Michael Finley signs with Spurs

ThunderingHERD · 08-31-2005, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Finley chooses Spurs over Heat, Suns

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

The team that won the Michael Finley Sweepstakes is the same team that just won an NBA championship.

Finley told ESPN.com on Wednesday that he has chosen to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, spurning a richer offer from the Miami Heat and the lure of an emotional return to the Phoenix Suns to reunite with close friend Steve Nash.

The Dallas Mavericks tried for weeks to move Finley to an Eastern Conference team to prevent him from joining the Spurs or the Suns. When it couldn't swing a trade before the Aug. 15 deadline to exercise the NBA's new amnesty clause, Dallas reluctantly waived the two-time All-Star, making Finley an unrestricted free agent and the target of an intense two-week courtship that also involved the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Miami's Pat Riley, Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire and Minnesota's Kevin Garnett were among the big names to fly to Chicago last week to make face-to-face pitches to Finley. In the end, he went with the team that sent a one-man delegation -- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich -- to Finley's hometown.

The complete structure of the deal with San Antonio hasn't been finalized, including the length of the contract, but Finley will receive a starting salary of roughly $2.5 million this season.

"To be a part of a championship team, I'm excited," Finley said. "This is the closest I've ever been to a championship. I'm looking forward to the challenge of helping this team repeat."

Asked why he picked the Spurs, Finley said: "In a nutshell, they're already a championship team but they have room for improvement. And I feel my game can help them in the areas where they need improvement."

Landing Finley, 32, completes an impressive summer haul for the Spurs, who felt a need to be as aggressive as they've ever been in free agency after struggling to holds leads of 2-0 and 3-2 over Detroit in a taut-as-possible NBA Finals. They expect Finley to supply off-the-bench punch and a reliable 3-point stroke as the third wing of a swing trio that features All-Star guard Manu Ginobili and defensive specialist Bruce Bowen.

Since free agency began July 1, San Antonio has also re-signed playoff hero Robert Horry, added wily Argentinean post man Fabricio Oberto to the frontcourt rotation and Monday signed fiery veteran point guard Nick Van Exel, Finley's former Dallas teammate.

Popovich's foremost challenge next season will be massaging playing time and egos with a roster far deeper than the Spurs typically carry. It remains to be seen, for starters, what role remains for Brent Barry, who was San Antonio's marquee newcomer last summer.

Yet it's a challenge Popovich welcomes, after lengthy struggles to find a bench spark in the wake of Ginobili's emergence and knowing that the Spurs' perimeter shooting could use an upgrade to capitalize on the ability of Tim Duncan and Ginobili to collapse defenses. It's believed that Van Exel, like Horry, isn't interested in heavy minutes during the regular season and wants badly to fit in with the Spurs for a shot at a championship. It was also clear during the playoffs that San Antonio could use a playoff-tested alternative at point guard to the up-and-down Tony Parker, whose only backup last season was untested rookie Beno Udrih.

Missing out on Finley, meanwhile, comes as a blow to the Suns more than any other spurned suitor. With Nash as lead recruiter, and banking on Finley's fond feelings for the desert after starting his career there in 1995, Phoenix was hoping to land the 10-year veteran to start him in the guard slot vacated by Joe Johnson. Finley would have joined Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and the returning Jim Jackson in a group approach to replacing Johnson.

The Suns, though, could only offer Finley a veteran minimum salary of $1.1 million for next season. Failing to land Finley doesn't necessarily knock Phoenix from its top-two perch in the West, after the Suns made their own series of roster tweaks, but figures to make it tougher for them to close the gap on the team that knocked Phoenix out in last spring's Western Conference finals.

The Heat, widely regarded as the favorites in the Finley chase, were offering a starting salary at the full mid-level exception ($5 million) and the chance to team with Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade. Yet with the Heat already having added Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey in a five-team trade last month, Finley ultimately decided to pass on seeing how he'd fit into that mix. Instead he joins a club known for meshing quickly, with Duncan serving as the only constant on three very different championship teams.

Finley's decision will also come as a blow to the Mavericks and particularly star forward Dirk Nowitzki, who with Finley and Nash formed what was known in Dallas as a close-like-brothers Big Three. The Mavericks didn't want to see Finley follow Nash to Phoenix, but they were rooting against San Antonio, too, hoping their former face of the franchise would choose Miami or Detroit after the fruitless trade attempts.

The Mavericks decided they had to waive Finley because the amnesty clause will spare Dallas future luxury-tax payments on the nearly $52 million it still owes him. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban estimates the total savings over the next three seasons to be closer to $90 million, because Finley will receive his remaining Dallas salary in annual installments of less than $5 million.

korme · 08-31-2005, 05:41 PM

why the hell

Neuqua · 08-31-2005, 05:41 PM

I want video footage of Mark Cuban's face when he reads this.

MikeVic · 08-31-2005, 05:42 PM

Nice for the Spurs.

Schmidty · 08-31-2005, 06:03 PM

Glad he signed there instead of Miami.

korme · 08-31-2005, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmidty

Glad he signed there instead of Miami.

Why? He'd get much more PT in Miami

Neuqua · 08-31-2005, 06:09 PM

Because Schmidty is a Detroit Piston fan.

pennywisesb · 08-31-2005, 06:14 PM

It always amazes me when a player goes to a team that has been an arch rival for years and years. Finley has spent his entire career hoping to beat the Spurs and now he just joined them. Others that I can think of off the top of my head are Tom Glavine, Jeff Kent, Jerome Trotter, amongst a ton of others. This really has nothing to do with this thread I guess, but just thought I'd mention it. Afterall, its all about the benjamins.

jbmagic · 08-31-2005, 06:14 PM

Wow

The spurs signs finley and van exel.

Looks like there going to repeat again.

ThunderingHERD · 08-31-2005, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pennywisesb

This really has nothing to do with this thread I guess, but just thought I'd mention it. Afterall, its all about the benjamins.

Finley turned down twice as much money from the Heat.

korme · 08-31-2005, 07:23 PM

Finley and Van Exel as backups, this just isn't right.

daedalus · 08-31-2005, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Article in original post

Finley told ESPN.com on Wednesday that he has chosen to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, spurning a richer offer from the Miami Heat and the lure of an emotional return to the Phoenix Suns to reunite with close friend Steve Nash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pennywisesb

It always amazes me when a player goes to a team that has been an arch rival for years and years. Finley has spent his entire career hoping to beat the Spurs and now he just joined them. Others that I can think of off the top of my head are Tom Glavine, Jeff Kent, Jerome Trotter, amongst a ton of others. This really has nothing to do with this thread I guess, but just thought I'd mention it. Afterall, its all about the benjamins.

Seriously . . . when the quoted text in the ORIGINAL POST of the thread even mentions dude turning down more money, how is this "all about the benjamins"?

Also, "entire" and "the majority of" is not the same thing. Yeah, he's spent most of his career at Dallas. It's not "his entire career".

One last point, if I was him, I'd consider signing with the Spurs JUST to fuck with Dallas who just waived me. Loyalty has to go both ways, not just from the players.

daedalus · 08-31-2005, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

Finley and Van Exel as backups, this just isn't right.

Van Exel on a team that plays team basketball isn't right, either.

JeeberD · 08-31-2005, 10:55 PM

Fucking A...anyone but the goddamn Spurs...

Young Drachma · 08-31-2005, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

why the hell

I'd like to have seen him go to the East.

Neon_Chaos · 08-31-2005, 11:37 PM

Note that under the amnesty, Finley is obligated to give back half of his new salary to Dallas.

I think Finley wants a ring, and he feels that playing with SA is his biggest chance to win that ring.

miami_fan · 09-01-2005, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daedalus

Van Exel on a team that plays team basketball isn't right, either.

If Glenn Robinson could do it last year, Van Exel could this year

The Spurs have amass an incredible team for the upcoming year

Neon_Chaos · 09-01-2005, 05:40 AM

I also think it's going tobe easier for Finley's family, because it's an in-state move.

Antmeister · 09-01-2005, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daedalus

Van Exel on a team that plays team basketball isn't right, either.

C'mon that's not fair or accurate. I have fond memories of Nick Van Exel as a Laker when he pretty much kept us in games that we shouldn't have been in. Look at his assists during his seasons as a Laker and tell me he wasn't a team player. Plus I happen to remember that he did well playing for the Mavericks as well sharing ball handling responsibility and never complaining when he wasn't a starter for a majority of the games as a Maverick.

KeyserSoze · 09-01-2005, 05:54 AM

Wow... add to a champion team Van Exel, Finley and Oberto. Maybe you don't know Oberto but it´s one of the most polished PF/C that I´ve seen. If he can get NBA rythm he can be lethal.

If the Spurs don't get chemistry problems, it's a terrific team.

Alf · 09-01-2005, 07:39 AM

Just Wow.

Finley + Oberto + Van Exel

Alf is a happy TP fan who will be able to see his Spurs go back to defending their title !

daedalus · 09-01-2005, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antmeister71

C'mon that's not fair or accurate. I have fond memories of Nick Van Exel as a Laker when he pretty much kept us in games that we shouldn't have been in. Look at his assists during his seasons as a Laker and tell me he wasn't a team player. Plus I happen to remember that he did well playing for the Mavericks as well sharing ball handling responsibility and never complaining when he wasn't a starter for a majority of the games as a Maverick.

Van Exel's talent is unquestioned. Sure, he has the ability to shoot the team into games. Like The Microwave, he just as frequently shoot his team out of them. I will admit that his assist total and averages were impressive but, when they come at the end of him pounding the ball into the hardwood for 17 seconds (a la Kobe nowadays), that's not exactly a "team" game. It's possible that he's turned over a new leaf since and became an uncomplaining team player, as I have not followed the NBA terribly closely in the last few years. I'm just not really sensing it.

andy m · 09-01-2005, 09:45 AM

"Ossies Goin' to Wembley,
His knees have gone all Trembley,
Come on You Spurs,
Oh Come on You Spurs"...

"COOOOME OOOON, YOOOU...
Spurs are on their way to Wembley,
Tott'nm, Gonna doooo it, again,
They can't stop em,
The Boys from Tott'nm'
Those Boys from White Hart Lane".

"Spurs are on their way to Wembley,
Tottn'm, gonna doooo it, again,
Everybody will be singing,
When the Spurs go marching home!".

08-31-2005, 05:41 PM	#3
Neuqua Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Chicago, Ill	I want video footage of Mark Cuban's face when he reads this. __________________ Our Deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?

08-31-2005, 06:03 PM	#5
Schmidty Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Early, TX	Glad he signed there instead of Miami. __________________ Just beat the devil out of it!!! - Bob Ross

08-31-2005, 06:09 PM	#7
Neuqua Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Chicago, Ill	Because Schmidty is a Detroit Piston fan. __________________ Our Deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?

08-31-2005, 06:14 PM	#8
pennywisesb College Benchwarmer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, California	It always amazes me when a player goes to a team that has been an arch rival for years and years. Finley has spent his entire career hoping to beat the Spurs and now he just joined them. Others that I can think of off the top of my head are Tom Glavine, Jeff Kent, Jerome Trotter, amongst a ton of others. This really has nothing to do with this thread I guess, but just thought I'd mention it. Afterall, its all about the benjamins. __________________ Myspace Profile

08-31-2005, 10:55 PM	#14
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	Fucking A...anyone but the goddamn Spurs... __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

08-31-2005, 05:41 PM	#2
korme Go Reds Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bloodbuzz Ohio	why the hell

08-31-2005, 05:42 PM	#4
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	Nice for the Spurs.

08-31-2005, 06:14 PM	#9
jbmagic Pro Starter Join Date: Apr 2004	Wow The spurs signs finley and van exel. Looks like there going to repeat again.

08-31-2005, 07:23 PM	#11
korme Go Reds Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bloodbuzz Ohio	Finley and Van Exel as backups, this just isn't right.

08-31-2005, 11:37 PM	#16
Neon_Chaos Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Parañaque, Philippines	Note that under the amnesty, Finley is obligated to give back half of his new salary to Dallas. I think Finley wants a ring, and he feels that playing with SA is his biggest chance to win that ring. __________________ Come and see.

09-01-2005, 05:40 AM	#18
Neon_Chaos Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Parañaque, Philippines	I also think it's going tobe easier for Finley's family, because it's an in-state move. __________________ Come and see.

09-01-2005, 05:54 AM	#20
KeyserSoze H.S. Freshman Team Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Spain	Wow... add to a champion team Van Exel, Finley and Oberto. Maybe you don't know Oberto but it´s one of the most polished PF/C that I´ve seen. If he can get NBA rythm he can be lethal. If the Spurs don't get chemistry problems, it's a terrific team.

09-01-2005, 07:39 AM	#21
Alf Pro Starter Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Rennes, France	Just Wow. Finley + Oberto + Van Exel Alf is a happy TP fan who will be able to see his Spurs go back to defending their title ! __________________ FOFL - GML - IHOF - FranceStats

09-01-2005, 09:45 AM	#23
andy m High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: norwich, UK	"Ossies Goin' to Wembley, His knees have gone all Trembley, Come on You Spurs, Oh Come on You Spurs"... "COOOOME OOOON, YOOOU... Spurs are on their way to Wembley, Tott'nm, Gonna doooo it, again, They can't stop em, The Boys from Tott'nm' Those Boys from White Hart Lane". "Spurs are on their way to Wembley, Tottn'm, gonna doooo it, again, Everybody will be singing, When the Spurs go marching home!". __________________ mostly harmless FOFL 2009 champs - Norwich Quagmire

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