Hunter Close To Making Decision

Steven Hunter, who showed much promise in his one year in Phoenix, is a free agent who is expected to make a decision this weekend about where he will play next year. He has narrowed his choices down to four teams - Dallas, New Jersey, Atlanta and Phoenix.

Hunter hopes to stay in Phoenix but could not get more than a one-year commitment for the minimum exception ($1.7 million) plus an option year from the team.

The 7-foot center is looking for a four or five-year deal and could end up with the Mavericks.

Via Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets

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NBA Sets Amnesty Deadline At August 15

In a concession to the NBA Players' Association, the deadline for the "amnesty" clause, which will allow teams a one-time exception to waive a player without paying further luxury tax on the player's contract, has been moved up to Aug. 15.

Teams such as the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks, who are expected to use the clause -- also known as the Allan Houston Rule -- to waive Michael Finley and Houston to avoid paying future luxury tax on their contracts, will have less than two weeks to make final decisions once the labor deal is implemented Tuesday.

The original deadline was Oct. 1. All 30 NBA teams will now have the right to make one amnesty waiver starting Tuesday at noon ET through Aug. 15. Teams are not required to use this clause and early estimates suggest that less than half of the league's clubs will exercise the option largely because the rule only provides luxury-tax relief, not salary-cap relief.

The Mavericks are trying to trade Finley to keep him out of the Western Conference and to avoid losing him without compensation. If they end up waiving him, a string of playoff contenders, including the Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat, are expected to pursue Finley.

The union argued that an Oct. 1 deadline gave the teams releasing players too much control over their players' futures. The Aug. 15 deadline is early enough to give Finley, Houston and anyone else released via the clause a chance to compete for free-agent dollars long before training camps open Oct. 3.

Via ESPN

General Basketball, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks

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Mavericks Would Prefer To Trade Finley; Orlando A Possibility?

The Dallas Mavericks plan to wait it on whether to use the "amnesty" clause on swingman Michael Finley.

However, the Mavericks would prefer to trade Finley to an Eastern Conference team and might have one offer already.

The Mavs have at least one deal on the table for Finley, possibly with Orlando, that satisfies Mark Cuban's requirement of receiving expiring contracts in return. The Mavs will continue to pursue a trade and could easily wait until the eve of training camp before deciding Finley's fate.

Players rumored to be involved in the possible deal include Doug Christie, Tony Battie, Stacey Augmon and Mario Kasun.

The Mavericks though are expected to wait it out to see if they can get a better offer.

Via Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic

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