McDonald: Fin expected to return

[Mr. Body]

Two teams needing shooting guards, and possibly veteran help: Minnesota, Toronto.

This would put players like Corey Brewer, Craig Smith, and, uh, crap all from the Raptors, if Finley were dangled. What other teams might want him?

[spurtilldeath]

Though I obviously don't want him to start or get big minutes, I don't get why many of you guys hate him staying. If he stays, consider him the 15th man who will get some spot minutes. He's not going to eat into Manu/RJ's playing time. He's a good guy and the Spurs/Pop/Duncan all seem to like him A LOT. So, I see no problem with him sitting at the end of the bench.

That being said, I still think he might leave.

I totally agree. For all that we know, he would be a good backup to RJ. Having a veteran like him playing spot minutes is important to ensure proper transition to the next generation. Also, I hope people remember his clutch 3 pointers during the end of season to make us the south west division winner.

[timvp]

Two teams needing shooting guards, and possibly veteran help: Minnesota, Toronto.

This would put players like Corey Brewer, Craig Smith, and, uh, crap all from the Raptors, if Finley were dangled. What other teams might want him?

Why would the T'Wolves want Finley? You expect them to make the playoff run?

I don't think anyone takes Finley unless the Spurs take back a bad contract or they ship Finley with an asset.

[Obstructed_View]

Though I obviously don't want him to start or get big minutes, I don't get why many of you guys hate him staying. If he stays, consider him the 15th man who will get some spot minutes. He's not going to eat into Manu/RJ's playing time. He's a good guy and the Spurs/Pop/Duncan all seem to like him A LOT. So, I see no problem with him sitting at the end of the bench.

That being said, I still think he might leave.

Wow, you don't know Popovich very well, do you?

[timtonymanu]

Finley was supposed to be the fifth wing last year and we know how well that ended up.


There is no chance in Finley would be the 15th man as long as Pop is calling the shots.

i think the result of that was that there wasnt another option. Udoka choked when he was called to start. Bowen wont give you alot offensively. Finley was the best option to go last year. sadly that's how much of a joke the roster was last year.

[Mr. Body]

Why would the T'Wolves want Finley? You expect them to make the playoff run?

I don't think anyone takes Finley unless the Spurs take back a bad contract or they ship Finley with an asset.

They've said many times that they need some veterans on the squad. Everyone of importance on the team has only been around for 3-5 years, and none of them winning years. A couple sturdy vet would show them how to comport themselves and change the franchise's at ude.

Good enough for you?

[timvp]

They've said many times that they need some veterans on the squad. Everyone of importance on the team has only been around for 3-5 years, and none of them winning years. A couple sturdy vet would show them how to comport themselves and change the franchise's at ude.

Good enough for you?

Not really. Finley isn't going to be someone who is happy to get traded to NBA Siberia and take a bunch of youngsters under his wing. And the T'Wolves certainly aren't going to give you Corey Brewer in return.

You might be able to trade Finley to a desperate contending team who needs a shooter .... or trade him a la Beno. Then again, the last time the Spurs desperately wanted to dump a player who had $2.5 million left on his contract, they did the Scola trade.

[Obstructed_View]

I betcha Pop finds a way to juggle the lineup to have Finley start at some point.

[Bruno]

Having both Mason and Finley seems quite useless to me. I think one should be traded and I rather see Spurs keeping Mason (even if he is more expensive).

The perfect scenario would be that Spurs have a trade in the works with Finley and Finley has picked his option because he is fine with the team where he will be traded or the team that get him will waive him.

[Solid D]

Pop likes Fin for his leadership in the room to help/keep up with the young guys. I've got him on the roster, unless he's traded.

[Borosai]

.

[Mr. Body]

Not really. Finley isn't going to be someone who is happy to get traded to NBA Siberia and take a bunch of youngsters under his wing. And the T'Wolves certainly aren't going to give you Corey Brewer in return.

You might be able to trade Finley to a desperate contending team who needs a shooter .... or trade him a la Beno. Then again, the last time the Spurs desperately wanted to dump a player who had $2.5 million left on his contract, they did the Scola trade.

By that rationale Finley won't be happy to go anywhere. My scenario is deeply speculative -- he's staying in SAS -- but he's enough of a professional to settle into a new locker room. He's not an asshole, if that's what you're insinuating.

As for Brewer, the guy makes way too much money. I'll be interested to see if Minny picks up his option.

[HarlemHeat37]

You better add Finley to your depth chart Borosai..make sure to have a Kleenex to wipe the tears as you do it..I'm crying with you..

[objective]

Just checking the numbers real quick for the people who insist that Pop will limit Finley's minutes to 10 or 12 or make him the 15th man(!) or whatever because of Jefferson.

Ignoring the first 3 games of each of Manu's playing stretches to give him time to work himself back into shape, by my count that left 38 games where Finley and Manu played together. Mason played all 82 games. Bowen and Udoka and the d-league scrubs were also available.

Finley still averaged about 28 minutes a game unless I duplicated numbers on the calculator or made some similar mistake, it was a quick count. But 28 minutes a game. And that's with Manu on the court.

And he averaged in the playoffs . . . about 28 minutes a game. So for those posters who insist that "Oh! Finley only played that much in the playoffs because Manu was hurt! He wouldn't have played at all if Manu was healthy!" . . .

Unless my math is wrong, that's the same he played in the regular season! Pop will find ways to get Finley on the court. Small, big, it doesn't matter.

Manu last season averaged the fewest minutes per game of his career except his rookie season. I've little doubt the Spurs will be extra cautious next year and his minutes will actually decrease to no more than 25.

There will be room made for Finley. Don't act surprised when Finley is giving up drive after drive, post-score after post-score, lost rebound after lost rebound, and shoots brick after brick in 20 mpg in the playoffs.

[EricB]

Having both Mason and Finley seems quite useless to me. I think one should be traded and I rather see Spurs keeping Mason (even if he is more expensive).

The perfect scenario would be that Spurs have a trade in the works with Finley and Finley has picked his option because he is fine with the team where he will be traded or the team that get him will waive him.

Interesting.

Doubt you can get much for him, but I'm 100% for it if you can get Bonner mixed in.

[Sean Cagney]

Finley still can hit that super clutch shot as proven, he is good in spots. With alot of mins NO (Like he has gotten), but at the end of games yeah he can stay.

[Mr. Body]

I pretty much agree with Bruno. You should get rid of Mason or Finley, but it will probably be Mason. Eh.

[Obstructed_View]

There will be room made for Finley. Don't act surprised when Finley is giving up drive after drive, post-score after post-score, lost rebound after lost rebound, and shoots brick after brick in 20 mpg in the playoffs.

QFT. The worst part of Finley isn't that Pop puts him in the game, but that Pop never pulls him out even when his guy is lighting up the entire team. Remember, Fin's a guy who scored 20 and was still -18 for the game.

[EricB]

You better add Finley to your depth chart Borosai..make sure to have a Kleenex to wipe the tears as you do it..I'm crying with you..

God grow up people.

You act like they are adding Jack haley for christ sakes.

[DMX7]

I want him to stay.

[EricB]

I pretty much agree with Bruno. You should get rid of Mason or Finley, but it will probably be Mason. Eh.

I doubt either one goes.

[Libri]

I betcha Pop finds a way to juggle the lineup to have Finley start at some point.

Since the Spurs still haven't found a big man and if Pop still thinks that Finley should start, then as of now the starting lineup looks something like this:

Matt Bonner C
Tim Duncan PF
Richard Jefferson SF
Michael Finley SG
Tony Parker PG

[Sean Cagney]

i think the result of that was that there wasnt another option. Udoka choked when he was called to start. Bowen wont give you alot offensively. Finley was the best option to go last year. sadly that's how much of a joke the roster was last year.

Agree, our team around our big three were just average as last year, truly not a great team nor contenders no matter what some may think.

[whottt]

What's worse than herpes in the ass?


Base, you have the floor...

[whottt]

it's hilarious that this thread is playing out like last year's thread about finley re-signing. So many spurs fans were convinced that finley would be used as a deep reserve and that pop had learned his lesson in playing him too much. What happened? Finley played more than ever.

If pop can bench a spurs legend who had been named to the all-defensive team for the last eight years or whatever it was to make room for finley, he'll find a way once again. If you could guarantee that finley would take a steve smith 2003 role, i'd be fine with him coming back. But if he's part of the rotation at all this coming season, i don't think the team wins a championship. Finley is just too horrible at defense, too soft and too much of a volume shooter who gets cold at the absolute wrong times.

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