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Contenders joust to add Fin
by Chris Ekstrand / August 19, 2005

News reports and off-the-record conversations indicate title contenders Miami and Detroit are the leaders for Michael Finley’s services. But league insiders would not be surprised to see Finley decide to return to Phoenix, the team that drafted him in 1995 and traded him to Dallas in the Jason Kidd blockbuster in 1996. The NBA champion San Antonio Spurs are also said to be interested, while Denver, Minnesota and at least half a dozen other teams have made inquiries to Finley’s representatives.

Teams like Miami and Detroit can offer a salary that begins at their full mid-level exception ($5 million) for the 2005-06 NBA season. However, since Finley will collect every penny of the $51 million guaranteed him by his contract with Dallas, money may not be the deciding factor for the man who kept the Mavericks franchise afloat through the lean years of the late 1990s.

Finley is one of the best players ever to play for the Mavericks – right up there beside Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman, Derek Harper and his former compatriots in the vaunted “Big Three,” Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. But before the Mavericks swung a draft night trade to bring Nowitzki to Dallas and before they acquired Nash from Phoenix, Finley gave Maverick fans a reason to stay on the bandwagon and dream realistic dreams of a better day ahead.

In addition to scoring more than 20 points per game during his more than 600 games in a Dallas uniform, Finley was a hard worker, a team player, a community relations dream and a solid citizen. In the superstar class which he inhabited during much of his tenure in Dallas, few delivered so much in so many areas as did Finley in Dallas. Only the cold reality of NBA business – i.e. saving $50 million in luxury taxes – led Dallas to show such a fine citizen the door.

“It’s been a real tough process to go through,” Mavericks assistant Donnie Nelson told the Dallas Morning News. “Michael is a friend. It's a really close bond that develops with guys. We had [that bond] with Mike. You have to make a decision in the best interest of the Mavericks and say goodbye.”

There is no doubt that Finley was among the Mavericks who missed Nash’s superlative setups last season, and his average of 15.7 ppg was his lowest since his second season in the league. However, Finley still has too much good basketball left for him to be put in the category of a solid veteran who will do more for the team off the court than on (a la Steve Smith the last couple of seasons).

Finley can still play tough defense against most small forwards and can give selected two guards trouble as well. He can stretch defenses with his sublime three-point shooting (career-best 40.7% last season) and brings a professionalism that translates to teammates of all ages. Unlike most big scorers in their declining years, Finley remains a factor at both ends of the court.

Given Finley’s age (32) and current ability level, he would likely command a contract in the $7 to $8 million per year range on a three or four-year pact. Because of the timing and circumstances of his tax-amnesty free agency, no teams of interest have that kind of cash on hand. But as mentioned earlier, Finley, who played six full NBA seasons before playing in his first playoff game, might put winning a championship ahead of getting top dollar for his services.

Here’s a thumbnail look at the major contenders:

- Detroit: The Pistons are two-time defending Eastern Conference champions and have a still-young core of players who are hungry to add to the title they won in 2004. Finley would fit perfectly as a sixth man behind starting small forward Tayshaun Prince, who logged 37 minutes per game during the regular season last year, and starting shooting guard Richard Hamilton, who played more than 38 minutes per game. Finley’s defensive mindset would fit right in with the current group of players, and his offensive abilities would be maximized by offensive-minded new head coach Flip Saunders.

- Miami: The Heat have already made major changes to the team that came within an eyelash of dethroning the Pistons as East champs last year. Starting backcourt men Eddie Jones and Damon Jones and their three-point prowess have been replaced by point guard Jason Williams, swingman James Posey and forward Antoine Walker. While it’s debatable whether the huge trade, which involved 13 players and five teams, improved Miami’s lineup, what isn’t up for debate is that Finley is a better three-point marksman than the erratic Williams, the injudicious Walker or defensive specialist Posey.

- Phoenix: Finley was never more dangerous than when he was catching laser-like passes from Nash that he turned into three-pointers from far-flung sections of the court. The Suns have parted with three-point shooters Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson and could obviously use Finley’s three-point shooting abilities. Phoenix’s executives have made it a point to acquire players who are more defensive-minded (Kurt Thomas, Brian Grant) this offseason, and once again Finley’s prowess at that end of the court is coveted. Finley would have a better chance to start in Phoenix than he would in Detroit or Miami.

- San Antonio: The Spurs don’t have Nash and they don’t have that much cash. What they do have it quite possibly Finley’s shortest route to a championship ring. Finley has become somewhat more perimeter-oriented as he has aged, and playing with penetrators like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili would likely create more space for Finley to launch three-pointers. A smart player like Finley would fit in well with the cerebral Spurs, and Tim Duncan, one of the best passing big men in the NBA now or ever, would doubtless find Finley for wide open perimeter looks on a regular basis.

- Denver: Kiki Vandeweghe is going to try his best to get Finley to breathe the rarefied air of the Rocky Mountains, although playing behind a young stalwart like Carmelo Anthony might not be the best fit for him. Denver’s season was undermined last year when sniper Voshon Lenard suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the season, and only George Karl’s miracle touch helped Denver recover and make the playoffs. Denver doesn’t offer a starting spot or a sure chance at a championship, but the Nuggets are a team on the rise and will not be outworked in their pursuit of Finley.

- Minnesota: The Wolves are in makeover mode and ushered Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell out the door. Wally Szczerbiak remains, though, and it would be a tough sell to Finley that he should commit to a team that already has its designated shooter under contract for years to come. Despite its dismal finish last season however, the Wolves have made several intriguing moves in the offseason (acquiring a new backcourt of Marko Jaric and Rashad McCants) that could vault them right back into contention.

Chris Ekstrand, former editor of the NBA Draft Guide, is a freelance writer based in Ohio and a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com

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