rl64tx
08-30-2005, 08:03 PM
Finley's delay could be good news for Suns, Spurs
SI.com
Posted: Tuesday August 30, 2005 5:56PM; Updated: Tuesday August 30, 2005 5:56PM
It seems like a no-brainer. Michael Finley is sure to sign with the Heat, right? After all, Miami can offer him more money than Phoenix or San Antonio -- as well as a chance to play with Shaq for an NBA title.
Why is Finley hesitating?
"I haven't decided yet," the free-agent shooting guard said Tuesday as he left the West Loop Athletic Club in Chicago, where he was working out with his personal trainer. "I should know by the end of the week."
It remains a good bet when all is said and done Finley, perhaps the top free agent left on the market, will sign with the Heat. After all, Miami has its full mid-level exception available -- $5 million next season -- while San Antonio can offer only $2.5 million and Phoenix the veteran's minimum of $1.1 million. Although an offset clause in the league's waiver rules would require Finley to give back around half of any new deal to his old Mavericks team, that's still a million good reasons to bypass the Spurs and two million to spurn the Suns.
But if the 32-year-old veteran has decided on plying his trade in South Beach next season he apparently hasn't told newly-acquired Heat forward Antoine Walker.
Finley and Walker have been working out almost daily at the West Loop club, formerly known as Hoops The Gym. On Tuesday, Finley emerged from the facility around 1:30 p.m. as Walker and several other NBA players were arriving for afternoon pickup games. Finley, ice bags taped to his knees, stopped to chat briefly with Bucks guard Bobby Simmons, then climbed into his black Land Rover.
Walker showed up just as Finley was pulling out of the driveway. "What'd Mike say?" Walker asked, seemingly as in the dark as everybody else. Told that Finley hadn't yet decided, Walker just shrugged.
If Finley were locked into the Heat, wouldn't he have given some indication by now to his fellow Chicagoan and potential teammate? Or was Walker merely acting as if he didn't know?
SI.com
Posted: Tuesday August 30, 2005 5:56PM; Updated: Tuesday August 30, 2005 5:56PM
It seems like a no-brainer. Michael Finley is sure to sign with the Heat, right? After all, Miami can offer him more money than Phoenix or San Antonio -- as well as a chance to play with Shaq for an NBA title.
Why is Finley hesitating?
"I haven't decided yet," the free-agent shooting guard said Tuesday as he left the West Loop Athletic Club in Chicago, where he was working out with his personal trainer. "I should know by the end of the week."
It remains a good bet when all is said and done Finley, perhaps the top free agent left on the market, will sign with the Heat. After all, Miami has its full mid-level exception available -- $5 million next season -- while San Antonio can offer only $2.5 million and Phoenix the veteran's minimum of $1.1 million. Although an offset clause in the league's waiver rules would require Finley to give back around half of any new deal to his old Mavericks team, that's still a million good reasons to bypass the Spurs and two million to spurn the Suns.
But if the 32-year-old veteran has decided on plying his trade in South Beach next season he apparently hasn't told newly-acquired Heat forward Antoine Walker.
Finley and Walker have been working out almost daily at the West Loop club, formerly known as Hoops The Gym. On Tuesday, Finley emerged from the facility around 1:30 p.m. as Walker and several other NBA players were arriving for afternoon pickup games. Finley, ice bags taped to his knees, stopped to chat briefly with Bucks guard Bobby Simmons, then climbed into his black Land Rover.
Walker showed up just as Finley was pulling out of the driveway. "What'd Mike say?" Walker asked, seemingly as in the dark as everybody else. Told that Finley hadn't yet decided, Walker just shrugged.
If Finley were locked into the Heat, wouldn't he have given some indication by now to his fellow Chicagoan and potential teammate? Or was Walker merely acting as if he didn't know?