Stein article on Finley's options

[thegrahamcrackr]

Pretty good read. Didn't make the Wisconson connection for Miami.

The NBA's Final Four teams are reuniting Tuesday for a different sort of elimination tournament.

It's the Michael Finley Sweepstakes.

League front-office sources tell ESPN.com that Miami, Detroit, San Antonio and Phoenix are the suitors with the best shot at landing Finley, who was waived late Monday by the Dallas Mavericks after Dallas' summer-long efforts to trade Finley to a less-threatening team proved unsuccessful.

Intensely private throughout his eight-plus seasons in Dallas, Finley has been typically tight-lipped about his future, telling reporters at Steve Nash's recent charity game that he wasn't ready to discuss the prospect of free agency. Yet it's widely believed that the 32-year-old, after clearing waivers in 48 hours, will ultimately join one of the above four powerhouses to give himself a real shot at a championship ring … with the Denver Nuggets tops among the list of outsiders.

As Finley prepares to grade the field and commence serious negotiations, this is our breakdown of the two-time All-Star's options as the prize (some would say only) catch on the amnesty market:


Miami


The Heat will be tough to resist, with Shaquille O'Neal as lead recruiter and a $5 million mid-level exception waiting … and the bonus of a scouting report from Dwyane Wade, who shares Finley's agent (Henry Thomas). Miami's interest, meanwhile, is a no-brainer. Finley played for Stan Van Gundy at Wisconsin, ranks as a quality chemistry guy and would instantly become the Heat's most dependable long-ball threat (given Damon Jones' likely departure). Yet it remains to be seen whether Finley wants to join a club that just added Antoine Walker and James Posey, with the room to start only one of the three. Finley and Walker are Chicago pals, but he also saw first-hand in Dallas that meshing can be tough with 'Toine as a third or fourth fiddle. It wouldn't be surprising at all to see Finley wind up here, but it's not the slam dunk some league insiders are suggesting.


Detroit


Pistons president Joe Dumars, eager to do some free-agent shopping after the interminable Larry Brown saga, has been quietly waiting for his swing at Finley. It doesn't hurt Dumars' chances that the Pistons have their entire $5 million mid-level exception to offer Finley for next season -- nearly twice as rich as what the Spurs can pitch -- as well as the promise of healthy minutes with a proven championship crew. Detroit, remember, generally relied on only seven guys when it mattered: Antonio McDyess, Lindsay Hunter and its trusty starting five. Finley would fortify the bench for new coach Flip Saunders and serve as an offensive-minded complement to the defense-first Tayshaun Prince. The fit seems even more feasible now that Finley, in trademark Pistons style, can even claim that he has something to prove as the discarded face of the Mavs.


San Antonio


The Spurs can't match the money Miami and Detroit can offer, but the champs will make a strong presentation beyond the close proximity to Finley's adopted home in Big D. San Antonio has lacked a consistent scorer off the bench since Manu Ginobili became a starter and is always looking for more perimeter shooting. Finley could fill both of those voids and presumably make a smooth transition to the Spurs' all-for-one locker room, given his first-class reputation. Although Finley's scoring average has indeed dipped for six successive seasons, that overlooks his 41 percent accuracy from 3-point range over the past two seasons … without the benefit of the open looks Tim Duncan and Ginobili generate. The Mavs were trying so hard to deal Finley in part to keep him away from the Spurs, knowing the champs are a real threat to make a switch to South Texas happen.


Phoenix


The Suns are sunk if money is the tiebreaker, with only a veteran minimum of $1.1 million to offer Finley for next season. And money could be a key factor, since Finley will be forced to collect the remaining $51-plus million on his Mavs contract in annual installments of less than $5 million because of a considerable "spread" provision in that contract. Phoenix, though, has an even better recruiter than Shaq; Nash and Finley remain so close that Finley traveled to Toronto for his buddy's charity game even though June ankle surgery prevented him from actually playing. Don't forget, furthermore, that Phoenix drafted Finley in 1995, and he remains quite popular. A return to the desert, then, holds appeal on several levels, which should explain why this is the other West rival Dallas had hoped to neutralize with a trade. The Mavs know Finley would relish the challenge of filling the Joe Johnson void.


Denver


The list of interested teams stretches well beyond five, but it's believed Finley won't consider anyone farther away from title contention than the Nuggets. Although his hometown Bulls will try to defy that belief -- as will Minnesota, which flirted with a three-team Finley trade last week -- Denver figures to tempt Finley more with its promising talent mix and a roster architect (Kiki Vandeweghe) who once worked in Dallas. Vandeweghe is also pursuing another Mavs alumnus (Nick Van Exel) to give his bench a boost, but Finley is Denver's top priority. The Nuggets, like Detroit and Miami, can offer a full $5 million next season … but also a rare guaranteed starting spot. And Finley, remember, is one of the few players (maybe the only one) who came away with any plaudits from George Karl's ill-fated Team USA at the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Since half of whatever Finley gets goes back to the Mavs, the difference between what the Heat can offer (2.5 million net additional $) and what the Suns can offer (.550 million net additional $) is only about $2 million.

Hmm. What a story it would be all year. How Finley took less to come to Phoenix in order to bring a championship to the team that drafted him.

I used to think that the Suns winning a championship would be the ultimate for the team. But there is something better.

Letting Jerry Buss and Mark Cuban pay our players (to the tune of $30 million) while we win that championship.

 

[F-Dog]

I think the Bulls have a better shot at Finley than the Spurs or Nuggets. The Spurs don't need him, and I can't see Finley choosing a lower-tier team like the Nuggets (instead of Miami or Detroit) just because of Kiki Vandeweghe.

Miami has to be the overwhelming favorite, though.

 

[reader]

I think the Bulls have a better shot at Finley than the Spurs or Nuggets. The Spurs don't need him, and I can't see Finley choosing a lower-tier team like the Nuggets (instead of Miami or Detroit) just because of Kiki Vandeweghe.

Miami has to be the overwhelming favorite, though.

F-Dog, I agree with you on the Miami location. Just think, last year Cuban could have traded Dirk and others for Shaq and he and Fin could have played together in Dallas.

O/T F-Dog, is that you posting over on Lone Mavs?

 

[F-Dog]

F-Dog, I agree with you on the Miami location. Just think, last year Cuban could have traded Dirk and others for Shaq and he and Fin could have played together in Dallas.

O/T F-Dog, is that you posting over on Lone Mavs?

Yeah, that's me.

Can you see my avatar on that board? I was getting a red 'x', but my computer is often to blame for such problems.

 

[reader]

Yes, your avatar was the ubiquitous red X.

 

[F-Dog]

Yes, your avatar was the ubiquitous red X.

Gotcha.

I guess I'll go try and fix it before signing off for the night...

 

[cly2tw]

Actually, the difference between MLE and the vets min for Finley is only about 1.9mil, since only the amount above the min is split between the waived player and his former team. This means the net money from MLE is 1.1 + 3.8/2 = 3 mil in case of Finley.

 

[thirty-two]

Thanks for posting that article.

This is going to be interesting to see who he ends up picking.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Thanks for posting that article.

This is going to be interesting to see who he ends up picking.

Gotta love Kate and her Hanson.......

As for Fins, the Republic states we could get Finley, Payton to go along with the newly signed Grant. Hopefully we could do some sort of make good (promise of a front office job when he retires?) and i actually love our team for next year. Miami could be the favorite but Antoine off the bench isn't going to sit well w/ "employee number 8" as he had issues with that in Dallas. And Miami has to play Haslem to help Shaq.......God i hope Finley comes to PHx and we dominate the rest of the league......JJ who??

 

[George O'Brien]

I can't see Finley as a fit on the Heat. Finley is best in an open offense, not a slow down, grind it out style.

 

[boisesuns]

I can't see Finley as a fit on the Heat. Finley is best in an open offense, not a slow down, grind it out style.

Plus if Jwill is point guard, he won't get many passes

 

[elindholm]

I can't see Finley as a fit on the Heat. Finley is best in an open offense, not a slow down, grind it out style.

And he'll be a role player off the bench, not a starter...

...probably. It seems that the Heat could try benching Haslem (the presumptive starting PF), move Walker up, start Finley at SF, and bring Posey off the bench at both wing positions. It's a shaky lineup defensively, but O'Neal could erase some of the problems. Unlikely, I think, but possible.

I think San Antonio is out, because it sets up a playoff clash against the Suns. Finley has to remember what happened when Nowitzki went up against Nash in last year's series: Nash vaporized him, and Nowitzki was crushed. If Finley decides to go somewhere other than Phoenix, I think he'll try to get as far the hell away from Nash as possible, just to avoid that psychological conflict.

My gut tells me that the "help Nash screw Cuban" factor is going to be the deciding factor.

I used to think that the Suns winning a championship would be the ultimate for the team. But there is something better.

Letting Jerry Buss and Mark Cuban pay our players (to the tune of $30 million) while we win that championship.

Very poetic.

 

[jlove]

I think it's a no brainer for Fins to come here. He's already getting paid and is set for life. He's a long time friend of Nash. Loved in Phoenix. Would be the starter at the 2 in place of JJ. Would fit in better in our offense then anywhere else. Ready for a championship. I think it will be announced in the next couple of days.

 

[jlove]

This is what the Republic had to say.

Suns get veteran post Grant at bargain price

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 16, 2005 12:00 AM

Brian Grant is well known in the NBA for his philanthropy, but his choice to play in Phoenix is no charitable endeavor.

The Suns snagged a bargain Monday by coming to terms with the veteran post player for a two-year deal, starting at the $1.67 million biannual exception and adding a player option for a second season. With Grant still collecting $29.8 million in the next two years as the Lakers' amnesty waiver choice, he will be this season's richest Suns player. The wealth, born from a seven-year, $80 million deal in 1999 with Miami, freed Grant to pick a fifth NBA stop for pure basketball reasons.

About 20 teams inquired about Grant, whose waiver allows the Lakers to avoid the luxury tax on his due salaries. He weighed Chicago, Miami, New York and Denver but chose Phoenix, which is expected to sign him Wednesday after he clears waivers.
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Grant spurned "much more" lucrative offers to be another veteran Suns banger with defensive and rebounding prowess, like fellow power forward/undersized center Kurt Thomas.

"It's a great franchise, no doubt about it, with the best record last year, a great point guard and a need (for a big man)," Grant's agent, Mark Bartelstein said.

It helped that Grant has a tremendous respect for Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni, who served on Pat Riley's bench for two of Grant's four years in Miami. Relatives in the Valley and a call from Steve Nash also swayed Grant.

Grant, 33, has carried a work ethic beyond reproach that made him productive for a decade in Sacramento, Portland and Miami. Chronic knee tendinitis and a preseason neck injury got the best of him last season. He still had the penchant for playing through pain after seven surgeries.

Grant was limited to career-low stats and a reserve role. In Phoenix, being a solid backup with hustle and leadership to support Amaré Stoudemire would suffice.

"He's totally healthy," Bartelstein said. "People don't understand that affected him last year. He'll have a terrific season. You can bank on that."

The Grant pickup did not cease efforts to land swingman Michael Finley as a means of soothing the departure of Joe Johnson, whose trade to Atlanta should close Friday. Finley was waived just before 9 p.m. Monday, the deadline for amnesty cuts, as Dallas could not trade him to the East.

Miami was considered the favorite, if not a lock by some insiders, because Stan Van Gundy coached him at Wisconsin, he has the same agent as Dwyane Wade and the Heat has all of its $5 million midlevel exception available. Like Phoenix's hole at shooting guard, Finley could start as Miami's small forward.

Those signals could have been a decoy benefiting Phoenix, the last team Dallas wanted to help again after seeing Nash leave last year.

San Antonio, Denver and Detroit are also interested with two to four times more money to offer than Phoenix. The Suns have Nash, his close friend, and can give his veteran minimum of $1,138,500 because they have no salary-cap room.

The Suns also have engaged in talks regarding free-agent point guard Gary Payton, who has publicly expressed interest in backing up Nash. However, landing Payton could require using the $4.9 million trade exception Phoenix will get in the Johnson trade.

Although five deals are not official, Phoenix figures to have eight new players in the mix. Only Nash, Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Jim Jackson and Leandro Barbosa are expected back.

However, I don't think we'd have to use the $4.9 mil TE on a S&T for Payton. I think the $1.9 mil TE (Voskul) and a pick could be used to get the deal done though.

Also, 5 deals that are not official yet? Padgett, Burke, Grant, possibly Rowen Barrett? Who else? Stephen Graham possibly?

 

[Joe Mama]

With JJ departing I see the Phoenix Suns says the most attractive place for Michael Finley. The Suns might not have as much money to offer, but they give him a good shot at a championship, a favorable playing style, a close friend on the team, a starting position, and enough playing time. If Denver was considered a serious contender I would think they would be a real possibility as well because they have the money and the playtime and the starting position.

Miami and San Antonio don't seem to have as much playing time to offer. They also don't have a starting position unless they are willing to sit one of their other key players on the bench. Seems to me San Antonio would be going after Michael Finley as much to keep him away from Phoenix as to get him into a Spurs uniform.

Perhaps the most attractive thing about the Phoenix Suns is that while they are a serious contender they really need his help. He would not be riding anyone's coattails to a championship here in Phoenix. In San Antonio he would be in addition to a championship team.

If I had to put $1000 on where Michael Finley will end up playing next year I would put it on the Phoenix Suns.

Joe Mama

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I think it's a no brainer for Fins to come here. He's already getting paid and is set for life. He's a long time friend of Nash. Loved in Phoenix. Would be the starter at the 2 in place of JJ. Would fit in better in our offense then anywhere else. Ready for a championship. I think it will be announced in the next couple of days.

Of course you think its a no brainer as i am guessing you are a suns fan as you post on this board. But once again that is ALOT if money to leave on the table if you are making 51 million or not.....i will be holding my breath and i hope the fact that he can stick it to the Mavs w/ Nashy and as a starter helps him make a decsion. It says here that the Suns will end up paying him some how....(danny manning type contract, front office position, our mid level after we get it back.) but this is no sure thing jlove

 

[Arizona's Finest]

With JJ departing I see the Phoenix Suns says the most attractive place for Michael Finley. The Suns might not have as much money to offer, but they give him a good shot at a championship, a favorable playing style, a close friend on the team, a starting position, and enough playing time. If Denver was considered a serious contender I would think they would be a real possibility as well because they have the money and the playtime and the starting position.

Miami and San Antonio don't seem to have as much playing time to offer. They also don't have a starting position unless they are willing to sit one of their other key players on the bench. Seems to me San Antonio would be going after Michael Finley as much to keep him away from Phoenix as to get him into a Spurs uniform.

Perhaps the most attractive thing about the Phoenix Suns is that while they are a serious contender they really need his help. He would not be riding anyone's coattails to a championship here in Phoenix. In San Antonio he would be in addition to a championship team.

If I had to put $1000 on where Michael Finley will end up playing next year I would put it on the Phoenix Suns.

Joe Mama

Hope you are right.....

 

[coloradosun]

Miami has a lot of questionable personalities now with Posey, Williams and Walker. That has to be very similar to the situation in Dallas when they had Walker, Van Exel and I believe Laetner. That did not work, the Suns have a much different environment and Nash is the cornerstone who wants him on board.