Mike James: Just wants a home...

[Kings113]

Boston Globe - Mike James is expected to decline his player option for 2006-2007 and become a free agent. James realizes that his reputation may make some teams reluctant to offer him a lucrative contract.

''I'm a pit bull because I'm misunderstood," said James. ''A pit bull is the sweetest, most loving dog in the world and full of energy. But if crossed, they've got lockjaw. When I lock on to something, I'm not letting go."

''I'm not looking for all 30 teams to love me," said James. ''I'm just looking for one team that's going to believe in me and treat me as if I can really help that team win a championship at the helm.

''If somebody else was putting up the stats that I was putting up, they would throw all the money in the world at them. So, just treat me the same way as you would treat anybody else who's a free agent. Money is not my motivator, but I also want to enjoy the fruits of my labor."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/39811/20060402/james_just_looking_for_one_team_to_believe_in_(him)/ (have to register for link)

Hey Mike, come on down to Sac!

Likely wishful thinking, but this would be the #1 guy to go after for back-up guard. Has come to be one of my favs over the last year or so.

 

[DeAtHrOw]

He has expressed his desire to play for the Knicks

Why would anyone want to do that is beyond me....

 

[Kings113]

His home, Brown likes him, a starting job, and money. I would think. Could be where he ends up, but I'd hope not, he wouldn't go anywhere on that team.

 

[piksi]

He has expressed his desire to play for the Knicks

Why would anyone want to do that is beyond me....

because You get paid a lot and You only have to "work" from October till April

 

[DeAtHrOw]

because You get paid a lot and You only have to "work" from October till April

Classic.

 

[DeAtHrOw]

His home, Brown likes him, a starting job, and money. I would think. Could be where he ends up, but I'd hope not, he wouldn't go anywhere on that team.

He can have (already does) starting job with the Raps and money. Unless the Knicks do some trades over the summer, they are log jammed at G positions therefore I am not sure where he'd fit in.

Brown also said before coming to the Knicks how he loves Marbury...you know what happened next.

 

[BMiller52]

If the knicks got Mike James, cut Marbury and S&Ted Francis for Al Harrington they'd be so much better. I'd get rid of Curry too though, hopefully you could get a solid SF/SG for him.

James/someone/someone/Harrington/Frye doesn't look too bad does it?

 

[T[MaC]]

Atlanta wouldn't dare touch Francis now that Johnson is doing so well. Plus, their GM is Isaiah Thomas..

 

[BMiller52]

Well they get rid of Franchise anyways then. Al Harrington specifically said he really wants to come to NY so if they can get him and get rid of all the garbage they'd be a lot better.

 

[Kings113]

He can have (already does) starting job with the Raps and money. Unless the Knicks do some trades over the summer, they are log jammed at G positions therefore I am not sure where he'd fit in.

Brown also said before coming to the Knicks how he loves Marbury...you know what happened next.

But as the article says, he'll likely test the market. Also, it's Toronto .

Brown has made it clear the Knicks will overgo a roster overhaul, Mike James being mentioned in that talk a few times. Should be expected anyways with that roster.

 

[Milles]

Mike James is a shoot first point guard, he is a blackhole. Today he shot 5/25. The Rockets traded for Rafer Alston, rather than keep him.

Of course, he is playing for his own stats and a contract, he seems to have forgotten that it is still a team game.

I do not see Toronto re-signing him. They have a new GM, Bryan Colangelo, who is said to prefer a pass first point guard.

A quote from the forum over at Raptorblog.

Can I just point out one thing?
In that 5 minute OT, Charlie Villanueva, who had 19 pts on 50% shooting, got 0 shots.
Mike James, who had 9 points on 15% shooting, got 5 shots.

Have a read at Raptorblog if you want the fans opinion of him. Mind you, they have locked up at least one thread dedicated to Mike James.

 

[Kings113]

So what if he had a bad game... no team should go after him?

Yeah he is a combo guard, can go for 20-30 on any night, is a proven clutch player. But also gets at least 5+ assists per game from what I've seen. Had 10 tonight, and is a pretty good defender also. I've been watching the guy near-regularly since 2004, along with reading about him.

Bosh said a number of times he wants James to stay, but may not mean a whole lot now.

 

[¿¿¿]

Thought he said he'd like to stay in Toronto.

 

[DeAtHrOw]

Living in Toronto I have seen a lot of Raptors' games and Mike James. Raps made a mistake by not trading him because they might end up overpaying in order to keep him. ANything more than $5-6 million/year
is too much. When he is on, he can shoot the lights out with the best of them. What bothers me though when he is not on he will keep forcing shots instead of looking for a teammate with a hot hand. Case in point few nights ago when Villanueva had 48 pts, game goes into over time and instead of looking for Charlie, Mike keeps taking shots and missing. Sometimes I think his "MJ" intitials get to his head.

 

[jacobdrj]

Living in Toronto I have seen a lot of Raptors' games and Mike James. Raps made a mistake by not trading him because they might end up overpaying in order to keep him. ANything more than $5-6 million/year
is too much. When he is on, he can shoot the lights out with the best of them. What bothers me though when he is not on he will keep forcing shots instead of looking for a teammate with a hot hand. Case in point few nights ago when Villanueva had 48 pts, game goes into over time and instead of looking for Charlie, Mike keeps taking shots and missing. Sometimes I think his "MJ" intitials get to his head.

Potaeto/Potaato
Some would call this "shooter's mentality" and would call the same thing you just mentioned a good thing. IMHO, it is not the players' responsiblity, especially a shooter, to stop shooting if he has an off game, as every player does. It is the COACHES responsobility to recognize his player is sucking, and to bench him.

 

[DeAtHrOw]

Potaeto/Potaato
Some would call this "shooter's mentality" and would call the same thing you just mentioned a good thing. IMHO, it is not the players' responsiblity, especially a shooter, to stop shooting if he has an off game, as every player does. It is the COACHES responsobility to recognize his player is sucking, and to bench him.

I would agree 100% with you if Mike was a SG but he is not.

 

[Kings113]

He's a combo guard, many exist, Mike James is one of them.

 

[jacobdrj]

He is forced to play the point, but he is one of those unfortunate "SG's in a PG's body."

He plays the point because he has to. When he played for the Pistons in 04, he came in as a SG, and Hunter (also a sucky PG) played the point.

Great player to come off the bench to change tempo, in the Bobby Jackson mold, but he has to be able to be replaced in the scenerio that was just described.

 

[Kings113]

Mike James the last 6?: 23.2 PPG, 9.2 APG. Hopefully Raps can beat Hornets tonight.