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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Bob Gist said Tuesday that he and Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe will stay in the background while Latrell Sprewell and coach George Karl talk.
"There's a higher probability that he'll play for Denver than anywhere else. Not only is it the perfect fit, but the economics are there to make it happen," said Gist, pointing to the Nuggets' available midlevel exception.
Karl said Monday he would like to talk with the free agent. Vandeweghe declined comment.
Via Denver Post
Denver Nuggets, 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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Timberwolves Aug 2005 Archive
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ESPN | Aug 31, 2005
A well-attended voluntary mini-camp in Las Vegas last week did not come without a cost for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Arizona Republic | Aug 29, 2005
Michael Finley narrowed his options to Phoenix, Miami, San Antonio and Minnesota, all of which sent recruiting contingents to see him in Chicago last week.
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Philadelphia Daily News | Aug 28, 2005
While attending a voluntary minicamp and bonding session with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dwayne Jones, an undrafted rookie free agent, signed a 2-year guaranteed contract worth $1.
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TwinCities.com | Aug 28, 2005
Teams keep calling about the availability of the Wolves' Wally Szczerbiak, and Minnesota keeps telling them he's not available.
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TwinCities.com | Aug 28, 2005
Charley Walters is reporting that the New Orleans Hornets are interested in former Memphis Grizzlies guard Troy Bell.
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Star Tribune | Aug 28, 2005
Sid Hartman of the Star-Tribune is reporting that Denver expects Latrell Sprewell to sign with the club and join his friend and former teammate Marcus Camby.
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Minneapolis Star-Tribune | Aug 27, 2005
The Timberwolves have taken comfort in knowing that with Kevin Garnett on their side there is always hope, a sentiment that held true off the court Friday.
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ESPN | Aug 27, 2005
The Timberwolves signed forward Dwayne Jones, a 6-foot-11, 250-pound shot-blocking specialist who left St.
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St. Paul Pioneer Press | Aug 25, 2005
Minnesota signed undrafted Saint Joseph's center Dwayne Jones to a two-year, $1.07 million guaranteed contract.
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Sonics Press Release | Aug 24, 2005
Damien Wilkins will be staying in Seattle, as the club matched the offer sheet that he signed last week with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Percy Allen/The Seattle Times | Aug 24, 2005
Damien Wilkins signed an offer sheet from Minnesota last week.
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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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nba.com | Aug 22, 2005
Minnesota Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale today announced the team has re-signed free-agent forward Eddie Griffin.
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St. Paul Pioneer Press | Aug 21, 2005
A source has told Charley Watters that Kevin Garnett was livid when he learned that pal Sam Cassell had been traded to the Clippers for Marko Jaric.
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Twin Cities | Aug 21, 2005
The Sonics are taking their time making a decision on whether or not they will match the five-year, $15 million offer sheet that Damien Wilkins signed on Thursday.
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St Paul Pioneer Press | Aug 18, 2005
The Minnesota Timberwolves signed Seattle forward Damien Wilkins to an offer sheet on Thursday. The Sonics will have seven days to decide whether or not they would like to match the contract.
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Minneapolis Star Tribune | Aug 18, 2005
The sign-and-trade deal that will send Marko Jaric to the Wolves for Sam Cassell and a future number one pick has hit a snag, as Cassell is seeking a two-year deal and is refusing to take a physical.
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St Paul Pioneer Press | Aug 18, 2005
Fred Hoiberg was surprised when he heard the news from Glen Taylor.
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Houston Chronicle | Aug 17, 2005
The Rockets showed interest in Derek Anderson as soon as he was released Aug.
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St Paul Pioneer Press | Aug 16, 2005
Michael Finley's arrival on the free agent market Tuesday had an impact on Latrell Sprewell, who was facing a cold market even before his fellow veteran swingman was waived by Dallas.
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St Paul Pioneer Press | Aug 15, 2005
The Timberwolves used a provision in the NBA's new labor deal to waive guard Fred Hoiberg on Monday, a team spokesman said, less than two months after he underwent surgery to correct an enlarged aortic root.
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San Antonio Express-News | Aug 15, 2005
Sacramento's Maurice Evans, an athletic 6-5 swingman, is a restricted free agent but should be available now that the Kings have added Bonzi Wells and Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
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NBA.com | Aug 12, 2005
The Timberwolves have acquired Marko Jaric in a sign-and-trade deal that will send Sam Cassell, Lionel Chambers and a 2006 lottery protected pick to the Clippers.
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Star-Tribune | Aug 12, 2005
Derek Anderson, an unrestricted free agent after being released by the Portland Trail Blazers, was in Minneapolis on Thursday to meet with Timberwolves officials.
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Detroit News | Aug 7, 2005
Joe Dumars squelched a wild rumor that the Pistons and Timberwolves have discussed a possible deal that would send Kevin Garnett to Detroit.
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Seattle Times | Aug 6, 2005
Damien Wilkins, a Sonics restricted free agent, is expected to sign a five-year, $15 million deal with the Timberwolves, NBA sources say.
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Toronto Sun | Aug 5, 2005
Could Kevin Garnett be heading East? According to a report in the Toronto Sun this is a possibility, while the Wolves receive Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace in return.
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Pioneer Press | Aug 1, 2005
Roger Montgomery, the agent of Maurice Evans told the St.
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USA Today | Aug 1, 2005
Hundreds of people gathered around a bronze likeness of George Mikan on Sunday to remember the Hall of Famer who revolutionized basketball with his size and determination.
