http://www.jsonline.com/sports/buck/jul04/247033.asp Bucks shift focus to Pistons' James Wizards match Bucks' offer to Thomas By CHARLES F. GARDNER cgardner@journalsentinel.com Posted: July 28, 2004 After losing free-agent center Etan Thomas on Wednesday, Milwaukee Bucks general manager Larry Harris quickly shifted his focus to the team's needs at point guard. According to league sources, the player the Bucks have pinpointed is Detroit's Mike James, who could sign a multiyear contract with Milwaukee as early as Friday. Around noon Wednesday, the Bucks officially were informed that the Washington Wizards had matched the Bucks' six-year, $38 million offer sheet to Thomas, a restricted free agent. Milwaukee had sought the bruising 6-foot-10, 260-pound Thomas as a starting center to play alongside power forward Joe Smith, but the Wizards would not let it happen. "Putting all our energies in the center spot first, financially, we had to wait," Harris said. "But we were always in contact with one or two or three free agents that were point guards. "It's like fishing with six or seven different poles out there. If you look at our roster, you say, 'There's a chance to gain a lot of minutes at the center spot, and there's also a lot of minutes to gain at the point guard position.' "I think people (other players) were willing to wait and see what Etan was going to do. As it got closer and closer today, they felt like Etan was going to stay (in Washington)." That opened the door for the 6-foot-2, 188-pound James, who played a key reserve role as the Pistons marched to the National Basketball Association title this year. The former Duquesne player, who was not drafted, started his pro career in Europe before joining the Miami Heat for the 2001-'02 season. James averaged 9.3 points, 4.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 81 games with the Boston Celtics and Pistons in 2003-'04. He joined the Pistons in mid-February in the three-team deal that also brought Rasheed Wallace to Detroit. James served as a defensive specialist with the Pistons, often playing in tandem with Lindsey Hunter. In 22 playoff games, James averaged 2.6 points per game, although his playing time was reduced in the Eastern Conference finals and NBA Finals. If the Bucks add James, they will not bring back point guard Damon Jones, an unrestricted free agent who has generated interest from Miami and several other teams. Jones played in all 82 regular-season games with the Bucks in 2003-'04 and started 26, averaging 7.0 points and 5.8 assists per game. Jones took over as the starter after a spinal-cord injury sidelined rookie T.J. Ford in late February. The Bucks are not able to sign James until Thomas passes a physical exam, probably in the next few days, and officially is back in the Wizards' fold. It is expected that James will fill a portion but not all of the Bucks' $5.1 million mid-level exception, giving Harris the flexibility to sign several other players. The Bucks are still trying to retain the services of unrestricted free agent Toni Kukoc, who has stirred the interest of several teams. The Bucks still might try to sign a power player, but they do not have the money to afford Boston's Chris Mihm or Memphis' Stromile Swift, two other free agents. "At the center position, those guys are getting paid, and they went off the board fairly quickly," Harris said. "Whether that was Mehmet Okur (from Detroit to Utah), Adonal Foyle (kept by Golden State) or Brian Skinner (from the Bucks to Philadelphia). "There are still guys we're looking at in that position, but we might skin it a little differently. But this is a great opportunity for Dan Gadzuric and for Zaza (Pachulia). And Daniel Santiago, bless his heart, he started 28 games when Brian was out last year." The 26-year-old Thomas met with Bucks coach Terry Porter and liked what he saw in Milwaukee, according to Harris. But Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld did not want to weaken his front line, which includes holdovers Kwame Brown at power forward and Brendan Haywood at center. Washington also made a recent trade with Dallas to acquire Antawn Jamison, who can play both the small forward and the power spots. "Last year was his first full season," Grunfeld said of Thomas, who was plagued by injuries in his first three NBA seasons. "He put up pretty good numbers, and he fits in very well with our frontcourt rotation. "Once we got the offer, we had the right to match, and it was a pretty easy decision on our part."
It is pretty clear that the Rockets are not going to, at least currently, make an offer to James, Jones, or anyone. They are looking to trade. If they wanted any of the aforementioned PGs (or Fisher, Barry, Arroyo, etc.) they would have already made the offers.
Ford is gonna miss part of the first few weeks or so of the season... But man, I thought James was gonna end up here...this is getting ridiculous, why are the Rockets standing idly by?? Right now it looks like either Damon Jones or Charlie Ward are going to be our starters...i'd be happy with either at this point...
I think there is a deal on the table that we are waiting on someone from our side (most likely) or their side to be tradeable.
That is the feeling I'm getting also. Apparently the Seattle is looking at Jones, so maybe the deal for Daniels is agreed upon as long as Seattle gets another PG. But, who knows, maybe there is something else going on. Things have been WAY too quiet from the Rockets.
I have a good source that says he talked to James a few days ago and he said he was close to signing a 3 year deal with Houston...take it for what it's worth...
