Mike James signs with Minnesota

[F-Dog]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2516449

The Minnesota Timberwolves' willingness to make a four-year commitment to Mike James has landed them the best point guard still available on the free-agent market.

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com that James on Tuesday agreed to sign a four-year contract with the Wolves worth an estimated $25 million.

James also confirmed the agreement to radio station ESPN790 in Houston on Tuesday.

Wednesday is the first day free agents can officially sign contracts.

James had narrowed his choice to Minnesota, Dallas and Houston -- where he maintains an offseason home -- and indicated over the weekend that the Mavericks had a slight edge, largely because of his relationship with Mavs coach Avery Johnson and their recent trip to the NBA Finals.

But the Mavericks and Rockets, according to sources, wouldn't commit to more than a three-year offer to the 31-year-old.

Minnesota's four-year pitch and the chance to team with Kevin Garnett won it for the Wolves, who have injected their backcourt with plenty of scoring potential by signing James and acquiring rookie Randy Foye on draft night.

Signing James alleviates Minnesota's need to start Foye as a rookie. James would likely team with Ricky Davis as the Wolves' starters in the backcourt, with defensive stopper Trenton Hassell at small forward and Foye coming off the bench.

If Foye can make an immediate impact and James can approach his production from last season's breakout performance in Toronto -- 20.3 points and 5.8 assists per game, as well as 44.2 percent shooting from 3-point range -- Garnett figures to be pleased.

The Wolves have resisted all trade interest in Garnett, vowing to take one more stab at building around their 30-year-old franchise player by finding scorers to play off him.

Looks like Houston and Dallas have now dropped into the Marcus Banks zone.

 

[F-Dog]

Oh, and here's a rumor free of charge: the Nuggets are supposedly leading in the Iverson sweepstakes. Supposedly, the deal that just fell apart was a three-way with the Knicks:


Nuggets give: Andre Miller, Kenyon Martin
Nuggets get: Iverson, Kyle Korver

Knicks give: Stephon Marbury, Channing Frye
Knicks get: Miller, Martin

Sixers give: Iverson, Korver
Sixers get: Marbury, Frye


Just something to chew on.

 

[Bada0Bing]

I think that’s pretty much a bad deal for each team.

 

[NastyOne]

I think that’s pretty much a bad deal for each team.

And obviously the Knicks had to be involved.

Isiah is lucky that deal fell through.

 

[Nash]

Good to know the Mavs didn't land Mike James.

 

[nowagimp]

Actually at first glance, that deal looked pretty good for the nuggets. They get a perimeter shooter, Korver, and AI and give up Martin, who had horrible chemistry, a bum knee and 15 mil contract and andre miller whos getting older and cant shoot outside, which is a nuggets team weakness. If you watched the nuggets against the clips in the playoffs, the clips just said go ahead shoot the outside shot, and packed it in. The nuggets are probably the worst outside shooting team in the NBA. This would have helped them, getting AI for miller and getting a spot up shooter, Korver, to help the defensive spacing for their bigs inside. For the sixers, trading AI for Marbury made no sense, but the Frye acquisition might be good for them. The knicks getting Martin and Miller, only Miller made sense(a real point).

 

[planaria]

I think that’s pretty much a bad deal for each team.

Iverson, Korver, Melo, Nene and Camby looks a great starting five. Nuggets have also Ruben Patterson to play the defense instead of Korver...

Sounds really nice squad...

 

[scoutmasterdave]

Frankly, I like it for NY and Denver, less so for Philly (though Frye is a better player than Korver for sure).

 

[F-Dog]

Iverson, Korver, Melo, Nene and Camby looks a great starting five. Nuggets have also Ruben Patterson to play the defense instead of Korver...

Sounds really nice squad...

Hey, it's the other Nuggets fan besides Nugztroll!

You're Brazilian, right? Do you have any knowledge of what's going on with Barbosa right now?


(Oh yeah, NYK get raped in that deal, mainly for the Nuggets' benefit. K-Mart has massive negative trade value right now.)

 

[Bada0Bing]

Iverson, Korver, Melo, Nene and Camby looks a great starting five. Nuggets have also Ruben Patterson to play the defense instead of Korver...

Sounds really nice squad...

I like Camby when he his healthy, but Melo and Iverson would have to learn to share. I think that's a terrible combo. Adding Korver to that mix only makes it worse. Nene is now extremely overpaid. His value will come in about 5 years when his contract can be shipped. However, ditching the Martin contract would be a nice move. I doubt the sixers will do that again.

 

[nowagimp]

Iverson, Korver, Melo, Nene and Camby looks a great starting five. Nuggets have also Ruben Patterson to play the defense instead of Korver...

Sounds really nice squad...

I agree that if the nuggets get some perimeter shooting, the inside game will open up for their big men, and they will be dangerous. I'll bet AI would play well with camby, though he may have to adjust to Melo.