Should we pick him up and draft a power forward?

[NBAGURU]

SOURCE:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=fanball-mavericksfinleyexpec&prov=fanball&type=lgns


Mavericks: Finley expected to be waived
by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Monday, June 27, 2005


News
The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that Michael Finley, the longest-tenured player on the Mavs roster, will be released in a cost-saving move allowed under the new collective bargaining agreement. The Mavs would avoid paying a luxury tax on the $52 million remaining on Finley's contract, and the veteran would be free to sign with anyone but the Mavs.

Views
Finley's departure would free up more minutes for young, athletic talents like Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris and give Finley a chance to bounce back from his worst season as a pro. In all, it would help clean up what comprised a muddled fantasy situation on Dallas' perimeter.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

No, we should resign Maurice Evans and draft a power forward.

 

[Kev.in]

Finley's legs are really starting to go. He used to be able to do so much offensively, now his whole game is jumpshots. If he's not spotting up for 3, then he almost always goes with a headfake, one or two dribbles and then a pullup jumper. He's still a good player, just not a good fit here.

 

[*JW*]

Id rather pickup someone young. Hey NBAGURU do you like the Raiders? Sorry for calling you out if you dont I was just wondering if your the same Guru on RF.net.

 

[Rowdyone]

Depending on how the off season plays out we may be forced to sign someone like him but I'd rather see the PT go to some of the youngsters.

 

[piksi]

You have got to be kidding me

 

[Yoda]

This would be a nice pickup...if cheap.

 

[VF21]

Should we pick him up and draft a power forward?

That's one option. Or we could NOT pick him up and draft a power forward.

Once again, people are clamoring all over themselves to pick up other team's discards. I'm hoping Petrie will, as he usually does, resist the urge and go, instead, for players who aren't on the decline. Once in a while, you have to take a seasoned veteran with failing skills, slower reflexes, etc. (as with Tag) because the price is right and you don't have too many other options. That isn't the norm, however. As with Payton, Finley isn't the same as he was in the past. The Maloofs and Petrie already have a core of players they want to rebuild the team around. You don't rebuild a team with worn-out players any more than you re-roof a house with the worn out shingles.

 

[thesanityannex]

yeah, the last thing we need is a middle aged man with 52 million left on his contract, we could have kept webber if we were going to take a step back with finley.

 

[Yoda]

You don't rebuild a team with worn-out players any more than you re-roof a house with the worn out shingles.

To some they are worn out, to others they may be savory vets on the bench meant to mentor the younger guys...if cheaply received that is what Finley would be.
Do I think it will happen? Almost assuredly not.
Do I want it to happen? I can make up my mind.

 

[mcsluggo]

If the Mavs RELEASE fin, he can be picked up for whatever amount he agrees to. THe Mavs are going to have to buy-out his old contract.

That said, I don't think fin has all that much left to offer a new team. He may surprise me, get healthy, and go on a tear. But mostly he just seems to be rapidly declining. And players RARELY are able/willing to face that fact. He's likely going to be looking for a lot more money than he is currently worth (or going to be worth at the end of any new contract).

$$$ equals actualization/verification in the NBA, and fin is an aging ex beauty queen who was just dumped by her husband for a younger woman. Hes going to be looking for A LOT of actualization.

 

[arwen undomiel]

If we pick up Finley, who do we blame for anything/everything in the future?

 

[mcsluggo]

Ah, we'll always have the Lakers.... with Darth Jackson at the helm again, no less

 

[Fillmoe]

LOL! this thread is too funny..... why dont we just get Kevin Willis while we are it....

 

[VF21]

I think Mateen Cleaves is available...

 

[Fillmoe]

yah and maybe we can trade brad miller for scot pollard and sign jim jackson and keon clark

 

[VF21]

If we're real lucky, we might be able to talk Brent Price out of retirement.

 

[SDKing]

You don't rebuild a team with worn-out players any more than you re-roof a house with the worn out shingles.

Well said!

 

[Yoda]

If we're real lucky, we might be able to talk Brent Price out of retirement.

Finley is not Price or Mateen...or any other scrub. He is still capable of some things. You mock the notion of bringing him in, but he may be a great vet role player.

 

[Bricklayer]

Finley is not Price or Mateen...or any other scrub. He is still capable of some things. You mock the notion of bringing him in, but he may be a great vet role player.

Mmm...I think the problem with an aging finley is that he is NOT a role player, just a fading star. Had a very complete game in his prime, now still does but its older and fading. But he still needs the ball, isn't a great defender, and his energy seemed considerably lower last year. He's not that old, but looking prematurely grey. He's not as far gone, but there is a bit of Nick Anderson in him for us.

 

[VF21]

He is still capable of some things. You mock the notion of bringing him in, but he may be a great vet role player.

1. Breathing
2. Taking up roster space

If we're going to rebuild our team, let's look to the future and the long-range. Not the short term. We don't need to pad the roster with veteran role players who will be here a season or two and then gone.

Rebuild the team the right way. Get youth, not aging veterans. Our core players aren't getting any younger. Look at the Spurs. They're in great shape now - and for the next few years. Petrie built a team like that before... and I think he'll do it again. And he'll do it without wasting good money on short-term band-aids.

 

[SLAB]

Finley is not Price or Mateen...or any other scrub. He is still capable of some things. You mock the notion of bringing him in, but he may be a great vet role player.

I think bringing him in for a year would be a good move...I am just not comfortable with Kevin Martin getting a full time job yet...I also think that Mo Evans isn't a great option as a starter.

What I see those guys as, as of right now are...

Kevin Martin--- Not yet ready to contribute in the long haul. Still needs some seasoning to be able to produce as much as people think he can...I just don't see him as ready.

Mo Evans--- This is the type of guy that you want off your bench. A spark of energy. Hustles, and just does what he knows he can do. He may eventually be a starter, but I'd rather him off the bench another year.

I'm just not a fan of a Evans/Martin 2-guard spot. And if we want to bring a starter, we could do a helluva lot worse than Finley.

 

[VF21]

And if we want to bring a starter, we could do a helluva lot worse than Finley.

I'd like to believe Geoff Petrie has set his sights a little higher than Michael Finley.

 

[arwen undomiel]

1. Breathing
2. Taking up roster space

If we're going to rebuild our team, let's look to the future and the long-range. Not the short term. We don't need to pad the roster with veteran role players who will be here a season or two and then gone.

Rebuild the team the right way. Get youth, not aging veterans. Our core players aren't getting any younger. Look at the Spurs. They're in great shape now - and for the next few years. Petrie built a team like that before... and I think he'll do it again. And he'll do it without wasting good money on short-term band-aids.

I couldn't agree more. I'd rather the Kings be incredibly bad for 1-2 years while rebuilding than spend the next 5 wallowing in mediocrity.

 

[Yoda]

1. Breathing
2. Taking up roster space

If we're going to rebuild our team, let's look to the future and the long-range. Not the short term. We don't need to pad the roster with veteran role players who will be here a season or two and then gone.

Rebuild the team the right way. Get youth, not aging veterans. Our core players aren't getting any younger. Look at the Spurs. They're in great shape now - and for the next few years. Petrie built a team like that before... and I think he'll do it again. And he'll do it without wasting good money on short-term band-aids.

I disagree. It is good for a young team to be sprinkled with accomplished vets. The Pacers are a good example of this. Im not saying Finley is the guy, but if he is really cheap, and willing to fit a bench role, then he is perfect to come along in our rebuilding process. Also, you could be nicer in your reponses. I would enjoy discussing this with someone who is not out to slam opinions. Thanks.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

I disagree. It is good for a young team to be sprinkled with accomplished vets. The Pacers are a good example of this. Im not saying Finley is the guy, but if he is really cheap, and willing to fit a bench role, then he is perfect to come along in our rebuilding process. Also, you could be nicer in your reponses. I would enjoy discussing this with someone who is not out to slam opinions. Thanks.

The thing is we need the exact opposite of Finley, we need a defensive presence, someone with intangibles (Not a streaky jumpshooter with faded athleticism), we could just resign Mobley if we wanted a jumpshooter, our team has to start going in a different direction if we want to make it anywhere,signing Finley is not perfect for our rebuilding process he's 32, now giving those minutes to Martin and Evans who could be something with the right development,is something we have to look at, Finleys time has passed Evans & Martin are up and coming. You have to relize we are not going to win a championship like that, our time is over, we are a new team, we have to think like a new team not like the team we were, now if you were to tell me we could get Finley on this team when we had Webber, Vlade & Christie I would be all for it.

 

[SLAB]

Well, Here's my analysis on this whole situation...Below is a list of every free agent shooting guard...I've bolded those I believe would help the team.


4. Shooting Guard
Ray Allen---Out of price range.
Michael Redd (Opted Put)---Out of Range.
Larry Hughes---Out of Range.
Joe Johnson (Restricted)---Out of Range.
Cuttino Mobley (Opted Out)---Not likley to be resigned. Wants to much money.
Eddie Jones (Player Option)---Aging, I assume he's gonna stay with the Heat.
Kerry Kittles
Latrell Sprewell
Ronald Murray (Restricted)
Willie Green (Restricted/Early Bird Rights)
Jon Barry
Casey Jacobsen
DerMarr Johnson---Young, athletic, a good shooter. Not much defence.
Juan Dixon (Option Declined)---Another Cuttino Mobley?
Raja Bell---Plays defense, and is an undererated offensive player. Maybe a nice backup.
Keith Bogans (Restricted/Early Bird Rights)
Maurice Evans (Restricted)---He's a keeper...Give him another year or two in the bench.
Kareem Rush (Option Declined)---Another shooter. Nothing more.
Shandon Anderson
Dajuan Wagner (Option Declined)---No defense, bad attitude. Worth a risk???
Anthony Peeler
Matt Carroll
Damien Wilkins (Restricted)
Richie Frahm (Restricted)
Eddie House
Lucious Harris (Team Option Declined)
Laron Profit
Erik Daniels (Restricted)
Tamar Slay (Team Option)
Romain Sato
Greg Buckner (Player Option)---Defensive role player.
Steve Smith---Role player as a 3rd guard. Help the youngsters develop.
Wesley Person
Horace Jenkins (Restricted)
Qyntel Woods
Adrian Griffin
Kedrick Brown
Dion Glover
Cory Alexander
Courtney Alexander
Derrick Dial
Kurt Penney
Kendall Gill

And now potentially add, Micheal Finley, Doug Christie, and Allan Houston to that list.

Micheal Finley---Getting old, but still can play. A few years wouldn't totally hurt. Develop Martin and Mo in his year or two here...As everyone is saying, our time is not NOW, so why would we rush our youngsters into starting, when we can bring in a vet like this to give leadership and direction for a year or two.
Doug Christie---. If you think Finley is losing his skills, look at Christie. Not only is he 35, he just came off ankle surgury, which may hurt his quickness, which hurts his defense, which makes him useless.
Allan Houston---Next.

Now out of that entire list, there are not many options better than Finley.

Of course, I'm just going through free agency, without thinking of trades or the draft.

 

[Bricklayer]

DeMarr Johnson might do very well in our system and has excellent size. But apparently he wants to reup in Denver. But no obvious starters on that list, including Johsnon, who we can actually afford. Hughes and Joe Johnsoon would be the guys we needed, but just no realistic way to get them.

Not sure I followed your comment about our time not being now, so that's why you don't start the kids? If our time is NOT now, wouldn't that be precisely when you might be willing to waste a year getting your kids mega-expereince and not sweating out the additional losses which might mount? You certainly can't do it if you are serious about contending. But if we're not, maybe you can consider it.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

You really think we would be contenders if we got Finley or even Joe Johnson, I don't.

 

[SLAB]

DeMarr Johnson might do very well in our system and has excellent size. But apparently he wants to reup in Denver. But no obvious starters on that list, including Johsnon, who we can actually afford. Hughes and Joe Johnsoon would be the guys we needed, but just no realistic way to get them.

Not sure I followed your comment about our time not being now, so that's why you don't start the kids? If our time is NOT now, wouldn't that be precisely when you might be willing to waste a year getting your kids mega-expereince and not sweating out the additional losses which might mount? You certainly can't do it if you are serious about contending. But if we're not, maybe you can consider it.

I just think that throwing a not-yet-ready Kevin Martin into a full time role when he's not ready would be a bad move. I think if he goes out for an entire year, and puts up not-so-good numbers his confidence may be hurt, which would hurt his future more than it helps.

I think having a good vetran like a Micheal Finley to guide the guys for a year would be much more helpful than just throwing guys who aren't ready out to the wolves.

...This mostly applies to Kevin Martin, as I actually do think that Mo could be a servicable starter, now that I think of it...I'd just rather him off the bench.