Suns looking to re-aquire Finley

[Sunshooter]

Suns looking to re-aquire Finley By Mike Tulumello, TribuneJune 28, 2005For the second straight year, the Suns are likely to try to convince one of their ex-players to re-join them.The Suns are set on exploring the possibility of going after Michael Finley on the free agent market, a league source said Tuesday. The Mavericks bought out Finley for $51 million as a way to avoid paying the NBA's luxury tax. A number of teams with expensive contracts are doing the same thing because of a provision in the new collective bargaining agreement.

The Suns could use a shooter now that Quentin Richardson is going to New York for center-forward Kurt Thomas.

The Suns drafted Finley in 1995. He left in December, 1996 as part of the big trade that brought Jason Kidd from Dallas to the Suns.

 

[Yuma]

I'm OK with this. As long as we keep that $5 million exception for a "big man."

 

[asudevil83]

what would you all think of Ratliff if he were released also?

 

[elindholm]

what would you all think of Ratliff if he were released also?

As a minimum pickup, he would be spectacular, but I doubt the Blazers will waive him. Assuming they let Abdur-Rahim, Stoudamire, and Van Exel all go for nothing, they aren't particularly close to the luxury tax line (believe it or not!).

 

[asudevil83]

what would you all think of Ratliff if he were released also?

As a minimum pickup, he would be spectacular, but I doubt the Blazers will waive him. Assuming they let Abdur-Rahim, Stoudamire, and Van Exel all go for nothing, they aren't particularly close to the luxury tax line (believe it or not!).

i was just thinking about it in terms of rebuilding. if they truely want to start over and develop their young talent and bring in FA's, it would be a good idea to freely drop $11mil per year from their cap line.

maybe not as a money saving move, but a move that would help them in the rebuilding process.

 

[Yuma]

what would you all think of Ratliff if he were released also?

KT and Ratliff as our centers? Even being OLD, our center situation would be light years ahead of where we were at last season! That's not saying much, but I would be OK going into the season with our center situation! Right now, I am iffy with just KT as our center.

 

[elindholm]

if they truely want to start over and develop their young talent and bring in FA's, it would be a good idea to freely drop $11mil per year from their cap line.

Waiving a player doesn't remove their salary from the cap. The new CBA has this one-time rule where a team can avoid luxury tax by waiving a player, but they still have to pay his salary and he's still on the cap. So the only candidates are unproductive players on teams facing big luxury tax payments.

 

[Dr. Dumas]

Suns looking to re-aquire Finley By Mike Tulumello, TribuneJune 28, 2005For the second straight year, the Suns are likely to try to convince one of their ex-players to re-join them.The Suns are set on exploring the possibility of going after Michael Finley on the free agent market, a league source said Tuesday. The Mavericks bought out Finley for $51 million as a way to avoid paying the NBA's luxury tax. A number of teams with expensive contracts are doing the same thing because of a provision in the new collective bargaining agreement.

The Suns could use a shooter now that Quentin Richardson is going to New York for center-forward Kurt Thomas.

The Suns drafted Finley in 1995. He left in December, 1996 as part of the big trade that brought Jason Kidd from Dallas to the Suns.

I'm uncertain on how I feel about bringing back Finley. At times in the playoffs, I didn't even notice that he was on the court. He almost seemed invisibile. Maybe I'm remembering him when he was with Phoenix. I'm just wondering if there might be anyone else out there that would except the same amount of cash to come to a team that has a shot of winning the title-but would have more of an impact while being on the court.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

I think Finley, at this point in his career, would make an excellent role player coming off the bench for our team. I thought Michael Finley was the difference in the Mavs game 2 win against us. I believe he could win the sixth man award with us.

 

[arthurracoon]

For the min, or near it, I would LOVE to have Finley comming off the bench.

 

[Chaplin]

For some strange reason, I really have no opinion about signing Finley. Jim Jackson is our sixth man, but we should at least be concentrating on acquiring a big man with our MLE. That's what I'm more interested in.

Of course, I prefer the no-defense playing Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but what do I know?

 

[fordronken]

Assuming they let Abdur-Rahim, Stoudamire, and Van Exel all go for nothing, they aren't particularly close to the luxury tax line (believe it or not!).

Well, those three are a lot of salary.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I don't like the fact that we seem to want to get older. If we wanted an outside threat to replace Q we should have kept the #21, replace it with future considerations in the KT deal and drafted Jack, Garcia, or Luther Head.

 

[Kolo]

Anybody know for sure whether Finley's salary on his new team effectively gives Cuban a rebate on what he owed Finley, so Finley gets the same amount no matter what his new team gives him? I know it was discussed in a thread earlier.

 

[JCSunsfan]

what would you all think of Ratliff if he were released also?

Heard an interview with the Blazers GM yesterday, and he was asked directly if he was going to release Ratliff. He said no way.

Damon S. is a FA and they are not even going to try to sign him. They have a team option on Nick VanExel, so they are dumping him too.

 

[newfan101]

I'm uncertain on how I feel about bringing back Finley. At times in the playoffs, I didn't even notice that he was on the court. He almost seemed invisibile. Maybe I'm remembering him when he was with Phoenix. I'm just wondering if there might be anyone else out there that would except the same amount of cash to come to a team that has a shot of winning the title-but would have more of an impact while being on the court.

He did struggle against us, but he also single handedly beat us in game two, and was playing on a bad ankle. I actually think he would be a great fit on this team. He's a better shooter than Q, has a good history with Nash, and has an overall more diverse offensive game than Q without the untimely bad 3's. His defense isn't as good as it once was, but he works hard and doesn't take plays off.

With KT starting and Finley and Jackson off the bench, this team would be much, much better for the playoff run.

 

[JCSunsfan]

For some strange reason, I really have no opinion about signing Finley. Jim Jackson is our sixth man, but we should at least be concentrating on acquiring a big man with our MLE. That's what I'm more interested in.

Of course, I prefer the no-defense playing Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but what do I know?

Now that we have Thomas in the fold, what do we need in a big man? He's got to be a 7 footer (or play long like one) be a shot blocker and a rebounder. It would also be good if he could run the court.

Sorry to say it, but it sounds like Hunter.

Donyell Marshall is a possibility, but aren't he and Thomas very similar. Does Marshall fill a hole that we need to fill? . We really don't need alot of low-post scoring.

 

[Chaplin]

Now that we have Thomas in the fold, what do we need in a big man? He's got to be a 7 footer (or play long like one) be a shot blocker and a rebounder. It would also be good if he could run the court.

Sorry to say it, but it sounds like Hunter.

Donyell Marshall is a possibility, but aren't he and Thomas very similar. Does Marshall fill a hole that we need to fill? . We really don't need alot of low-post scoring.

Get Hunter out of your mind! If he won't sign for 1.7, then HE WILL NOT BE A PHOENIX SUN. I just wish people would accept that and move on.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Finley - ugh. The guy has had one great game in his entire playoff career - other than that, he's a shrinker. I think he would be a horrible addition to this team. We already have a Finley-type guy - his name is Jimmy Jackson. Focus on bigs on FA, not on guys who perenially choke when the playoffs come.

 

[Chaplin]

Finley - ugh. The guy has had one great game in his entire playoff career - other than that, he's a shrinker. I think he would be a horrible addition to this team. We already have a Finley-type guy - his name is Jimmy Jackson. Focus on bigs on FA, not on guys who perenially choke when the playoffs come.

I kind of agree here, except the only thing I can say is that IF Finley were to come to the Suns, his role would be vastly different. Sure, he has never had good playoff series', but he wouldn't be the #2 option in our playoffs, either. That could make a difference.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I kind of agree here, except the only thing I can say is that IF Finley were to come to the Suns, his role would be vastly different. Sure, he has never had good playoff series', but he wouldn't be the #2 option in our playoffs, either. That could make a difference.

I don't know man. He wasn't exactly the #2 this year and he still stunk it up save the game of his life in Game 2. Besides that game - does anyone even remember Finley even being on the court against us? Maybe he could be better with pressure lifted off him, but I'd have to see it to believe it and considering we already have a guy on the bench like him, who has played well in the playoffs, why double-up when there are other pressing needs?

 

[Yuma]

Now that we have Thomas in the fold, what do we need in a big man? He's got to be a 7 footer (or play long like one) be a shot blocker and a rebounder. It would also be good if he could run the court.

Sorry to say it, but it sounds like Hunter.

Donyell Marshall is a possibility, but aren't he and Thomas very similar. Does Marshall fill a hole that we need to fill? . We really don't need alot of low-post scoring.

I was with you until you got to the rebounder part. I do think Hunter has value because he could guard Tim Duncan fairly well. However, even though he was a Sun and I like him, the guy is weak on the boards for a seven footer! If he could board, we wouldn't be trading Q for KT! I haven't looked at Marshall's numbers rebounding, but I am guessing they are better than Hunter's. Also, If Hunter was all that defensivly, Amare would be all over the press about resigning him, instead of asking for help from BC and D'Antoni.

 

[Chaz]

I agree with Cheesebeef.

Finley doesn't make much sense for us.

 

[arthurracoon]

How much do we have to spend?

1.7 on the MLE
and...?

(Vet min and LLE?)

How much is a LLE?

 

[JCSunsfan]

I was with you until you got to the rebounder part. I do think Hunter has value because he could guard Tim Duncan fairly well. However, even though he was a Sun and I like him, the guy is weak on the boards for a seven footer! If he could board, we wouldn't be trading Q for KT! I haven't looked at Marshall's numbers rebounding, but I am guessing they are better than Hunter's. Also, If Hunter was all that defensivly, Amare would be all over the press about resigning him, instead of asking for help from BC and D'Antoni.

I have no particular affinity for Hunter, I just don't see which free agent will fill our needs better. If we had drafted a shot-blocker (Petro) then sure.

I am open suggestions.