that department in the NBA Finals. The Bulls are interested, at least in part, because Finley is a Chicago native. The Mavs hope Finley doesn't wind up in the Western Conference. The Spurs have 10 players under contract for about $58 million, less than $4 million under the the $61.7 million luxury tax threshold. Each team must fill a roster of at least 13 players so the Spurs have $3.7 million to spend on three players. The Rockets have only their $1.67 million exception to use. The Nuggets are still making calls, trying to lure Finley. And then there are the Suns, who drafted Finley in 1995. A return to Phoenix would reunite Finley with Steve Nash.
SA has a lot more depth in swingmen (Manu, Bowen, Barry, maybe re-sign Brown or they add Demarr or Evans who they have talked to). Finley's has the worst prospects of lots of PT there. For Det he probably would not start, but he could get at least 24 minutes of quality PT. Unlike SA, which has not only good starting swingmen but good back-up swingmen, Det at least could give all the back-up 2/3 minutes to Finley. Look what McDyess got there backing up the Wallaces. It would work great for Det, they could take out Rip or Prince and not lose anything, Det has had to way overextend those two because of the talent drop off in alternatives. Miami makes the most sense, and starting Finley at SF is just one option (Walker can start at the 4 if absolutely necc, with Haslem who by all reports does not have a guarantee backing him up). Also, except for Wade, Miami's backcourt has a lot of questions compared to either Det or SA. Wade and Finley is a heck of lot better backcourt than Williams and Wade, or Damon Jones and Wade, if the do bring back Damon (more doubtfull if they land Finley). A starting unit of Wade, Finley, Walker, Haslem and Shaq with JW, Posey and Zo being backups OR Jones, Wade, Finley, Walker and Shaq with JW, Posey, Haslem and Zo backing up would be devastating line-ups.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3966718 This sounds manipulative and doesn't seem legit. As you know by now, of all the amnesty "casualties," life's probably the best for Michael Finley. The recruiting crush aside, it was reported yesterday that while Fin's deciding which contender to sign with, Mark Cuban has offered to shorten the payment plan on the remaining $30 million in Maverick money coming his way — but only if Finley signs with a team in the East. Try on that Heat jersey Mike.
