Kori Ellis
08-23-2005, 08:53 PM
Phoenix Suns entourage makes case to Finley
Associated Press
National Basketball Association News Wire
PRESCOTT, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Suns sent a six-person delegation, including three players, to meet with free agent guard Michael Finley in Chicago on Tuesday to try to persuade him to sign with the team that drafted him a decade ago.
"It was a nice meeting," Suns president Bryan Colangelo told The Associated Press just before flying back to Phoenix. "We had a chance to talk to Michael and his agent and I would say that things went well. Hopefully the story line we presented was a compelling one."
Joining Colangelo in the talks were team owner Robert Sarver, coach Mike D'Antoni and players Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Raja Bell. Not present but certainly a part of the campaign is Suns playmaker Steve Nash, a good friend and former Dallas Mavericks teammate of Finley.
Phoenix also has a message on its Web site urging fans to send e-mails pleading with Finley to come back to the Suns. Phoenix drafted Finley as the 21st pick overall in 1995. He was traded to Dallas in the 1996-97 season as part of the deal that brought Jason Kidd to the Suns.
The 32-year-old shooting guard has indicated he wants to play for a title contender, and the Suns believe they fit that description after an NBA-best 62 win season. Adding Finley would ease the impact of the departure of Joe Johnson, who went to Atlanta in a sign-and-trade deal after telling Sarver he no longer wanted to play for the Suns.
Phoenix was the second team to send a delegation to Chicago this week to talk to Finley and his agent Henry Thomas. Miami Heat president Pat Riley and coach Stan Van Gundy were there on Monday. Miami can offer Finley the full $5 million midlevel exception, not to mention the opportunity to play with Shaquille O'Neal. The Suns can offer only the $1.1 million veteran's minimum.
Finley, who averaged a career-low 15.7 points last season, was waived by Dallas under a one-time "amnesty clause" that allows teams to cut players to keep their salaries from being subject to the NBA's luxury tax. Finley still will receive the $52 million remaining on his Dallas contract, but the Mavs won't have to pay that same amount in luxury tax, as they would have had he been kept on the roster.
Detroit and San Antonio also have indicated interest, but the Pistons used up much of their remaining money by signing Dale Davis to a two-year, $7 million contract on Tuesday.
Thomas did not return a message left on his cell phone.
Associated Press
National Basketball Association News Wire
PRESCOTT, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Suns sent a six-person delegation, including three players, to meet with free agent guard Michael Finley in Chicago on Tuesday to try to persuade him to sign with the team that drafted him a decade ago.
"It was a nice meeting," Suns president Bryan Colangelo told The Associated Press just before flying back to Phoenix. "We had a chance to talk to Michael and his agent and I would say that things went well. Hopefully the story line we presented was a compelling one."
Joining Colangelo in the talks were team owner Robert Sarver, coach Mike D'Antoni and players Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Raja Bell. Not present but certainly a part of the campaign is Suns playmaker Steve Nash, a good friend and former Dallas Mavericks teammate of Finley.
Phoenix also has a message on its Web site urging fans to send e-mails pleading with Finley to come back to the Suns. Phoenix drafted Finley as the 21st pick overall in 1995. He was traded to Dallas in the 1996-97 season as part of the deal that brought Jason Kidd to the Suns.
The 32-year-old shooting guard has indicated he wants to play for a title contender, and the Suns believe they fit that description after an NBA-best 62 win season. Adding Finley would ease the impact of the departure of Joe Johnson, who went to Atlanta in a sign-and-trade deal after telling Sarver he no longer wanted to play for the Suns.
Phoenix was the second team to send a delegation to Chicago this week to talk to Finley and his agent Henry Thomas. Miami Heat president Pat Riley and coach Stan Van Gundy were there on Monday. Miami can offer Finley the full $5 million midlevel exception, not to mention the opportunity to play with Shaquille O'Neal. The Suns can offer only the $1.1 million veteran's minimum.
Finley, who averaged a career-low 15.7 points last season, was waived by Dallas under a one-time "amnesty clause" that allows teams to cut players to keep their salaries from being subject to the NBA's luxury tax. Finley still will receive the $52 million remaining on his Dallas contract, but the Mavs won't have to pay that same amount in luxury tax, as they would have had he been kept on the roster.
Detroit and San Antonio also have indicated interest, but the Pistons used up much of their remaining money by signing Dale Davis to a two-year, $7 million contract on Tuesday.
Thomas did not return a message left on his cell phone.