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
Read the Full Story
Discuss
Send Feedback
Buy Tickets
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
Read the Full Story
Discuss
Send Feedback
Buy Tickets
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
Read the Full Story
Discuss
Send Feedback
Buy Tickets
Suns Aug 2005 Archive
-
ESPN | Aug 26, 2005
The Phoenix Suns have signed coach Mike D'Antoni to a two-year extension, the team announced Thursday.
-
Indy Star | Aug 25, 2005
The Indiana Pacers have re-signed swingman James Jones and have traded him to the Phoenix Suns. The deal was officially announced this afternoon.
-
Arizona Republic | Aug 24, 2005
Phoenix is poised to bring on 24-year-old Indiana swingman James Jones in a sign-and-trade deal that should be completed this week.
-
NY Times | Aug 23, 2005
Amare Stoudemire led the Phoenix delegation that met with Michael Finley on Tuesday. Also present were Bryan Colangelo, Robert Sarver, Mike D'Antoni, Shawn Marion and Raja Bell. Not present was Finley's friend, Steve Nash.
-
Arizona Republic | Aug 23, 2005
The Suns also are considering a sign-and-trade deal for Indiana swingman James Jones, but Joe Johnson's physical must be completed in Atlanta before the Suns' use their trade exception.
-
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.
-
Press Release | Aug 19, 2005
A sign-and-trade deal that will send Joe Johnson to the Hawks in exchange for Boris Diaw and two conditional first round picks was completed on Friday afternoon.
-
Press Release | Aug 19, 2005
The Atlanta Hawks have scheduled a press conference this afternoon to announce the sign-and-trade deal that will land the club Joe Johnson. Steven Belkin has agreed to sell his interest in the club.
-
Press Release | Aug 18, 2005
The Phoenix Suns added defensive intensity, rebounding and veteran leadership to its frontcourt today with the signing of free agent forward/center Brian Grant.
-
RealGM | Aug 18, 2005
The Phoenix Suns today signed veteran center Pat Burke, a former member of the NBA’s Orlando Magic.
-
Arizona Republic | Aug 18, 2005
The Suns have swingmen called JJ staying (Jim Jackson), departing (Joe Johnson) and under consideration (Indiana's James Jones).
-
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.
-
Arizona Republic | Aug 16, 2005
The Suns also have engaged in talks regarding free-agent point guard Gary Payton, who has publicly expressed interest in backing up Steve Nash.
-
Arizona Central | Aug 15, 2005
Veteran power forward Brian Grant has agreed to terms to join the Phoenix Suns, according to his agent.
-
ESPN | Aug 15, 2005
He doesn't play for the Suns anymore, but Jazz guard Howard Eisley is still owed $5.
-
Casey OGrady/RealGM | Aug 14, 2005
The Suns' off season has not yet come to an end.
-
Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Aug 12, 2005
Joe Johnson is a step closer to becoming an Atlanta Hawk Friday when a Boston judge lifted the injunction he issued earlier in the week that had stopped the majority of Hawks owners from removing Steve Belkin as the team's NBA governor. Belkin had been blocking the Johnson trade
-
Sixers Press Release | Aug 12, 2005
Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the Sixers have signed free agent center Steven Hunter.
-
RealGM | Aug 11, 2005
Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the Sixers have agreed to terms with free agent center Steven Hunter.
-
Press Release | Aug 11, 2005
Commissioner David Stern has submitted an affidavit stating that he has given his approval to the replacement of Steven Belkin as the Governor of the Atlanta Hawks.
-
Arizona Republic | Aug 10, 2005
Boris Diaw was on an African safari so remote, rustic and pristine last week that his cellphone could only muster a signal for about three hours of the five-day trip.
-
Arizona Republic | Aug 10, 2005
Atlanta Hawks owners who want Joe Johnson are now looking to NBA Commissioner David Stern to help them accomplish what a Boston judge would not Tuesday.
-
Arizona Republic | Aug 9, 2005
The Joe Johnson saga moves to Atlanta Hawks co-owner Steve Belkin's hometown court today in Boston, where litigation prolongs two NBA front offices' frustration.
-
Suns.com | Aug 8, 2005
In a recent interview Amare Stoudemire reveals that he went to the Suns management and said, "Let's Get Kurt." Phoenix dealt Quentin Richardson to the Knicks to acquire Thomas.
-
Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Aug 3, 2005
The Hawks are still in Joe Johnson limbo, two days after a league-wide moratorium on signing free agents was lifted.
-
Suns Press Release | Aug 3, 2005
The Phoenix Suns today signed Utah Jazz unrestricted free agent guard Raja Bell, a proven defensive stopper, to a multi-year contract.
-
Journal-Constituion | Aug 3, 2005
The Hawks' pending deal for Joe Johnson hit a snag Tuesday because one of the team owners, Steve Belkin, has not signed off on completing it, two people familiar with the situation said on Tuesday.
-
Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Aug 3, 2005
The Hawks' pending deal for Joe Johnson hit a snag Tuesday because one of the team owners, Steve Belkin, has not signed off on completing it, two people familiar with the situation said.
-
AP | Aug 2, 2005
The Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns were awaiting approval from the NBA on a sign-and-trade deal that would send guard Joe Johnson to the Hawks, an agent involved with the deal said Tuesday.
-
Arizona Republic | Aug 1, 2005
The Suns are likely to find a replacement for Joe Johnson if Dallas waives Michael Finley, as expected, under the amnesty rule.
-
Arizona Republic | Aug 1, 2005
Joe Johnson will become an Atlanta Hawk after the Hawks and Suns reached a sign and trade agreement, according to the Arizona Republic. The Suns will receive Boris Diaw and two first round picks
