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Finley decision may come down soon!
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Michael Finley (Guard-Forward) was shocked when he was traded from the Phoenix Suns at the young age of 23yrs old. He said he thought the team liked him. Nearly 9 yrs later, he knows they do.
The Suns have told to Finley how much they love the idea of him playing for their team again. Phoenix will hear if the feeling is mutual soon, when the swingman, now 32, is expected to announce his next career move. Since Finley was waived by the Maves for a luxury tax savings 2 weeks ago, Michael has become as sought after NBA player.
Now he narrowed his options to Phoenix, Minnesota, San Antonio and Miami, all of which sent recruiting contingents to see him in Chicago last week.
With Finley, Phoenix will start the shooter in the backcourt with good friend Steve Nash and start talking NBA title.
Without Michael, the expectations do not change much for the Suns franchise that can't replace Joe Johnson, but has made moves to counter how it lost 6 of 8 games to San Antonio last NBA season.
"The Suns plate is full" Phoenix's Shawn Marion says, Jim Jackson, James Jones, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa and rookie Dijon Thompson all can man one of the positions.
Phoenix would prefer to keep bringing Jackson, who will be 35yrs this NBA season, from the bench. Without MichaelFinley, that would mean Raja starts as a better defensive matchup against the NBA's dynamic off/guards.
The Suns' chances of landing Michael Finley have improved since word first hit. Finley would be waived under a 1 time amnesty waiver, which makes the Dallas Maves pay him the $51.8 million due without figuring into the luxury tax payments. Some industry insiders believed Finley had his mind set on the Miami Heat, where he has personal ties and title talk with the big man Shaquille O'Neal.
The sentimentality of the Phoenix Suns case took a hit when Finley would not even grant the Nuggets an interview. Finley, close with Denvers Kiki Vandeweghe (General Manager) when he was Dallas' director of player development. The snub did not seem to be solely on Denver's title hopes because Minnesota, a team that missed last season's NBA playoffs, was granted a meeting.
For Phoenix to overcome the Heat, a financial gap would be accepted. The Suns, do not have salary cap space, and can only offer Finley a veteran's minimum contract, which is $1.1 million for his 10 yrs of NBA experience.
Miami Heat has the $5 million midlevel exception to offer, and Micheal could start for the Heat at small forward if James Posey and Antoine Walker come off the pine.
However, part of Michael Finley's salary will have an offset that will come out of the money the Maves owes him. That will lave the net gap between the coming NBA season's salary offers at $2 million. Finley could get a multiyear deal with the Heat. The Suns could sign Finley for 1 yr (with a 2 yr player option) and use the $5 million midlevel exception on him next summer. Phoenix used most of this year's midlevel exception to sign Bell this summer.
San Antonio Suprs and Minnesota Timberwolves each have about $2.5 million of the midlevel exceptions left.
Micheal Finley missed a career high 18 games last season but he played with a painful right ankle because of Dallas' other teammates injuries. He averaged 15.7 pts, his lowest in 8 years, but shot a career best 40.7% from 3 point range. Finley underwent arthroscopic surgery in June to remove bone chips from his right ankle.
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