[Star-Telegram] If Finley leaves, Mavs hope it's by trade

It really has to be eating away at Cuban right now. The thought of Finley going to Phoenix or Houston after being waved would really kill Cuban!

Cuban is living in a fatasy world if he thinks he can move Finley's contract and get anything positive in return. His best bet is to ship Finley east if for no other reason but to keep him away from his competitors in the West. And whatever Cuban gets back, he should just live with it.

 

The Mavs are not gonna be able to move him unless they take back other team's junk. Oh, sure, if he's packaged with DJ MBenga they might be able to net... Mark Blount and Raef LaFrentz.

 

Finley to Orlando? Doubtful

Good news - hopefully Dallas will cut him outright. As to another competitor for his services when he's cut, Phoenix, it appears they will match any offer to Joe Johnson, and will cut Eisley to get under the luxury tax:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2118006

So its doubtful Phoenix would be able to pay more to Finley than the Rockets. And he wouldn't start in Phoenix, where he would start for the Rockets.

 

Who the heck would pay a 63 year old man $51 for another three years. I think is trade is highly doubtful. Finley is far from Shaq. He ain't worth it. I'd surely take him for the LLE.

 

Plus a SnT for Stoudamire...WOW!

Yao
Swift
T-Mac
Finley
Stoudamire

 

I think a Finley for Alan Houston trade would work out well for both teams

 

Strange to me that so many people are anti-Finley. He's not a superstar anymore (if he ever was) but he's a very solid SG. He averaged 16ppg last year, shot over 40% from the arc, and is 32 years old. He's the same age that Stoudamire will be to start the season, and people are all in favor of getting Damon. He's the same age as Juwan Howard and Bob Sura. One year older than Steve Nash. He's definitely overpaid, but it's not like he's washed up. The Mavs won't be the same team minus his production.

 

Only realistic move I see would be Finley to the Knicks for Penny. Isiah doesn't care about money, he's going to waive Houston though he'd love to drop Hardaway, and Penny could be waived in Dallas under the amnesty clause.

Dallas essentially loses him for nothing, but gets a gigantic financial break while ensuring that he ends up with a non-rival. Thomas moves a malcontent freeloader for an overpaid but still very productive player (possiblly easing the way for a Marbury trade?). Larry Brown may knock that plan down though.

Evan

 

Not sure, but I don't think you can waive someone you traded for under the amnesty clause.

 

Nobody is going to take Finley's ugly contract unless Dirk is in the mix as well.

 

That could be the case, I'll admit I'm still fuzzy on the exact details. But, even if that is true, it would still represent a bigger financial relief for Cuban than waiving Finley under the amnesty.

Waive Finley: exempt from the $51 million in luxury tax, but still have to pay him all $51 he's owed and his numbers (15.9, 17.3, 18.6) remain on Dallas' cap until summer of 2008. Total: $51 million, plus salary cap implications.

Trade for Penny: pay his $15.7 this year, and the $15.7 in lux tax. He's completely off the books next summer. Total: $31.4 million.

If Sac managed to trade Webber and his untradable contrct, anything's possible. Not at all likely, but possible.

Evan

 

The only players eligible for the amnesty waiver are players on the roster effective like June 20th. So you can't trade for a player then waive them.

 

Finley's gone. Cuban was on BaD radio yesterday and made comments that suggested Fin's been traded ("we have a surprise or two up our sleeves") for a marquee player, considering how the NBA instructed them to keep their mouths sealed until informed otherwise.

We'll find out by Monday.

 

A "marquee" player for Finley? That will be interesting. I can't imagine who that might be? I guess it also depends on your definition of "marquee"

Dont tell me they swapped garbage for garbage and traded him to Toronto for Jalen Rose or something.