http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=fanball-finleyeyescontenders&prov=fanball&type=lgns News The agent for former Mavs guard Michael Finley claims that he's been contacted by eight or nine teams since his client was released by Dallas, and that Finley is in the process of narrowing down his options. "He's most interested in going to a situation where he has a chance to win a championship," Henry Thomas told the Associated Press. Views According to the report, the Heat, Pistons, and Rockets are hot on Finley's trail, and the list of other possible destinations includes San Antonio, Denver, Minnesota, Chicago, and Phoenix, among others. Finley's sudden presence on the free agent market has affected the futures of several other free agents, such as shooting guard Latrell Sprewell, and he's not expected to make a decision until late next week.
The article obviously doesn't reveal much but it does confirm that the Rockets have been in contact with Finley and his representatives. If nothing else, that's a positive IMO.
HELL YEAH!! We're still in the mix, but how could we afford him? Maybe he is willing to take a big pay cut since he's still getting paid big dolla anyways from that r****ded organization by the name of the Mavericks. He might also want to throw it in their face by joining another Texas team, hopefully not SA!!! I HATE SA & Dallas, but I love Austin!!!
Did you read the article? In the first sentence under "Views" it specifically says that the Rockets have been hot on Finley's trail.
To me heat or piston has more chance landing Fin. They can offer more and more of a contender next year. I think DA, Spree is more realistic for us.
I think most of us agreed we didn't really have much of a shot at Finley until this report stated otherwise.
True. But there is also the a big advantage of him wanting to stay in state. He wouldn't have to move his family or anything, I think that could be a HUGE deciding factor. Especially since the difference between the MLE and LLE is only about a million bucks. We could also offer him a starting job, in which the Pistons couldn't, the Heat could be a toss up between Posey and Finley. I think someone posted a report by Bucher, saying if Finley signed in the East, he would get his 40M a lot faster rather than the 10 year payment plan.
I dont know about that. Finley may want to play close to home which could make Houston his top choice. if he did visit Houston and was giving a sales pitch by CD, my thinking is we have the best shot of landing him because CD seems to be on a roll lately when it comes to getting players to want to come here. for example: stoudamire, van exel, sprewell, anderson, swift. Finley would be the best fit, but i'd be happy with any of the three(sprewell, finley, anderson)
They offer more MONEY, but thats about it. I think we offer him: 1. A starting spot 2. More PT 3. Close to home in Dallas 4. A chance to face Dallas 3-4 times a year, plus probably a play-off meeting. 5. T-Mac, Yao, Swift. Money, IMHO, isnt going to be an issue. He will get $51 mill regardless how long it may take. I wouldnt be surprised at all to see him sign here!
If he's willing to sign for ~1 or 2 million, or for the LLE, we could absolutely afford him. Remember - he's already going to get paid full salary ($15 mil) fom the Mavs. Yeah, he could get even more somewhere else, but as long as he's guaranteed a full salary from Dallas, why not just go to a team that's got a great chance of winning a championship.
it would absolutely unreal if finley signed here. i think we could win it all. We'd just need a true point and we'd be set. and then some. i think we could beat anyone, anyone, spurs, heat, whatever
stay in state, where you don't pay state tax and the weather is welcoming during the summers... btw aren't there any wink wink type deals anymore? i remember the rockets kept barkley for $2mil once and gave him a $10mil contract the next year and it was understood... maybe we could get him for one or two years with the LLE + raise and then come back with a better contract after that (..and we could just waive him like we did maloney and he'd get the money) .. just seems like an interesting options if you're one good player from the finals....
So far we've learned that just about every FA guard wants to play in Houston. The $$$ is the only thing keeping us away from most of these guys at this point. Over the last few weeks we've heard mutual interest from Damon Stoudamire, Nick Van Exel, Latrell Sprewell, Derek Anderson, and now Mike Finley.
These are all great reasons!!! I hope CD runs mad game on Michael using these key points of persuasion!
Finley's garbage. 32 and all ready past his prime. Doesn't play defense. OFf the court he's better than most though, and if cheap we could take a chance on him.
