Finley weighing sales pitch by Spurs
Web Posted: 08/26/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Finger
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....1d0de46f.html
Having completed their pilgrimage to Michael Finley's home turf, officially joining the list of championship contenders vying for the coveted free agent's services, the Spurs head into yet another weekend ready to resume a familiar pastime.
Waiting.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich met with Finley in Chicago on Thursday, but a conclusion to the courtship isn't considered imminent. Finley, the 32-year-old swingman waived by Dallas earlier this month, will entertain representatives from Minnesota today. He then is expected to spend the next several days considering his options, which also include Miami and Phoenix.
"He's going to take the weekend to compare and contrast everything he heard, then figure out which situation will be the best for him," said Henry Thomas, Finley's agent. "I think the Spurs are right in there."
While the Spurs remain serious compe ors in the Finley sweepstakes, they aren't the favorites. The Heat still own that designation, due mainly to their offer of a full $5million salary-cap exception. The Spurs have $2.5million available, while the Suns have just $1.1million.
But Thomas reiterated Thursday that Finley's decision won't be based on financial considerations alone, as his client still has $51.8million owed to him by the Mavericks. Thomas said Finley is more concerned with finding a team that meets other criteria, and the Spurs apparently have scored well in those areas.
"They've got a lot of things going for them," Thomas said. "The most obvious being that they just won a championship."
The Spurs are set to bring back most of the team responsible for winning that le — their only offseason addition thus far has been Argentine center Fabricio Oberto — but they would like to add a shooting guard or small forward to come off the bench.
Finley, who has had knee problems but shot 41 percent from 3-point range last season, would appear to be a perfect fit for that role. But if he elects to go to a team that can offer him more money or a higher-profile role, the Spurs won't have to look too far for a backup plan.
Devin Brown, the Spurs' restricted free agent, has yet to sign an offer sheet even though his agent insists he's generating interest from several teams. Utah met with Brown earlier this month, but the Spurs have the inside track to retain him because they have seven days to match any outside offer he receives.
Brown's agent, Darrick Powell, has maintained Brown wants to stay with the Spurs and hasn't grown impatient by the team's flirtation with Finley.
"Devin understands the situation. He understands the process," Powell said. "He's fine with it. We still have a decent amount of teams calling. We hope when this Michael Finley thing goes down, things will start moving."
Also Thursday, the Spurs officially unveiled their plans to move this year's training camp to the U.S. Virgin Islands, the homeland of Tim Duncan. The team will train for a week at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas beginning Oct.4.
So it looks like if Finley comes, then they won't re-sign Devin. If he doesn't come, then they will.
Then I guess they'll sign a small forward and a point guard with the 12th and 13th spots. Then maybe (or maybe not) fill out the "inactive list" with vets and projects.
It looks like it's going to be Michael Finley or Devin Brown. You really can't go wrong either way. Devin has good potential and if Finley wants to turn down more money and a starting spot to come to San Antonio, that's cool to.
As long as the Spurs don't mess around and lose out on both, they'll be fine.
C Mohammed
PF Duncan
SF Bowen
SG Ginobili
PG Parker
C Oberto
PF Horry
SF Brown/Finley
SG Barry
PG Udrih
C Nesterovic
SF Barnes
IR Third PG
IR Young Swingman
IR Young Bigman
That'd be a stacked team
Chuck Miketinac said tonight on Maximum Sports that the Spurs sent a contingent of 1.
Gregg Popovich
Pop spent about 2 hours with Michael and supposedly the meeting went well. Finley's agent contends that no one has the edge right now. Michael will think about his choices over the weekend then make a decision.
That's sweet.the Spurs sent a contingent of 1.
Gregg Popovich
yeah.. Pop's pitching is way more effective than the multimedia high-tech Heat presentaion or chicken carrying fan emails.
Hope Finley uses his head when decides rather than looking at his pocket to fill in more $$
Pop only. Good deal.
None of this candy ass Phoenix Suns desperation bull of sending the whole team, the chicken owner, fan emails, the mascot, and the marketing team, the janitor who'd be cleaning up Mikey's locker, etc.
It sounds like it's one or the other, so I don't see how they'd lose out on both. We'd better not at least. It sounds like Devin is being really cool about this and waiting on the Spurs to see how the Finley situation shakes down. I'd REALLY love it if we could get both of them though. I think Finley could be a big help coming off the bench, but I'd hate to lose Devin.
Nice message too by only sending Pop. If Finley does sign here, it'll be for the right reasons and hopefully with the right frame of mind about minutes.
Well the Spurs have a limit on how much they want to pay Devin. If he gets an offer from another team for more than that, they aren't going to keep Devin -- even if they don't get Finley.It sounds like it's one or the other, so I don't see how they'd lose out on both.
in my opinion, if we sign finley and duncan has a healthy season... at least 65 wins next season. I personally have loved finley for a long time, and while some here don't think much of him I think if he signs with the spurs hes definitely going to make a major contribution. with him we'll have the deepest bench in the league and the biggest chance of winning it all again in 06.
That is exactly what I was worried about. I don't know how much gas Finley has left, but adding him to the roster ISN'T worth losing Devin.
This team needs to continue to strengthen itself for now and the future. Resigning Devin covers both aspects.
Again, this is the Spurs brass chasing this years version of Jason Kidd (Finley) at the expense of a Tony Parker (Devin).
It's ludicrous.
With Katrina pounding Florida...it does make one stop to think.
A hurricane is never a good thing, so thoughts and prayers for those in Florida.
Right, I was just referring to the comment about messing around and losing out on both. Devin sounds like he's waiting for the Spurs to make a decision by not signing an offer sheet somewhere else first and forcing the FO's hand. Of course we don't want to overpay the guy, but I have to think Devin's worth (in the long run) close to what we're throwing at Finley if his back is healthy.
Hey, it worked with Nash!
I think the fact that the Suns were the only ones offering that type of money is what worked.Hey, it worked with Nash!
C Mohammed
PF Duncan
SF Bowen
SG Ginobili
PG Parker
C Oberto
PF Horry
SF Brown/Finley
SG Barry
PG Udrih
C Nesterovic
SF Barnes
IR Third PG
IR Young Swingman
IR Young Bigman
That'd be a stacked team
Why does everyone think that Nazr is the starter? nothing is confirmed yet. To me the spot is still up for grabs. If it were up to me, Rasho would start with Nazr helping out. Oberto ahead of Nazr and Rasho is ridiculous. He will get some minutes but Pop will let him learn slowly. No way will they put him for 20 mins every night straight away.
The Spurs will evaluate how Oberto performs and then make a decision on who to trade if Oberto fits in well. If not they will explore their options. Spurs will not be trading Rasho anytime soon unless dear Isiah comes up with a ridiculous offer. (Too bad to all you Rasho haters.)
He might still be traded later if the right offer comes about mid season. Please dont get your hopes too high on Nazr resigning cause I think the Spurs front office dont even know if they want Nazr after this season. My guess is they will trade Nazr and his expiring contract to fill play off needs especially if Oberto fits in well and they need someone to cover due to injuries or our SF needs.
It'll still gonna be the Heat. I don't think the Spurs are Finleys kinda team, and then there's bowen.
Cha-ching.
But maybe it wasn't the huge contract that got him... maybe it was water from the cactus that the team owners brought him or some stupid like that. Yeah, that was it.
That meeting probably went something like this:
"What's that in the brief case? A large amount of money. Cool. I still don't know though, the money looks nice and all but I really like what I have here. Hey, what's in the large bag over there. Holy ing ! The Gorilla's suit signed by the Gorilla and all the current Suns players, my ing god, I'm so signing with you guys! Dude, what are you giving me now? Water from a real Arizona cactus...??? dude, you guys are going to make me, no, I am, I am. Group hug!"
"A hurricane is never a good thing, so thoughts and prayers for those in Florida."
If the idiots around here would not drive around in a storm (trees fallling) and not drive through water ("hey, man, it really is 4 ft deep"), I'd take that foot of rain right now.
A foot of rain here right now would be a natural disaster.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twinci...s/12478828.htm
Kevin Garnett appears to be taking on a greater leadership role with the Timberwolves. Garnett telephoned teammates and asked them to attend new coach Dwane Casey's volunteer gathering in Las Vegas, Nev., this week. Garnett even asked owner Glen Taylor to attend, which he did. And during a dinner in Las Vegas with Taylor, Garnett, who turns 30 next spring, intimated he intends to be more vocal next season, especially during practices.
Garnett also telephoned free-agent guard Michael Finley, whom the Wolves will try to recruit today in Chicago, and requested that he be allowed to accompany Taylor and the rest of the front office seeking to sign Finley.
It's a shame it has to be one or the other.
Pop wants guys like Finley to 'earn' their minutes then if they don't play all star ball in their seven minutes per night they get sent to the dog house. Lord help the player sulks and isn't just proud to be a member of the spurs higher consciousness. This is how you treat a rookie. WHy the fvck would Finley do that?? Would you want to get treated like an a-hole and possibly a pariah for a championship?? Not me.
Spurs/Pheonix are the demand that is pushing up the $$ and years for Miami.
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