I heard this on Dallas radio this morning as I was getting ready for work. I didn't know if it was true or not, but apparently the Dallas Morning News is reporting it as well : http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/062405dnspomavslede.3c144a68.html --------------------------------------------------------- Sources: Mavs may waive Finley 06:50 AM CDT on Friday, June 24, 2005 By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News Michael Finley's career with the Mavericks could come to an end this summer because of a clause in the new collective-bargaining agreement that could save owner Mark Cuban as much as $51 million. Two sources said Thursday that Finley, who has been with the Mavericks longer than any other current player, would be targeted if the Mavericks exercise this cost-cutting option. The new one-time loophole allows a team to waive a player and be relieved of any luxury-tax responsibility attached to that player's contract. Finley is owed $51,796,875 over the next three seasons. Cuban would still have to pay that in salary. But because the Mavericks' payroll is so high, Cuban also has to pay a dollar for every dollar that they are over the luxury tax. By jettisoning Finley, he could knock $15 million off his luxury tax next season. The Mavericks were well over the $61 million luxury-tax threshold last season. Essentially, the remainder of Finley's $51 million contract could cost Cuban $102 million if they remain over the luxury-tax threshold, which is probable if Finley is retained. The Mavericks have discussed the issue and are aware of the implications. It represents a chance to take a huge step toward the club being in a better financial situation for future player dealings. If the Mavericks execute this option, they would not be allowed to re-sign Finley for the length of the contract. Mavericks officials would not comment specifically about the possibility of taking this measure with Finley, who has 8 ½ years of service with the team and has been called the heart and soul of the franchise for many years. "Under the new CBA, a player could be released and you would save that money off the tax," president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said. "Every team in the NBA has a player who fits that mode." Finley could not be reached for comment Thursday. Finley fits the description as a player with a maximum contract and three more years left on his deal. He is coming off his least-productive season as a Maverick, averaging 15.7 points and 4.1 rebounds and shooting 42.7 percent. However, an ankle injury hindered him much of the season and required surgery after the playoffs. Numerous NBA teams figure to use this loophole to their financial advantage. The New York Knicks reportedly are pursuing the option of waiving oft-injured Allan Houston, who like Finley has a long-term maximum contract. The process cannot officially start until the new CBA is signed, which isn't expected to happen until at least July 22. If the Mavericks were to move on the Finley issue, it would mean they could lose the two players who have been with the club the longest in the span of a few weeks. Shawn Bradley, who joined the team two months after Finley, has begun discussions with the team about a buyout of his contract that would allow him to retire after 12 seasons in the NBA. "Shawn has been feeling the cumulative effects of injuries to his knees and hip," Cuban said Thursday. "Retirement is something we are talking about, but he hasn't made a final decision yet." The Mavericks apparently are trying to arrange a long-term buyout of the 7-6 center's contract, which is worth $14.5 million, including $4.5 million next season. Although that money would still count against the salary cap, some of it could be deferred. Bradley could not be reached for comment Thursday. However, his mother, Teresa, said via e-mail from Utah that her son's retirement was set at the end of the season. Bradley apparently wants to devote more time to his family. He and wife Annette recently had their sixth child. When Avery Johnson took over as coach, Bradley was reduced to 12th-man status. With young centers Pavel Podkolzin and D.J. Mbenga on the roster, the 33-year-old Bradley was unlikely to get much playing time next season or beyond. The No. 2 overall pick in the 1993 draft, he averaged 8.1 points and 6.3 rebounds for his career.
I've read the same thing from several other news sources. I really hope the Mavs waive him. It seemed like he drilled every back-breaking 3 he could against us in the playoffs. I'd love for Dallas to lose their best perimeter defender, more room for TMac to operate.
It's a tough tough call for the Mavs. He's still got decent game, though he's slipping into Eddie Jones status. And it would look bad, especially one year removed from allowing Nash to walk. How nasty would it be if he took part of the MLE to replace Q in Phoenix? Evan
Yeah, if a player like Finley is cut then he immediately is put in the pool of FAs that would sign for the MLE and less. Guys like Finley and Allan Houston can be had cheaply because they are STILL being paid their team's salary so they probably wouldnt be looking for a big payday from their NEW team, but rather would be looking to play for winners. I wonder how many other players might fall into this category. The FA pool might get larger.
I agree and he might want to stay in Texas so Houston should be a better alternative as our chances at a championship seems bright! Sura MFinley TMac TChandler Yao Sounds like a pretty solid 5 to me. J
Someones trash is someone else's treasure.. Who wouldnt want to play with T-mac and Yao?? CD, you need to pimp out the toybox and have both of them Houston/Fin talk to T-mac and Yao and sign one of them up for the few dollars over the vet min then grab us a solid 4.. LET'S ROLL!! OH YEAH.. DIE DALLAS!!!
I feel about Finley the same way I feel about Wesley. At this stage in his career, he's incapable of doing anything other than parking out at the 3-point line. He's not nearly the playmaker he used to be, his explosiveness is gone, his post up game is ineffective (when not being guarded by 6'1 guards like Wesley), and he's too slow to guard many of the perimeter players out there. I'd still take him cheap as a backup 2/3, but he's not a starting 2-guard on a championship team. The Rockets need more versatile guards, not more spot up shooters.
I suspect that Finley will resign with Dallas (as long as it's allowed in the CBA to re-sign with the team that cut you). It's a handshake deal to get Finley his money, but still saving Cuban a buttload.
He can't. He's unable to re-sign with Dallas for the length of his original deal. Hey Michael, you know, we need a SG in Denver.
According to this article, he could not stay a Maverick: "If the Mavericks execute this option, they would not be allowed to re-sign Finley for the length of the contract." He'll still be worth more than the minimum. But, MLE might be possible. But, if he signs for less to be on a contender, why not go to Miami, San Antonio, Phoenix or Detroit? As far as contenders go, the Rockets are second-tier.
Finley is from Chicago and there was talk last year about him being traded back home. I would sure like to get him for the vet min. but we will probably have competition from the Bulls.
I don't think that one of these "luxury tax cuts" cares what he gets paid. He will get paid the full salary by the old team, less what the new team pays him, not both. In the end the exact same dollars to the player, just a question of how the two teams split up the bill. I believe this to be the case, but I would feel a lot more confident if one of the board CBA experts would confirm it.
Miami and Phoenix aren't much better than Houston. Shaq and Nash aren't getting any younger, and adding a guy like Finley doesn't exactly put each team over the top. The Spurs and Pistons have won the last 3 titles combined, so no arguments there.
I don't think this is the case at all. Once you clear waivers, the team that cut you is responsible for the rest of your contract. Then you go out and sign a new deal totally independant from your old one.
The Rockets would be absolutely killer if they signed Finley and picked up a good power forward in the draft. Championship next year if they did.
I posted this with the belief that yes, Finley isn't the player he once was, but he would be an improvement over what the Rockets have. After talking to some *blech* Mavs fans *blech* here in Dallas, they seem down on the guy saying he probably showed up to play once very five games or so and that he's really dropped off more than I thought. Has anyone watched the Mavs play? I assumed it was because they wanted their youth to get some more playing time, Finley lost minutes as a result, and he could never get into a rhythm the entire season. Or does he really suck now?
