The team that won the Michael Finley Sweepstakes is the same team that just won an NBA championship.
Finley told ESPN.com on Wednesday that he has chosen to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, spurning a richer offer from the Miami Heat and the lure of an emotional return to the Phoenix Suns to reunite with close friend Steve Nash.
The Dallas Mavericks tried for weeks to move Finley to an Eastern Conference team to prevent him from joining the Spurs or the Suns. When it couldn't swing a trade before the Aug. 15 deadline to exercise the NBA's new amnesty clause, Dallas reluctantly waived the two-time All-Star, making Finley an unrestricted free agent and the target of an intense two-week courtship that also involved the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Miami's Pat Riley, Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire and Minnesota's Kevin Garnett were among the big names to fly to Chicago last week to make face-to-face pitches to Finley. In the end, he went with the team that sent a one-man delegation -- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich -- to Finley's hometown.
The complete structure of the deal with San Antonio hasn't been finalized, including the length of the contract, but Finley will receive a starting salary of roughly $2.5 million this season.
"To be a part of a championship team, I'm excited," Finley said. "This is the closest I've ever been to a championship. I'm looking forward to the challenge of helping this team repeat."
Asked why he picked the Spurs, Finley said: "In a nutshell, they're already a championship team but they have room for improvement. And I feel my game can help them in the areas where they need improvement."
Via ESPN
San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves
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For every Suns fan pining for a morsel of hope that Michael Finley would have announced a return to Phoenix by now, here is a long-distance dedication from San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich.
"I'd be surprised if Phoenix wasn't his choice," Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News at a Spurs news conference welcoming ex-Finley teammate Nick Van Exel on Tuesday. "I think he's got a great opportunity to start there and play a lot of minutes. He's got great relationships with a couple of their players, Steve (Nash) and Raja (Bell, both ex-Dallas teammates). I think he'd be really comfortable there."
Alas, it means nothing until it comes out of the mouth of Finley or his agent, Henry Thomas. A Thomas assistant said Tuesday that Finley had not made a choice. A decision was expected early this week after Finley used the weekend to mull over in-person presentations from Miami, Phoenix, San Antonio and Minnesota.
Finley is either truly torn or still negotiating, creating more limbo for a Suns franchise that just went through the Joe Johnson ordeal. Phoenix is more than happy to wait out this one if it means landing Finley, waived by Dallas on Aug. 15 for luxury tax savings, for a $1.1 million salary this season.
The Suns have not been given any new timetable. Finley has no deadline, but given his private nature, he likely does not relish the spotlight of his most-wanted status.
Via Arizona Republic
Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat
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Michael Finley was shocked when he was traded from the Suns at age 23. He said he thought they liked him. Nearly nine years later, he knows they do.
The Suns have extolled to Finley how much they love the idea of him playing for them again. Phoenix will hear if the feeling is mutual today or Tuesday, when the swingman, 32, is expected to announce his next career stop. Since being waived by Dallas for luxury tax savings two weeks ago, Finley has become as sought after as a parking spot in the shade.
He narrowed his options to Phoenix, Miami, San Antonio and Minnesota, all of which sent recruiting contingents to see him in Chicago last week.
With Finley aboard, the Suns plunk the sweet shooter into the starting backcourt with good friend Steve Nash and start talking title.
Without him, the expectations do not change much for a Phoenix franchise that can't replace Joe Johnson but has made moves to counter how it lost six of eight games to San Antonio last season.
The Suns' plate is full of wings. Phoenix's Shawn Marion, Jim Jackson, Raja Bell, James Jones, Leandro Barbosa, Boris Diaw and rookie Dijon Thompson all can man one of the wing positions.
Via Arizona Republic
Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat
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Heat Aug 2005 Archive
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Plain Dealer | Aug 24, 2005
The Cavs remain stymied in their efforts to sign free agent point guard Damon Jones.
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ESPN | Aug 22, 2005
Pat Riley and Stan Van Gundy were the first to meet with Michael Finley and his agent in Chicago, with the Suns, Spurs and Pistons also scheduled to visit the free agent this week.
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Miami Herald | Aug 22, 2005
The Heat will make a full-court press to sign free agent swingman Michael Finley during an expected visit to South Florida early this week.
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ESPN | Aug 21, 2005
Antoine Walker's physical gave the Heat cause for pause, so much so that his contract is now guaranteed for four years instead of the original six year, The Boston Globe reported.
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Miami Herald | Aug 21, 2005
Shandon Anderson and Steve Smith want to return, but Miami -- awaiting word from Michael Finley -- remains noncommittal.
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Detroit Free Press | Aug 20, 2005
Reports are coming in that Michael Finley will join the Heat, but other sources are saying that the guard will take his time on where he will sign. It is unclear if money or a shot at a title is his bigger priority.
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MLive.com | Aug 18, 2005
The Heat and Pistons are again battling it out; this time for Michael Finley, arguably the best available unsigned free agent.
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Beacon-Journal | Aug 18, 2005
The Cavaliers are still waiting on an answer from free-agent point guard Damon Jones.
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Heat Press Release | Aug 17, 2005
The Miami Heat announced today that Alonzo Mourning will return to play for the 2005-06 season.
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Miami Herald | Aug 16, 2005
Miami has its full midlevel exception left and are therefore the front runners for free agent guard Michael Finley. The Spurs, Suns, Pistons and Rockets will also be courting the former Mavs' guard.
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Press Release | Aug 15, 2005
The Miami Heat announced today that they have designated the contract of forward Wesley Person for the amnesty provision under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement.
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NBA.com | Aug 15, 2005
The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have designated centre Alonzo Mourning for the amnesty provision under the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement.
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Miami Heat PR | Aug 15, 2005
The Miami Heat announced on Monday that they have signed free agent guard Matt Walsh.
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The Miami Herald | Aug 14, 2005
Heat center Shaquille O’Neal is claming that it was his idea to take a pay cut worth around $10-million less than what Miami was willing to pay him per year.
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Miami Herald | Aug 14, 2005
Speaking publicly for the first time since agreeing to a $100 million, five-year contract with the Miami Heat - who offered more money than Shaquille O'Neal ultimately accepted - the 12-time All-Star center said Saturday that he believes a flurry of offseason moves has brought his team closer to that elusive NBA title.
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Rocky Mountain News | Aug 13, 2005
Nick Van Exel demanded a trade out of Denver a few seasons ago and after playing for the Mavericks, Warriors and Blazers, the guard may return to the Mile High City.
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Daily Herald | Aug 13, 2005
Brian Grant expects to settle on a new team within the next few days, according to Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein.
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Heat Press Release | Aug 12, 2005
The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent guard Gerald Fitch.
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L.A. Times | Aug 11, 2005
The exorbitant contract that led to Brian Grant's departure could wind up leading the veteran power forward back to the Heat.
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ESPN | Aug 9, 2005
Earl Barron missed an opportunity to play against Shaquille O'Neal a year ago, when the Orlando Magic cut him from their training camp just before facing the Miami Heat in a preseason game.
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MSNBC | Aug 8, 2005
A Christmas Day doubleheader featuring the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons in a rematch of the 2005 NBA Finals highlights the league’s television schedule released Monday.
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Heat Press Release | Aug 8, 2005
The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed free agent forward Earl Barron.
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Palm Beach Post | Aug 4, 2005
Damon Jones is still an option to the Heat to re-sign.
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Star-Telegram | Aug 4, 2005
One of the Mavericks' more popular players from a couple of years ago could be back with the team this fall.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Aug 3, 2005
Eddie Jones was only one player in the five-team, 13 player deal completed between Miami, Memphis, New Orleans, Boston and Utah. Jones will join the Grizzlies
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AP | Aug 2, 2005
Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey could soon be coming to the Miami Heat in a proposed five-team trade, the biggest in NBA history, that was nearing completion Tuesday.
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Hoopsworld | Aug 2, 2005
Hoopsworld.
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RealGM | Aug 2, 2005
RealGM and DraftExpress has learned that a tentative agreement on a three-team trade according to an NBA source close to the negotiations. Earl Watson has been added and would go to Boston.
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Yahoo! | Aug 2, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat agreed Tuesday on a $100 million, five-year contract. The deal will be signed later Tuesday, said O'Neal's agent Perry Rogers.
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Akron Beacon Journal | Aug 2, 2005
According to Akron Beacon Journal writer Brian Windhorst, Heat free agent Damon Jones visited the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday and Monday, meeting with Cavaliers officials and touring Gund Arena.
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Daily News | Aug 2, 2005
The NBA schedule for the 2005-06 season won't be released for another week, but Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant will meet in a Christmas Day showdown on ABC for the second consecutive year, sources said Monday.
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Rocky Mountain News | Aug 2, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal will soon sign a long-term contract to stay with the Miami Heat, a move that can hardly be considered a surprise
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Miami Herald | Aug 2, 2005
Antoine Walker is reportedly close to becoming a member of the Miami Heat. He would come from Boston via a sign and trade, possibly involving a third team.
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Miami Herald | Aug 1, 2005
Miami is expected to announce the re-signing of Shaquille O'Neal to a possible five-year deal worth as much as $125 million.
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Miami Herald | Aug 1, 2005
Heat president Pat Riley is considering making significant moves that could include trading swingman Eddie Jones and acquiring Memphis point guard Jason Williams.
