McDonald: Spurs remain on hold regarding Finley [Archive]

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Mr.Bottomtooth

08-08-2008, 11:58 PM

Web Posted: 08/09/2008 12:00 CDT
Spurs remain on hold regarding Finley

Jeff McDonald - Express-News

Two months and one week after he became a free agent, Michael Finley remains a man without a team.

Whether Finley returns for a fourth season in a Spurs uniform appears to be entirely up to him.

The Spurs are believed to have tendered Finley an offer worth more than the veteran minimum of $1.3 million to keep him in San Antonio, where he was a part-time starter on a team that went to the Western Conference finals last season.

If Finley winds up playing anywhere else next season, there's a chance — however remote — it could be in a familiar haunt.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, citing Finley's agent as its source, has reported the Dallas Mavericks have contacted the 35-year-old guard about a possible return to the Metroplex.

Finley spent 81/2 seasons with the Mavericks before joining the Spurs as a free agent during the 2005 offseason. However, it seems a long shot Finley would relocate to Dallas.

Not only are the Mavericks overstocked on the wing, they are far over the NBA's salary cap, and are limited to offering the veteran minimum, the figure the Spurs are believed already to have exceeded.

Because of Finley's status as a Bird free agent, the Spurs can outbid any other team for his services.

Heading into his 14th NBA campaign, Finley remains very much a part of the Spurs' immediate plans — even as the team signed another free-agent swingman, Roger Mason Jr., earlier this summer.

Finley, who started 61 games last season, averaged 10.1 points and shot 41.4 percent from the field, including 37 percent from 3-point range — numbers that were actually a step up from his 2006-07 campaign. Though his value on the NBA's free-agent market has been mild this summer, Finley already has turned down an offer to play in Europe next season.

Finley's agent, Henry Thomas, did not return a phone call from the Express-News on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Spurs' pursuit of another free-agent guard drags on as well.

Jannero Pargo, the primary backup to All-Star point guard Chris Paul in New Orleans last season, is considering an offer from the Spurs believed to start at $2 million. That figure represents roughly the remainder of the Spurs' mid-level exception, most of which went to sign Mason.

It is said Pargo is seeking a deal that would push him past the $2 million threshold. Pargo's agent, Mark Bartelstein, declined to say what other teams are interested in the 28-year-old guard.

“We're just trying to work through the process and come to a decision,” Bartelstein said Friday.

The Spurs appear to be operating on a similarly vague timetable when it comes to signing their three newest draft picks. There are growing indications they might end up inking just one of them — first-rounder George Hill, a backup point guard.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/spurs_remain_on_hold_regarding_finley100.html

tp2021

08-09-2008, 12:37 AM

Fuck me. Fuck me right in the ass.

mystargtr34

08-09-2008, 12:39 AM

:lol i dont think its such a bad thing as the 5th wing.

tp2021

08-09-2008, 12:43 AM

More than the minimum though...in principle, that is bullshit. the Spurs are supposed to be frugal, so they offer a prospective 5th wing more than he's worth?

timtonymanu

08-09-2008, 12:45 AM

im not against signing him if he doesnt get alot of PT. IMO, he still has a little left in him. like people mentioned before if he were to come back, he should play the "steve smith" role.

tp2021

08-09-2008, 12:48 AM

Fuck Steve Smith. and fuck fin too.

timvp

08-09-2008, 12:54 AM

The Spurs are believed to have tendered Finley an offer worth more than the veteran minimum

:shootme

It is said Pargo is seeking a deal that would push him past the $2 million threshold.

:shootme

There are growing indications they might end up inking just one of them — first-rounder George Hill, a backup point guard.

Hopefully the Spurs can get Hairston to sign in Europe. He looks like he's not an NBA player but better to keep the asset over in Europe for a year than to be forced to just waive him.

tp2021

08-09-2008, 12:56 AM

Hopefully the Spurs can get Hairston to sign in Europe. He looks like he's not an NBA player but better to keep the asset over in Europe for a year than to be forced to just waive him.

Just like Gist.
:depressed

DMX7

08-09-2008, 01:11 AM

Fuck me. Fuck me right in the ass.

lol:lmao

SenorSpur

08-09-2008, 01:33 AM

Cant_Be_Faded

08-09-2008, 01:36 AM

i remember the days when timvp takes were actually indicative of actual Spurs Front Office Movements......................................... ....................

underdawg

08-09-2008, 01:42 AM

This sucks. Another offseason and the Spurs have made very little progress in improving themselves at the very position where they needed the most help.

Seems so - but last year what moves did the Spurs make to improve their holes? They kept status quo and almost everyone on this forum was saying that they needed to make certain moves to keep them competetive. What move could they have made last year and more importantly - what move could they have made this year that would put them back in the running? Obviously I'm pretty stupid, but other than the Rockettes who in the West has really improved dramatically that the Spurs have no chance of winning against in the playoffs. By the way, I do not buy into the hype that the Rockettes are contenders now - too many what ifs.

Aggie Hoopsfan

08-09-2008, 02:02 AM

The Spurs are believed to have tendered Finley an offer worth more than the veteran minimum of $1.3 million

:vomit:

Fuck you Pop. Stupid ass son of a bitch. I guess you didn't learn shit this year when Finley couldn't guard my grandma for the last two months of the season, let alone the playoffs.

But he took the minimum while the Mavs were playing him 20 million a year

Yeah, I know. Fuck you.

Dex

08-09-2008, 02:04 AM

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/07AzcWHddm9yX/610x.jpg
I just can't quit you.

timvp

08-09-2008, 02:07 AM

I'm guessing the Spurs are offering something around $2.1M. Probably north of the LLE. Maybe even two years.

Unbelievable.

duncan228

08-09-2008, 02:13 AM

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, citing Finley's agent as its source, has reported the Dallas Mavericks have contacted the 35-year-old guard about a possible return to the Metroplex.

http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/820403.html

Dallas Mavericks’ Foster out, Finley returning?
By Jeff Caplan

The Dallas Mavericks will ship second-round draft pick Shan Foster overseas next season, but could they be bringing back an old hand?

It’s not likely, but Michael Finley is a free agent and is apparently holding off re-signing with the San Antonio Spurs in hopes of receiving a better offer elsewhere.

Earlier this summer Finley’s agent, Henry Thomas, said the Mavs inquired about the 6-foot-7 shooting guard, who played for the Mavs for eight seasons. During the 2007 NBA Finals, when Finley and the Spurs beat Cleveland, Mavs owner Mark Cuban said he would welcome Finley back.

It would seem implausible for the Mavs to outbid the Spurs for Finley, 35, when they already have Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Eddie Jones, Gerald Green and Antoine Wright at shooting guard.

Foster, a 6-foot-6 3-point specialist taken 51st by the Mavs, hoped to compete for playing time at shooting guard as well. He’ll instead polish his game in Europe for at least one season.

The Mavs have 13 players signed to guaranteed contracts. Guard Keith McLeod signed a non-guaranteed contract before July’s summer league.

whottt

08-09-2008, 02:13 AM

Because of Finley's status as a Bird free agent, the Spurs can outbid any other team for his services.

Whooo. Lucky. Us.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, citing Finley's agent as its source, has reported the Dallas Mavericks have contacted the 35-year-old guard about a possible return to the Metroplex.

We should start up a collection to give the Mavs a little something extra to throw his way.

If we get rid of Finley we might immediately make the Finals...like the Mavs did.

timvp

08-09-2008, 02:24 AM

ChumpDumper

08-09-2008, 02:31 AM

I don't see how the amount makes any difference.

I also don't know why the Spurs can't sign more than one rookie.

timaios

08-09-2008, 03:29 AM

At least Michael Finley is a giant (6'7) among spurs.
We are so fucking small and the Lakers are so fucking tall.

TDMVPDPOY

08-09-2008, 03:56 AM

fuk no, dont sign this clown...his going to enjoy cashin in 2 paychecks again

Bruno

08-09-2008, 05:13 AM

It will likely be Finley's last contract. It's understandable that he wants to be in the right team. Money shouldn't be the main factor (he turned down Europe). The main factor is likely the role teams want to give him.

I wonder who is Spurs' plan B. I just hope it's not Devean George.

SenorSpur

08-09-2008, 07:11 AM

Michael Finley has made $124,909,839.69 in his NBA career. That's more money than Tim Duncan. That's more money than David Robinson made in his career. That's more money than Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen, Manu Ginobili and Sean Elliott combined.

The Spurs should be offering him the minimum. He's already one of the most overpaid players in the history of sport. For never actually being a full-fledged star, he's made way above what he should have made.

Minimum or bust. F Finley for trying to milk the Spurs and F the Spurs for caving in.

:pctoss

Wow! That's some perspective.

His erratic production during last season warrants him being a 5th wing on a championship contender. The Spurs would be damn fools to offer him anything more than the league minimum.

I always knew Cuban would pursue Finley when his contract was up. I hope he goes. Frankly, I'm sick of Pop's man-crush on him anyway. As far as I'm concerned, Finley returning to the metroplex would be ADVANTAGE SPURS.

Spurs Brazil

08-09-2008, 07:36 AM

Maybe the Spurs are "rewarding" Finley because he came in 2006 for less money than other team offered.

SenorSpur

08-09-2008, 08:07 AM

Maybe the Spurs are "rewarding" Finley because he came in 2006 for less money than other team offered.

He got his reward in the form of a championship ring.

benefactor

08-09-2008, 09:13 AM

Just go away dammit....

Fabbs

08-09-2008, 09:52 AM

"You've got to play defense if you're going to play for Pop."

What a b.s. myth.

Thanks for posting his career earings timvp. If Fins is holding out for more money that's a disgrace. Bigger disgrace that his boyfriend Popped is allowing it.

loveforthegame

08-09-2008, 10:07 AM

I doubt Finley is holding out for more money. He could have gone elsewhere before he signed with the Spurs if that's what he was all about.

My guess is that he might not want to sit at the end of the bench to finish his career. I think it has to do with minutes and not racking up a bunch of DNP's which would be likely here. He'd basically be taking the Brent Barry role.

wildbill2u

08-09-2008, 10:10 AM

This sucks. Another offseason and the Spurs have made very little progress in improving themselves at the very position where they needed the most help. The wing position still remains this team's achilles heel.

Speaking of Achilles Heel, take a look at the talent at the center and PF position. We have three players who are sort of interchangeable--Duncan, Oberto, and Thomas--with two of the three having to be on the court at all times since there isn't much proven talent behind them (Bonner, and presumably Tolliver and Mahimi).

Indazone

08-09-2008, 10:24 AM

If Finley goes to the Mavs it'll make them a contender..oh wait it's the Mavs.

Nevermind. LOL

mrspurs

08-09-2008, 10:25 AM

This sucks. Another offseason and the Spurs have made very little progress in improving themselves at the very position where they needed the most help. The wing position still remains this team's achilles heel.

meaning no disrepect, i sense youve been around the spurs along time, so i have a tendacy to read your posts, but imo its in the paint where us spurs need help first....i dont care what the stats say, but imo timmys face looked to much like jason kidds face(during his last half of the mavs season) completely frustrated, becos of the lack of help he has had since the departure of david. imo tony,manu and bowen have had more then enough helpers during these ring years.......timmy has been left hanging and his play this past season showed it, to many missed easy shots(way way to many) and his off the glass shot(a thing of the past) timmy is either holding or throwing the ball back out, all this imo is becos he has noone else under the rim he Knows has his back. unless ian turns into superman over night, the spurs will live and die from beyond the arc, becos there is hardly nothing under the paint anymore...(i bet timmy knows how many times he gets alley-ooped on per game by basically every team in the league now)...something that used tobe unheard of

pad300

08-09-2008, 10:37 AM

Minimum or bust. F Finley for trying to milk the Spurs and F the Spurs for caving in.

Nah, minimum or S&T try something like this -

SA out - Bonner, Vaughn, Finley (S&T'ed declining contract for 3 years. 3ed year exists but is a team option, 3M$, vet min, vet min)
SA in - Pachulia, Wright
Why? SA moves Vaugh (dead weight if we have Pargo), Finley who was very inconsistent last year, and Bonner who appears to be immovably in Pop's doghouse. We get a serviceable big (Pachulia), a SF prospect, while getting younger and more athletic, and don't significantly screw up our salary cap. Finley signs on because he gets significantly overpaid in year one, and Miami's a nice place to be (as well as maybe a darkhorse out east - Wade, Beasely, Marion might just shock the hell out of people).

ATL out - Pachulia
ATL in - Bonner, Vaughn
Why? Bonner might be a better fit than Pachulia, Vaughn gives them a decent 2nd/3ed option pg (they currently have only Claxton and Law).

MIA in - Finley
MIA out - Wright (S&T'ed as increasing contract for 3 years, 3ed year is a team option, starting at 4$M per year)
Why? Gets a character vet for a young locker room as value for Wright who wants more money than they want to pay. Finley's last year may have been an aberration. Gives them a body to play while gunning for another lottery pick if it doesn't gell, and gives them a vet who has come up big in big games before if it does...
Wright signs because it's A) more money than the qualifying offer, and B) more money than Miami is willing to pay him...

(PS. Does anyone know if there a rule about the declining contract value; there is a limit on raises, 10.5% or 8% depending on who's signing the player, but I have found nothing on decreases... Could you structure a 10M/3yrs contract so that it give $8M the 1st year, then 1$M & 1$M?)

mrspurs

08-09-2008, 10:57 AM

Seems so - but last year what moves did the Spurs make to improve their holes? They kept status quo and almost everyone on this forum was saying that they needed to make certain moves to keep them competetive. What move could they have made last year and more importantly - what move could they have made this year that would put them back in the running? Obviously I'm pretty stupid, but other than the Rockettes who in the West has really improved dramatically that the Spurs have no chance of winning against in the playoffs. By the way, I do not buy into the hype that the Rockettes are contenders now - too many what ifs.

when the spurs won the rings in 06-07, as soon as the clock went off and we swept the cavs. i bet all my friends, that were in front of the tv, if we keep this roster next season, we would win it again.(not knowing gasol would goto the lakers of course) but even so, with the 06-07 roster we would have beaten the celtics...somewhere during last season pop had a brain fart, (when the suns traded for shaq and the west went crazy) 1.decided beno must go(proven championship experience backup point),2. parker got hurt, 3.pop brought in mighty mouse(imo reason why we lost hca and anyhopes after that), 3.they traded barry and our only (championship experience proven 7fter) elson, and brought in 6'9 by far slower and shorter kurt thomas. all that missing around with a machine that was working killed us. not only then, but theyve yet to fix everything the FO broke in half a season.........btw if the spurs bring back finley, finley will get alot of minutes, its amazing how veteran players play when they have no pressure..just ask fab how much pressure he had, when kurt was still trying to figure out where the at@t center was,(fab and pressure=choke artist) with mason coming in that will take pressure off finley(so all of a sudden i bet finley starts hitting his shots again) and his minutes go up(maybe not a bad thing) but imo in half a season(latter part of a season) the FO took apart a team defending their championship and then expected the players to respond by winning it all with older,slower and lost role players.......lets see how they fix the mess they made.....its aint so bad thou, only thing that concerns me is......father time

Tully365

08-09-2008, 01:30 PM

Finley would go from being a starter at SG to being the 3rd string SG, so for a small one year deal, I don't mind this move if nothing else presents itself. 12-15 minutes a game behind the 25-32 mpg of Mason and Manu wouldn't hurt, and in the event that Bowen or Udoka got hurt, Finley would provide a little bit of insurance. I'd rather see Gist develop as a 3/4 combo forward but we might have to wait for next year to see that happen.

Tully365

08-09-2008, 01:33 PM

If Finley goes to the Mavs it'll make them a contender..oh wait it's the Mavs.

Nevermind. LOL

Yeah, I guess the Mavs could use some lessons from the Rockets on how to succeed in the playoffs.

Nevermind. LOL. Two peas in a pod.

DROB4EVER

08-09-2008, 01:37 PM

Fin knows if he comes back he will get alot of DNPs. As a third string 2 and 3, Pops only plays about 8 or 9 guys most nights so he would be lucky to even check in.

I wouldnt mind using him like we did Horry where he plays a game and is off the next night, would allow us to rest manu more during the season.

If by some small chance we get Pargo, Finley likely is done as a Spur, he will be bench fodder and he knows it. Hes hoping someone will offer him a good role with a good team, not likely to happen.

I can see him going to PHX if he goes anywhere, but noone is gonna offer more than vet min and we have a slightly higher offer on the table so take it or leave it pal.

AFBlue

08-09-2008, 01:38 PM

ducks

08-09-2008, 01:50 PM

this writer is a joke
he has no clue
if it was from ludden then I would believe it

Tully365

08-09-2008, 02:13 PM

Okay, I'm going to disregard the Finley news because it's inconsequential at this point.

And I'm going to focus on the comment about only likely signing Hill at this point....

WTF?

One of the Spurs' chief goals this off-season seemed to be to get younger and more athletic. They had three draft picks to accomplish and ended up with a backup PG who isn't ready and two second round picks that likely won't be with this team this year...if ever.

If the Spurs had a plan, it looks shot at this point.

Don't you think, though, that Mason/Hill/Mahinmi is a legit step in the direction of getting younger? Oldsters Horry and Barry are gone, Finley if he resigns will play fewer minutes... and if Pargo signs, that's another 20 something added. None of the moves have been blockbusters, but the Spurs are undoubtedly getting younger.

I still think Hill will be a good 3 pt shooter in the NBA. He shot 46% from there as a senior last year. It's way too early to give up on him.

Solid D

08-09-2008, 02:48 PM

The Spurs trying to bring back Finley is no surprise. Pop likes him and he likes his influence in the room. The only thing we don't know is how much above $1.3M the Spurs will need to go.

The Pargo deal is a bit more concerning to me, personally. Mark Bertelstein got a fair - not outrageous price for Mason, but he is known for getting north of actual value for his clients (Mark Blount, Brian Cardinal, Antoine Walker, and on and on...).

Most of the Spurs fans are concerned about players 9-15. The top 8 are pretty set.

Oberto, Thomas
Duncan
Bowen, Udoka
Ginobili, Mason
Parker

SenorSpur

08-09-2008, 02:57 PM

meaning no disrepect, i sense youve been around the spurs along time, so i have a tendacy to read your posts, but imo its in the paint where us spurs need help first....i dont care what the stats say, but imo timmys face looked to much like jason kidds face(during his last half of the mavs season) completely frustrated, becos of the lack of help he has had since the departure of david. imo tony,manu and bowen have had more then enough helpers during these ring years.......

No disrespect taken MrSpurs. In fact, I couldn't agree with you more. I stated in a several few posts earlier this summer that I grew tired of seeing Tim being overworked against the "suddenly" bigger frontlines of the Western Conference. We all know Tim is a great player, but it's too much to expect him to score in the post, rebound, block shots and defend the likes of Shaq, Amare, Yao, Oden, Bynum, Chandler, Gasol and others - without adequate help - and at the risk of incurring foul trouble. Dude is not 26 years old anymore. Oberto and Thomas are good players and they each have 6 fouls to use, but simply they don't provide an interior presence.

This need for a backup big became more glaring when Splitter decided to stay with Tau Ceramica. Before the start of the FA signing period, I was one of the few touting the acquisition of Desgana Diop. Of course, we all know the Mavs panicked and extended their full MLE to the guy - which was a big mistake.

Ian should help, but we all know it's going to take him some time to adjust to the league and find his way into the rotation on a regular basis. I'm disappointed in that the Spurs have not provided Tim some veteran relief, but now their limited in what they can do. I don't want to see another episode of "Tim versus the world", but the options are few at this point.

Texas_Ranger

08-09-2008, 03:13 PM

I like Finley. He should stay.
At least he can still score a 3 poiter.

Solid D

08-09-2008, 03:56 PM

Last season, Mike Finley played the 5th most minutes during the regular season. He wouldn't be a bad 9th man, which is what Brent Barry was last season, if that is what Pop does with him. Mason taking over Fin's slot at 5th most minutes or better would be nice.

Here are the players likely to occupy the top 8 spots (black bold) with their mpg rank last season in parentheses. Only the top 6 players averaged 20 mpg or more and Finley was one of them. What the Spurs must do is figure out injury protection and matchup players 9-12 (blue).

Oberto (6), Thomas (7), Mahinmi
Duncan (1), Bonner (12), Tolliver
Bowen (4), Udoka (8), Finley (5) ?
Ginobili (3), Mason, Pargo ?
Parker (2), Vaughn (10), Hill ?

mrspurs

08-09-2008, 04:16 PM