I don't know understand why Mike James would make a big deal about what Avery said. It seems to me that it is common knowledge that most coaches can live with the opposing teams superstars getting theirs so to speak but it's the other guys, the role players like Mike James, that they don't want to get beaten by.
god i still can't get over not signing MJ all the guy wants is respect, like he said. when teams like denver and GS throw out $10 mill/year contracts to nene/dunleavy respectfully, mike james just wants to be appreciated. he was willing to take the MLE because that's all that was available for a 32 year old PG unfortunately. but all he wanted was respect (trade kicker)...a sign that a team really did want/care about him. JVG made that first step by being at MJ's door at midnight, but in the end, the rockets were all talk and no substance. MJ does have a big mouth, but he has done nothing but produce and he continues to prove people wrong. and he'll do it again next season.
So offering everything the Twolves did except the trade kicker is "all talk no substance"? That is a dumb statement. I guess the Mavs were "all talk no substance" also. You should be MJ's PR guy.
The trade kicker is an absurd thing to ask for and Minny is absurd for giving it. McHale really had little choice though I'm sure he's tired of always hearing how he gave up Jackson and Billups for nothing.
I actually like Mike James, good player and seems like a good guy even though he has a big mouth. I wish the Rockets still had him. However, I don't understand why people think paying him his asking price with all the bells and whistles he wants on the contract is the kind of no brainer decision that no reasonable GM would decline to make. After all, Dallas wanted him and believed he could be a vital piece to a championship run, and in the end, they didn't match Minny's offer, either.
1) Dallas is deep and went to the NBA Finals. Hou and Minn lack depth and went to the NBA Lottery. James is a Luxury to Cuban. He IMO is a necessity to Hou & Minn. 2) The "bells and whistles" amounts to this...$905K. That's the total cost of the trade kicker should the Rockets decide to trade James after two seasons. Two years on, the trade kicker is only slightly more than Ryan Bowen will make this year. 3) The total cost for 2006-07 of Shane Battier is $2M less than the 2006-07 cost of Gay and Swift. That IMO takes a whole lot of sting out of the potential of paying James $905K in the summer of 2008. 4) IMHO, NBA $Ball is an unproven theory. However, anyone that ascribes to that theory clearly recognizes that James has a high $Ball value. To anyone valuing basketball court ability over the ability to interview well...James was a No Brainer.
Neccesity? Perhaps for MIN, but hardly for Houston. Minny is desperate to add anyone with a pulse to give KG some hope or else the Big Ticket is punching himself out of town via either a trade demand or an opt-out in a couple years. The Rockets could afford to wait and see what else is out there. About the trade kicker... I thought it was 15%, and applied to whatever remains of the players salary at the time of the trade. The amount would be more like $3.5 mil total (if he gets traded early), right? Where did the $950K figure come from?
Now everyone don't fret about ole Mike James... I doubt Minny's going to be much of a concern for us this season... and if they are.... we know Mike James' achilles heel, don't we? Mr. 'noteable change in the defensive scheme' himself! Darrell Armstrong! I'm sure CD will convince ole DA to make a little come back from his retirement just to show Mike once again, who's boss.
Ray Lewis Deion Sanders And numerous former Super Bowl Champs. Come to think of it, Mike James has the personality of a NFL player. I like his fearless and warrior mentality and attitude.
