Mike Monroe: Tradition, teammates lure Finley

[Manu20]

Tradition, teammates lure Finley
Web Posted: 09/01/2005 12:00 AM CDT

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....12e8219d.html


Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer

Armed with weapons no rivals could match — an NBA championship and the chance to play alongside Tim Duncan — the Spurs on Wednesday emerged victorious in the summer's most vigorous recruiting battle.

Michael Finley, a two-time All-Star with a career scoring average of 19.0 points over 10 seasons, on Wednesday opted to sign a free-agent contract with the Spurs. He spurned the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves, all of whom made extensive pitches to him over the past week.

The Suns had dispatched All-Star Amare Stoudemire to meet with Finley in Chicago, along with head coach Mike D'Antoni and general manager Bryan Colangelo. The Timberwolves sent former league Most Valuable Player Kevin Garnett and GM Jim Stack. Heat president Pat Riley and coach Stan Van Gundy, who had been Finley's coach at the University of Wisconsin, traveled to Chicago to make their pitch.

The Spurs sent one man: head coach and executive vice-president Gregg Popovich.

Popovich made no promises about playing time or roles. He simply presented a case that centered on who the Spurs are and what they had accomplished since drafting Duncan.

In Finley's case, that appears to have been the difference maker.

"We low-keyed this as much as we ever had," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "Probably, the tradition that Tim, Pop and the guys have established here speaks for itself."

At age 32, Finley never has advanced beyond the Western Conference finals, the Spurs eliminating the Mavericks in that series en route to their 2003 NBA le. Ironically, the Spurs now have two of the key players from Dallas' 2003 Western finalist: Finley and Nick Van Exel. Van Exel, who led the Mavericks in scoring in that six-game set with the Spurs in 2003, signed a free-agent contract with the Spurs on Tuesday. He then sent several cellular phone text messages to Finley urging him to join him in San Antonio.

Finley is approaching the downside of a career in which he averaged 20 or more points in five consecutive seasons, from 1997-98 through 2001-02. He was an All-Star in 2000 and 2001. His scoring average has declined each of the past five seasons, to an eight-year low of 15.7 last season, during which he missed 18 games with ankle injuries.

Nevertheless, he remains a proven scorer with an outstanding career shooting percentage, 44.9, for a player who has taken 2,557 3-point shots.

"The Spurs organization is very excited to add a person of the caliber of Michael Finley," Buford said. "He has established himself as a very good player, and we envision that he will be an integral part of the Spurs culture going forward.

"It's a reflection on the program established by guys like Tim, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen and Pop and the rest of the team, that players such as Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel will sacrifice to join it."

In Finley's case, the sacrifice involved giving up more money from Miami, which had its full mid-level salary cap exception ($5 million) available; and, from Phoenix, a likely starting position and considerably more playing time, if less money.

Finley's deal with the Spurs is believed to be for slightly more than $2.6 million next season, the remainder of the club's mid-level salary cap exception. The length of the deal isn't yet known.

The Dallas Mavericks waived Finley on Aug. 15, using a one-time "amnesty" clause in the league's new collective bargaining agreement that made him a free agent. No fewer than six teams vigorously pursued him when he hit the free-agent market. He narrowed his choices last week to the Spurs, Heat, Suns and Timberwolves.

The Mavericks still owe Finley the $51.8 million that remains on his contract. He was to have made $15.94 million this season, but the Mavericks had a "stretch" provision that allowed them to pay off Finley in annual installments of less than $5 million if he were waived.

Finley becomes the 12th player under contract to the Spurs, required by the league's new contract with the players' union to have no fewer than 13 players. Finley's addition makes it unlikely that Devin Brown, a restricted free agent, will return if he receives a substantial offer from another team, though Buford would not rule it out.

"We will continue to monitor all situations," Buford said

[milkyway21]

The Spurs sent one man: head coach and executive vice-president Gregg Popovich.

Popovich made no promises about playing time or roles. He simply presented a case that centered on who the Spurs are and what they had accomplished since drafting Duncan.

i thought R.C. went too!

Finley's deal with the Spurs is believed to be for slightly more than $2.6 million next season, the remainder of the club's mid-level salary cap exception. The length of the deal isn't yet known.

hmmnn . so, there's a possibility Finley's going to be with this team for another season or so?

[T Park]

will return if he receives a substantial offer from another team, though Buford would not rule it out.

"We will continue to monitor all situations," Buford said

Interesting.

But IMO its just something to say to let SA peeps know that they are trying.

Brown is as good as gone.

There is just no room.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Finley's addition makes it unlikely that Devin Brown, a restricted free agent, will return if he receives a substantial offer from another team, though Buford would not rule it out.

I wonder what substantial is.

If he is going to leave I hope they can do a sign and trade for some draft picks or something.

[Marcus Bryant]

Interesting, but there is not a spot on the active roster for Devin at present. Perhaps one will be created by a trade.

The Spurs still hold enough leverage so that they can force a suitor into a sign and trade. A future 2nd round pick seems fair. Perhaps if they get lucky they can get a low 1st rounder.