ducks
09-03-2005, 08:44 PM
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/b...ks/12543144.htm
Finley eyes title as he joins Spurs
By DWAIN PRICE
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The day the Mavericks have been dreading is today, when Michael Finley signs a free-agent contract with the world champion San Antonio Spurs.
"I wish him the best off the court," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said. "On the court, I hope they go 0-82."
Before the Mavs used the NBA's new "amnesty" clause to release Finley on Aug. 15, they tried to trade the 10-year swingman to an Eastern Conference team. Now, Finley joins a star-studded archrival that has won the league championship twice in the past three seasons and three times in seven years.
"One of the reasons that he chose San Antonio is they present to him an opportunity to win a championship," said Henry Thomas, Finley's Chicago-based agent. "That's something that is at the very top of his list in terms of goals that he has as an NBA player for the remainder of his career."
The Spurs will hold a news conference at 3 p.m. today in San Antonio to introduce Finley.
Finley spent the past eight-plus seasons with the Mavs and holds several of the team's all-time franchise records. But when Cuban had an opportunity to save $51.8 million in luxury taxes by waiving Finley, he took it.
"I love what we've got going on," Cuban said. "We've got the opportunity to be a good small team, and a good big team. [Losing] Fin was more painful because of the circumstances."
And losing Finley to the Spurs is even more painful for Cuban, who instructed his employees not to comment about Finley's departure.
Before Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash were acquired on June 24, 1998, Finley was the face of the Mavs' franchise. He became a two-time All-Star and helped make the team respectable again.
"Mike had a great run with the Mavericks," Thomas said. "He obviously has great memories of Dallas and great relationships that he made with people there. He's sorry that they couldn't win a championship while he was there. It's time to move on."
Finley joins a Spurs lineup that includes Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. He'll be asked to come off the bench along with Robert Horry, rookie Fabricio Oberto and former Mavs guard Nick Van Exel, who signed with the Spurs on Monday.
Thomas said Finley has no problem playing in a reserve role for the first time since he was traded to the Mavs on Dec. 26, 1996.
"He's looking forward to fitting in and blending in," Thomas said. "He just wants to come in and have a role, and then win some more championships."
Representatives from the Spurs, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves visited Finley at his home near Chicago last week in an effort to recruit him.
Many believed he would sign with the Heat, because Miami could offer him the most money -- a first-year salary of $5 million -- plus the opportunity to play with Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade.
Finley, however, chose the Spurs and a first-year salary of about $2.6 million.
"It was a hard decision because all of the organizations that he dealt with were top organizations," Thomas said. "They all have chances to be real good teams and championship-caliber teams."
Dwain Price, (817) 390-7760 [email protected]
Finley eyes title as he joins Spurs
By DWAIN PRICE
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The day the Mavericks have been dreading is today, when Michael Finley signs a free-agent contract with the world champion San Antonio Spurs.
"I wish him the best off the court," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said. "On the court, I hope they go 0-82."
Before the Mavs used the NBA's new "amnesty" clause to release Finley on Aug. 15, they tried to trade the 10-year swingman to an Eastern Conference team. Now, Finley joins a star-studded archrival that has won the league championship twice in the past three seasons and three times in seven years.
"One of the reasons that he chose San Antonio is they present to him an opportunity to win a championship," said Henry Thomas, Finley's Chicago-based agent. "That's something that is at the very top of his list in terms of goals that he has as an NBA player for the remainder of his career."
The Spurs will hold a news conference at 3 p.m. today in San Antonio to introduce Finley.
Finley spent the past eight-plus seasons with the Mavs and holds several of the team's all-time franchise records. But when Cuban had an opportunity to save $51.8 million in luxury taxes by waiving Finley, he took it.
"I love what we've got going on," Cuban said. "We've got the opportunity to be a good small team, and a good big team. [Losing] Fin was more painful because of the circumstances."
And losing Finley to the Spurs is even more painful for Cuban, who instructed his employees not to comment about Finley's departure.
Before Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash were acquired on June 24, 1998, Finley was the face of the Mavs' franchise. He became a two-time All-Star and helped make the team respectable again.
"Mike had a great run with the Mavericks," Thomas said. "He obviously has great memories of Dallas and great relationships that he made with people there. He's sorry that they couldn't win a championship while he was there. It's time to move on."
Finley joins a Spurs lineup that includes Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. He'll be asked to come off the bench along with Robert Horry, rookie Fabricio Oberto and former Mavs guard Nick Van Exel, who signed with the Spurs on Monday.
Thomas said Finley has no problem playing in a reserve role for the first time since he was traded to the Mavs on Dec. 26, 1996.
"He's looking forward to fitting in and blending in," Thomas said. "He just wants to come in and have a role, and then win some more championships."
Representatives from the Spurs, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves visited Finley at his home near Chicago last week in an effort to recruit him.
Many believed he would sign with the Heat, because Miami could offer him the most money -- a first-year salary of $5 million -- plus the opportunity to play with Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade.
Finley, however, chose the Spurs and a first-year salary of about $2.6 million.
"It was a hard decision because all of the organizations that he dealt with were top organizations," Thomas said. "They all have chances to be real good teams and championship-caliber teams."
Dwain Price, (817) 390-7760 [email protected]