August 16, 200521 yr Players waived under the amnesty rule (meaning they will still be paid by the team whose payroll they were on, but their contracts will not count toward the luxury tax): Brian Grant (Lakers), Jerome Williams (Knicks), Aaron Mckie (76ers), Derek Anderson (Blazers), Calvin Booth (Bucks), Howard Eisley (Suns), Doug Christie (Magic), Alonzo Mourning (Raptors), Reggie Miller (Pacers), Eddie Robinson (Bulls), Vin Baker (Celtics), Derrick Coleman (Pistons), Ron Mercer (Nets), Fred Hoiberg (T-Wolves), Wesley Person (Heat), Troy Bell (Grizzlies).
August 16, 200521 yr Author I thought it was midnight tonight? Oh and we signed matt walsh from U of F today btw. 903441[/snapback] it might be midnight and as for Walsh he was signed after the first week of the summer league
August 16, 200521 yr After failing to work out a trade tonight, the Mavs have cut Michael Finley under the amnesty rule.
August 16, 200521 yr http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2135039 DALLAS -- Michael Finley's final day with the Dallas Mavericks arrived Monday, when the team waived its longtime leader and captain, ESPN.com's Marc Stein has learned. Under a one-time amnesty provision in the NBA's new labor contract, the Mavericks saved $51 million in luxury taxes over the next three years by waiving Finley, who became an unrestricted free agent. Finley will still be guaranteed the $51 million left on his contract, plus whatever money he gets from a new team. He won't be able to re-sign with the Mavericks until his original contract expires after the 2007-08 season, when he will be 35. Among the teams expected to try to sign Finley are the Suns, Spurs, Heat, Pistons and Nuggets, according to Stein. The San Antonio Spurs have just over half of their $5 million mid-level exception remaining to woo Finley, and the top two teams in the East are offering more. The Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons will be offering Finley a contract starting at the full mid-level exception, as will the on-the-rise Denver Nuggets. The deadline for taking advantage of the amnesty provision was midnight ET Monday. Finley was traded to the Mavericks from Phoenix on Dec. 26, 1996, and is the longest-tenured player on the Dallas roster. He averaged 19.8 points for the Mavericks over 626 games the past 8? seasons. The Mavericks reportedly have already found Finley's replacement. Reports out of Texas said the Mavericks have reached an oral agreement with veteran swingman Doug Christie on a one-year, $3 million deal. Before Christie officially becomes a Maverick, he must wait seven days to clear waivers, according to league rules. Christie was waived Thursday by the Orlando Magic under the same amnesty clause. Finley was an All-Star before Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki were, then together that trio became known as the "Big Three" -- taking the Mavericks from being one of the league's worst teams to having at least 50 wins and going to the playoffs four straight seasons. Nash left as a free agent last summer to the Suns. In 2001, Finley signed a maximum contract of $100-plus million over seven years. The Mavericks owe him about $16 million for 2005-06, with salaries of roughly $17 million and $18 million over the next two seasons. This past season, Finley had some of the lowest averages in his 12 NBA seasons, scoring 15.7 points a game -- his lowest ever in Dallas. He shot 42.7 percent from the field and averaged a career-low 4.1 rebounds. Since averaging at least 20 points a game in his first five full seasons in Dallas, Finley's scoring average has dropped each of the last three seasons. In June, Finley had arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right ankle, which bothered him most of the season and even made him miss 15 games before Christmas. The surgery was successful, and he should be fully recovered by the start of training camp. Christie, who played for the Sacramento Kings before being traded to the Magic in January, will still get about $8 million for Orlando. He's also played for the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors, averaging 11.4 points and 1.9 steals per game over his career. Jump on it, Riles!
August 16, 200521 yr For the love of God Pax....Finley is a talented, veteran who at 6'7 is long and can play the 2 guard....exactly what the Bulls need (heck he is even from the Chi). GET IT DONE PAX!!! BUT of course, if the Bulls don't get him, I wouldn't mind seeing him added to that Heat powerhouse, D Wade is my boy after all, and Shaq is cool.
August 16, 200521 yr I would love to have him on the Heat, too, but I assume hed be starting, pushing Posey to the bench, along with Antoine. How many balls are the Heat going to be playing with this season? If the Heat signed Finley and re-signed Damon Jones (which is still possible), their 2nd team could beat some teams (Jones, Wright/Walsh, Posey, Walker, Mourning). If the Heat doesn't get Finley, they are said to be interested in Aaron McKie. Don't know if that's a good thing.
August 17, 200520 yr http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketb...fla-sports-heat Mourning to return to Heat By Keven Lerner Sun-Sentinel.com Posted August 17 2005, 3:44 PM EDT Alonzo Mourning, who had been under contract and weighing a return, will play for the Heat this season after all. "We are extremely excited about the fact that Zo wants to continue his career in Miami and we feel his decision to come back is going to be critical toward our success and goal of winning an NBA championship," Heat President Pat Riley said in a statement. "We have the utmost respect for Alonzo and he deserves to be part of this championship run." advertisement advertisement Mourning, who worked his way back from a 2003 kidney transplant, re-joined the Heat on March 1 as a free agent after playing two seasons with New Jersey. Prior to joining the Nets, he spent eight memorable seasons with the Heat. "I'm very excited about returning to the Heat this season and I remain more committed than ever to bring a championship to Miami," Mourning said in a statement. "I'm thrilled with all the improvements the team has made this summer and can't wait to get on the court and start playing." The team picked up the team option on Mourning's contract for the 2005-06 season on June 17. Mourning, 35, offered the perfect complement to Shaquille O'Neal during the final months of the season and playoffs in limited minutes. He averaged 7.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 19.0 minutes per game in 37 games (17 starts) last season.
August 17, 200520 yr Nice to see Zo is back!!! If we can get Finley, we will be one DAMN GOOD TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!
August 17, 200520 yr Author Nice to see Zo is back!!! If we can get Finley, we will be one DAMN GOOD TEAM!!!!!!!!!!! 905381[/snapback] well we are already a DAMN good team....adding Finley would just make us an F****N PHENOMONAL TEAM
August 18, 200520 yr Nice to see Zo is back!!! If we can get Finley, we will be one DAMN GOOD TEAM!!!!!!!!!!! 905381[/snapback] well we are already a DAMN good team....adding Finley would just make us an F****N PHENOMONAL TEAM 905402[/snapback] :thumbup
August 19, 200520 yr In an article dated August 15 about offseason winners and losers, Steve Kerr says the Heat "are supposedly on the verge of landing Finely." Here's his whole comment on the Heat: "Question mark: Miami Heat The Heat are supposedly on the verge of landing Michael Finley. After already adding Antoine Walker and Jason Williams, there's no question that Miami has upgraded its roster big time. But this looks suspiciously like what the Lakers did two years ago when they added Gary Payton and Karl Malone to an already star-studded lineup. Are there too many cooks in the kitchen? Are there enough basketballs to go around? We'll find out. "
August 22, 200520 yr Author Update: Finley will choose between signing with Miami or Detroit, the Detroit Free Press reports. Recommendation: Earlier reports said it was almost certain he'd sign with the Heat, but several league officials said the Pistons are still in the thick of it. Source: Rotowire.com
August 22, 200520 yr Heavy sales pitch planned for Finley BY BARRY JACKSON bjackson@herald.com 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. Eager to impress him, the Heat has placed 20 posters of Finley wearing a Heat uniform on light poles on streets next to AmericanAirlines Arena. One associate said Sunday he expected Finley to visit with Heat officials today. The Heat is believed to be offering Finley the full $5 million mid-level exception. Finley, who averaged 15.7 points for Dallas last season, has strong interest in the Heat, sources said, but associates said he also in recent days has been considering San Antonio, Detroit and Phoenix. The Pistons and Heat could each offer $5 million. The Spurs could offer slightly more than $2.5 million, but the Suns could offer only the $1.1 million veteran's minimum. Finley is believed to have already spoken with Heat president Pat Riley. WALKER DEAL The Heat restructured the contract of forward Antoine Walker after an examination revealed an arthritic condition in his knees. According to a report in The Boston Globe, Walker's six-year, $53 million deal was changed to a four-year, $30 million contract with a two-year option. Agent Mark Bartelstein said Sunday that report was incorrect but declined to say how the contract might have been altered. ''He'll get the full six years of the contract,'' Bartelstein said. ``The Heat acknowledged they expect him to get every dollar.'' Walker, 29, has missed only 19 of 706 games in his career. Bartelstein said his knee is ``no concern.'' http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/12444520.htm
August 22, 200520 yr Michael Finley is expected to sign with the Heat today. There's still an outside chance he could end up somewhere else, but the Heat appear to be the winners. Once he signs, it should trigger several other signings, including Latrell Sprewell and Dale Davis. - Rotoworld.
August 22, 200520 yr Thanks for the linkage Passion, didn't hear that. IF the Heat figure out a way to share the ball with all those players, they will be completely unstoppable.
August 22, 200520 yr Yeah, that's not even funny. Finley >>>>>>> Eddie Jones Jason Williams, Antione Walker, James Posey >>>>>>>> a bunch of junk Anything short of an NBA title would be a major disappointment.
August 22, 200520 yr I'm freaking out over here. If this is true, I am so banging Pat Riley. 911772[/snapback] Again? :plain
August 22, 200520 yr Actually I'll let my mom do the honors, she's the only that always thought he was pretty hot for an older dude. Anyway, I can't even grasp the fact this might be true. The squad we built around Shaq and Dwyane with reasonable money is beyond amazing, I'm so pumped for November. Pfft, and Riley said it will be a quiet off-season.
August 22, 200520 yr Yeah, it is definitely championship or bust, ESPECIALLY when the Finley signing becomes official.....Heat have had quite the offseason.
August 23, 200520 yr Whats a better lineup: C - Shaq PF - Haslem SF - Walker SG - Wade PG - Sexual/White/Wanna Be Black/Chicken/Pogo Stick Chocolate OR C - Shaq PF - Haslem SF - Walker SG - Finely PG - Wade
August 23, 200520 yr Riley and Van Gundy meet free agent Finley By Michael Cunningham Staff Writer Posted August 23 2005 The Heat got the first official crack at wooing Michael Finley and also saw one of its main rivals apparently drop out the running for the free-agent forward. President Pat Riley and coach Stan Van Gundy met with Finley on Monday in the Chicago area. Finley also is scheduled to meet with San Antonio and Phoenix this week, and his agent, Henry Thomas, said Finley probably would make a decision next week. Thomas said the meeting with Riley and Van Gundy, Finley's former coach at the University of Wisconsin, was "productive." Riley reported that it was a "good meeting," according to a Heat spokesman. Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons, who have pursued Finley, agreed to terms with center Dale Davis on Monday, according to the Detroit News. The Pistons would have a full roster after signing Davis, whose agent told the News that the Pistons were tired of waiting on Finley to make up his mind. That leaves the Heat as the only contending team that can offer Finley a contract starting at $5 million, the full mid-level salary cap exception. The Spurs already used part of their exception and the Suns only can offer Finley the veteran's minimum of $1.14 million. Thomas wouldn't say if Finley is seeking the full exception. Thomas said last week that Finley wants to play for a contender but that money also would be part of the decision. Denver and Minnesota also have expressed interest but neither seems to offer as good a chance at a championship as the Heat, Spurs or Suns. Finley, 32, would have a chance to start at small forward for the Heat as the team has traded away Eddie Jones, Rasual Butler and Qyntel Woods, and currently has only James Posey as a candidate to start at the position. The Mavs last week waived Finley, a two-time All-Star, to save money under the one-time amnesty provision of the new collective bargaining agreement. Michael Cunningham can be reached at mcunningham@sun-sentinel.com. Sounds good to me.
August 23, 200520 yr Whats a better lineup: C - Shaq PF - Haslem SF - Walker SG - Wade PG - Sexual/White/Wanna Be Black/Chicken/Pogo Stick Chocolate OR C - Shaq PF - Haslem SF - Walker SG - Finely PG - Wade 911995[/snapback] I don't think either of those would be the lineup should Finley sign. I think you be looking at: C - Shaq PF - Haslem SF - Finley SG - Wade PG - Williams It's possible that Walker starts over Haslem, but I think he'll come off the bench and play both the 3 and 4.
August 23, 200520 yr I don't understand what he's even waiting for. I guess this can be argued, but I think the Heat are offering the best title shot, and clearly they can give him the most money (by far).
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