Ex-Raptor James agrees to deal with Wolves

[JGrice02]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2516449

[Mr. Body]

Unexpected. He must like cold weather.

[rayray2k8]

Kg

[ducks]

Updated: July 11, 2006, 5:06 PM ET
Ex-Raptor James agrees to deal with WolvesBy Marc Stein
ESPN.com



James

The Minnesota Timberwolves' willingness to make a four-year commitment to Mike James has landed them the best point guard still available on the free-agent market.

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com that James on Tuesday agreed to sign a four-year contract with the Wolves worth an estimated $25 million.

James also confirmed the agreement to radio station ESPN790 in Houston on Tuesday.

Wednesday is the first day free agents can officially sign contracts.

James had narrowed his choice to Minnesota, Dallas and Houston -- where he maintains an offseason home -- and indicated over the weekend that the Mavericks had a slight edge, largely because of his relationship with Mavs coach Avery Johnson and their recent trip to the NBA Finals.

But the Mavericks and Rockets, according to sources, wouldn't commit to more than a three-year offer to the 31-year-old.

Minnesota's four-year pitch and the chance to team with Kevin Garnett won it for the Wolves, who have injected their backcourt with plenty of scoring potential by signing James and acquiring rookie Randy Foye on draft night.

Signing James alleviates Minnesota's need to start Foye as a rookie. James would likely team with Ricky Davis as the Wolves' starters in the backcourt, with defensive stopper Trenton Hassell at small forward and Foye coming off the bench.

If Foye can make an immediate impact and James can approach his production from last season's breakout performance in Toronto -- 20.3 points and 5.8 assists per game, as well as 44.2 percent shooting from 3-point range -- Garnett figures to be pleased.

The Wolves have resisted all trade interest in Garnett, vowing to take one more stab at building around their 30-year-old franchise player by finding scorers to play off him.

[ChumpDumper]

Another masterpiece deal by McHale.

[ducks]

mavs are cheap only 3 years.....

[strangeweather]

Once again, the team that will sign the biggest contract lands the player.

[Kori Ellis]

This means they likely won't be able to sign Banks.


General Manager Jim Stack confirmed Monday that the NBA turned down a Wolves petition to free Banks from certain restrictions on fourth-year players' salaries. Now, if the bidding for Banks' services goes beyond $2.464 million for the 2006-07 season, the team would have to spend part or all of its midlevel exception to the salary cap, a valuable chip worth $5 million to lure outside help. That means the more the Wolves spend to bring back Banks, the less they'll have to offer newcomers. Or vice versa.

[timvp]

He got his 4-year contract that he wanted. I'm glad he didn't sign with the Mavs.

I'm also glad that this took the T'Wolves out of the Reggie Evans race.

:smokin

[Pistons < Spurs]

Minny is where I wanted him to go! I like the idea of Davis James and KG together.

[ducks]

so banks to houston?

[Jimcs50]

I just heard that he signed with Houston.

which is true?

[ChumpDumper]

Houston will just roll with Alston and Lucas.

[rayray2k8]

He got his 4-year contract that he wanted. I'm glad he didn't sign with the Mavs.

I'm also glad that this took the T'Wolves out of the Reggie Evans race.

:smokin

I know your high off of Evans, but are the spurs even considering this guy?
I would love to have him on the squad for rebounding purposes only, but thats about it. Hes more like a bigger version of Malik Rose. Do we want to go though that again?

[FromWayDowntown]

mavs are cheap only 3 years.....

nice.

[ShoogarBear]

I agree, I'm glad he didn't sign with the Mavs.

[Kori Ellis]

I just heard that he signed with Houston.

which is true?


NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com that James on Tuesday agreed to sign a four-year contract with the Wolves worth an estimated $25 million.

James also confirmed the agreement to radio station ESPN790 in Houston on Tuesday.

Is that where you heard it?

[timvp]

Lucas is probably the best player in summer league so far this year. Not a horrible loss for the Rockets.

[SenorSpur]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2516449

:clap :rollin

[leemajors]

weird. i thought for sure he would go with the rock-ettes. if winning a championship is what he wants to do he sure went to the wrong team.

[Mr. Body]

no, he'd rather make some more money

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

thankyou Mchale :smokin

Now you have an ageing superstar in KG and two other ego maniacs who want to be 'the man' :lol

Looks like the Division title will once again be fought out between the Nuggets and Jazz

[LEONARD]

Damn, oh well...

It's funny though...when there were threads saying that he was going to sign with the Mavs last week the replies were "why would they want a shoot first ball hog?" etc etc. Now it's "I'm glad the Mavs didn't get him"... :lol


mavs are cheap only 3 years.....

Spurs fans calling Mavs "cheap" = comedy :lol

[ChumpDumper]

"We never wanted him anyway" posts to follow.

[Jimcs50]

Is that where you heard it?


1150 AM here in College Station

[MoSpur]

The Wolves needed a good PG. Cassell did them some good when he was there.

[ChumpDumper]

Aggie radio....

[mabber]

"We never wanted him anyway" posts to follow.

We never wanted that bastard anyway :lol

[Bob Lanier]

thankyou Mchale :smokin

Now you have an ageing superstar in KG and two other ego maniacs who want to be 'the man' :lol

Looks like the Division title will once again be fought out between the Nuggets and Jazz
:tu

[CavsFan89]

so banks to houston?

Banks is rumored to be going to the Cavs......It was on Realgm a few days ago.

[SenorSpur]

Aggie radio....

Havana Radio

[Quadzilla99]

That should improve them but they're going to have a short backcourt with him and Foye.

[Shank]

That should improve them but they're going to have a short backcourt with him and Foye.

...and won't sniff the playoffs in the Western Conference.

[myhc]

I for one am thrilled the Mavs aren't getting him. James is streaky but he still scares me and putting him in Dallas would've made them even stronger and deeper than last year.

[mavsfan1000]

I'm glad that James didn't come. He would bring his big ego and small game along with stunting Harris's growth as a starting point guard. Ager will also get his opportunities.

[Jason Terry]

I'm glad that James didn't come. He would bring his big ego and small game along with stunting Harris's growth as a starting point guard. Yeah and stunting Harris's development is my job.

[SenorSpur]

Despite his "flowery" comments about all three pursuing teams, I knew he'd go to which ever team gave him the extra year of security. This was his first experience at free agency and even though the money was the same, he was looking the most years. Can't blame him for that.

[mavsfan1000]

Also James starting means Tony Parker goes wild since Mike James can't guard Parker as proven earlier this year while Harris has had some success.

[Quadzilla99]

Wolves really need to dump Davis and get a 3 point shooter.

[NBA Junkie]

Apparently the 15% trade kicker the Wolves threw in, as well as the 4th year (players option) were the key factors in James' signing with the Wolves. He stated that he wanted these after Houston traded him to Toronto a year ago. He didn't want Houston burning him again.

McHale has to make more moves, though. The team now has eight guards on the roster and that is way too many.

Hopefully, a Jaric for Miles trade is imminent as well as a Hassell for Magloire deal that are being speculated in these parts.

[SoCalSpursFan]

I had no idea he was such a solid player...I doubt this will do much for the Wolves but it is def a step in the right direction...

[timvp]

a Hassell for Magloire deal that are being speculated in these parts.

:lol

Good luck with that one.

[JLH Fans]

thankyou Mchale :smokin

Now you have an ageing superstar in KG and two other ego maniacs who want to be 'the man' :lol

Looks like the Division title will once again be fought out between the Nuggets and Jazz
And who the Nuggets have? :drunk
Melo with his 30% Fg% in the playoffs :lol ,Camby who plays about 40 matches in every year and Kenyon :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol ,by thy way they have Nene as well only cost 60 million/6 years:)
Come on,and go ahead with the 4.first round year exit in row.

[sickdsm]

Wolves really need to dump Davis and get a 3 point shooter.



We have one. Too bad he's out of the season.

[Quadzilla99]

James, Foye, and Davis would dribble the hell out of the ball. If they get rid of Davis and add a spot up shooter instead that would be good for chemistry, they could win 40-45 games. I don't know how Foye is going to do on defense being a 6'3 sg though.

[MajorMike]

Lucas is probably the best player in summer league so far this year. Not a horrible loss for the Rockets.

Lucas, JL3 as he is known in OSU circles, will be a great backup for Houston. He is by far playing the best ball in Summer League, he's averaging team high 23+ points and 6+ assists.

http://www.nba.com/media/rockets/RecapImage_lucas.jpg

[NBA Junkie]

We have one. Too bad he's out of the season.

If you're referring to Troy Hudson, I doubt we'll ever see him play again.

He got his payday by suckering the Wolves into giving him a six year deal and got his incentive of playing over 50 games in 2005.

The only way we have of possibly getting rid of him is if he becomes a medical exception like Terrell Brandon became a few years ago.

Just another boneheaded move we can thank McHale for. :madrun

[Nikos]

Yeah Mike James is a nice acquisition. Jaric was a terrible offensive guard for them, and Ricky Davis taking too many shots is not really a good thing either.

James can improve their offense a lot if he maintains his previous seasons play. Plus KG makes it a little easier for scoring PG's.

Foye seems like he will able to score right away in this league. Be interesting to see how well he does this season -- but he likely will be a very good guard at some point in his career if he gets put in the right situation.