<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="2">By CHRIS SHERIDAN, AP Basketball Writer</font> <font size="1">August 16, 2005 </font> Michael Finley's arrival on the free agent market Tuesday had an impact on Latrell Sprewell, who might not decide until the end of next week whether to sign with Detroit, Houston or elsewhere, Sprewell's agent said. The Mavericks' decision to waive Finley late Monday night changed the complexion of the free agent market, throwing a two-time All-Star into the mix at a time when the majority of NBA teams have already made most of their major offseason moves. The Pistons, however, have been holding onto their mid-level salary cap exception and are all but certain to go after Finley before deciding whether to settle for Sprewell. Finley's agent, Henry Thomas, said eight or nine teams contacted him Tuesday to discuss his client's availability. ``He's in the process of narrowing it down and focusing on what teams he'd like to go to,'' Thomas said. ``He's most interested in going to a situation where he has a chance to win a championship.'' A few of Finley's suitors, including Detroit, Miami and Denver, still have their full mid-level salary cap exception and can offer a five-year deal with a starting salary of $5 million. Phoenix could offer Finley only the veteran's minimum, and San Antonio has only a portion of its mid-level exception remaining. ``(Money) will be looked at along with other factors, and ultimately Michael will have to prioritize,'' Thomas said. The Mavericks tried to trade Finley before Monday night's midnight deadline for waiving players under the amnesty provision of the collective bargaining agreement, but were unable to reach a deal. Finley will not clear waivers for seven days, a delay that will keep Sprewell waiting, too. ``If you look at teams like Miami, Detroit and Houston, they're all one player away from reaching the NBA Finals,'' agent Robert Gist said. ``We'll see what happens. The night is still young.'' ``I think it speaks well of Latrell that two of his former coaches (Flip Saunders and Jeff Van Gundy) want him on their teams. Latrell is the one bargain that's out there right now.'' Sprewell turned down a three-year, $21 million extension from the Timberwolves before last season. Minnesota has shown no interest in trying to re-sign him, Gist said, nor have the Timberwolves seemed open to the idea of a sign-and-trade deal. Sprewell, a 13-year veteran who will be 36 when the season begins, averaged a career-low 12.8 points last season for Minnesota. Still considered an above-average defender, Sprewell would likely compete with David Wesley for playing time at the shooting guard spot in Houston. If he were to join the Pistons, it would likely be as a bench player backing up small forward Tayshaun Prince and shooting guard Richard Hamilton. Detroit is one of nine teams, along with the Nuggets, Lakers, Heat, Bulls, Mavericks, SuperSonics, Timberwolves and Jazz, that still have their entire mid-level exception available. ``The mid-level is not an insult to Latrell, but his value is higher than the mid-level,'' Gist said. Among the other remaining unrestricted free agents are Indiana's Dale Davis, Miami's Damon Jones, Memphis' Earl Watson, Atlanta's Tyronn Lue, Boston's Gary Payton, Seattle's Damien Wilkins and Minnesota's Eddie Griffin.</div> Yahoo.com
I'm really iffy on Sprewell. There's basically two different extremes that can happen with that player. On one hand, he can be hungry for a championship before he retires, want to play under Van Gundy again, desperate enough for money since no teams want to take a chance on him, and not injury prone. On the other, Sprewell comes with a lot of baggage- meaning he can totally throw the team chemistry out of whack or kill the morality of the team. Nonetheless, I'll give my opinion on him. He's a good defender, a legit scorer, can hit the three, and can provide a third option to the team. Whether we should take a chance on him, I'm in between the two extremes.
Sprewell is a player we could choose to take a risk on, someone who could turn out to be a savior or a distraction. With the Timberwolves, Sprewell looked very much the hero in the 03-04 season, but during the summer of 2004 he became unhappy over contract negotiations. If we bring him onto the Rockets with a two-year deal, go deep in the playoffs, and then have basically the same situation that occurred between Sprewell and Minnesota, then I'd pass. We could also hope that Sprewell has matured and will only care about winning a championship and nothing else. With his history, I'd rather not take the risk.
That would be amazing if spreewel took the LLE. He thinks he is better than the MLE, so signing with the rockets would just be a big blow to his dignity. If somehow he does come, i wouldnt put us behind spurs so easily.
If Spree will take the LLE i wouldn't mind having him considering the other options we have on the free agent market...although I do prefer Finley (mainly because Mike isn't a chemistry distractor)....but if Spree takes the LLE it can show two things (either of them I'm not leaning towards in any way)..either he is really hungry for that ring and he will play like that and act like a championship contender and not be a distraction or he will be a distraction and cause a rift in the team....i really don't know...
He probably won't take it. "Hes' gotta family to feed" but if he comes then maybe it is a risk but he has been under van gundy before so it might not look as bad on the horizon provided that he doesn't do to van gundy what he did to P.J. But somehow i think he has got a ego problem over the last year or so.
Although Spree is a knuckle head, I think his "feed my family" quote has been taken too serious. I would much rather have Finley, but Spree might fit well in the system. Don't forget about DA too, but any of the three wouldn't hurt. As far as Spree's attitude, I'm sure Van Guny will put him in his place.
It would be hilarious if Spree ended up settling for just the LLE. The TWolves offered him a $7Million extension and he was insulted by it. Now he has to wait to see what Michael Finley does, and will have to be optimistic about being offered the MLE, which is less money, plus he won't be starting on the teams looking at him. Great career choice by the Predator. What do the Rockets have to offer free agents at this point in terms of money? Is it just the LLE? The Rockets would not be hurting themselves bringing any of those 3 on board. My preference would be Finley, DA, and then Spree.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> What do the Rockets have to offer free agents at this point in terms of money? Is it just the LLE?</div>I believe that the full MLE has been used on Stromile Swift, so yeah, the LLE is all the Rockets have to offer free agents.
from what I've heard Finley is looking at the Heat, Pistons, Spurs, and the Suns...then the Nuggets as the most he would strech from a title race......so yeah I've pretty much discounted him from the Rocket's hunt now..... Just treat it as if it's down to DA and Spree....
Fox was reporting last night that spree would cost too much, but I don't know if I really want him here anywayz.........then again spree and JVG have a great relationship, so maybe he wouldn't be a total nut case.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm really iffy on Sprewell. There's basically two different extremes that can happen with that player. On one hand, he can be hungry for a championship before he retires, want to play under Van Gundy again, desperate enough for money since no teams want to take a chance on him, and not injury prone. On the other, Sprewell comes with a lot of baggage- meaning he can totally throw the team chemistry out of whack or kill the morality of the team. Nonetheless, I'll give my opinion on him. He's a good defender, a legit scorer, can hit the three, and can provide a third option to the team. Whether we should take a chance on him, I'm in between the two extremes.</div> I think it was Eddie Johnson that said this, When a team gains success, players do one of two things. 1 - They say "We were close, but next year we will take this." And look at it from a team aspect. 2 - Begin with the "I DID", "I AM", and "ME, ME, ME" talk. I was a biiiggggg Spree fan in NYC, and loved his slashing and attitude. But when he started statements like "I got a family to feed" and "Why should I care about the teams success if they don't care about the organization if they don't want to pay me". That's garbage.
No please. Spree is old, selfish and ignorant. If we can't get Finley or Dermarr, lets wait for midseason.
i would love spree on our team. To me it seams like he has all the good qualities of finley and anderson, he shoots, plays d, slashes, he also has size and does almost everything you can ask for. BUt in my personal experiences with ex-girlfriends, once a crazy ****er, always a crazy ****er!!!!
I'm down with it, Spree is really really thinking about it, and his family is thinking "****, if he goes to Houston, were gona end up on foodstamps...but if he goes to Detroit, we will be okay for the meantime")..seriously, I have no clue where he is going to end up, but I think Spree is thinking bout heading back to the east..if u know what I mean. (I'll be damn if he do jump to our team tho ...but imho, he would be a nice addition but I say we don't need him). <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Anderson remains on the Lakers' list but is being considered by other teams too. Michael Finley, recently released by the Mavericks, the best of the available shooting guards, is being courted by Miami, Detroit, Phoenix and San Antonio. Minnesota's Latrell Sprewell, a free agent, emerging as the No. 2 shooting guard, is talking to Detroit, in case the Pistons don't get Finley, and Houston.</div> SOURCE <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Pistons, however, have been holding onto their mid-level salary cap exception and are all but certain to go after Finley before deciding whether to settle for Sprewell. </div> hmmm, Spree is waiting for Finely to decide on which team he is going to end up so he could go the opposite...I'm guessing this will take awhile, 2 weeks probably ..."TNT - knows drama" my <font color="red">profanity edited</font>..NBA, now thats the real shiznit <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">? Cassell said he expects former backcourt mate Latrell Sprewell to sign with Houston, although Detroit, Miami and Denver are still interested.</div> SOURCE even, ET thinks were gona get him
Spree is a millionaire. What problems does he have feeding his family? I suggest hte Rockets REALLY push for Finley. With the current options available he is EASILY our best choice. He is everything that sprewell including the great conditioning and strong leadership qualities.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dakeem1:</div><div class="quote_post">Spree is a millionaire. What problems does he have feeding his family? I suggest hte Rockets REALLY push for Finley. With the current options available he is EASILY our best choice. He is everything that sprewell including the great conditioning and strong leadership qualities.</div> uh, it was just sarcasm (but i still think its pretty sad for Spree to even think like that in the first place )...I agree, Finely would be the best man to pick up but the chances of him being in a ROX uniform this season is very very slim .
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">An Eastern Conference Finals Rematch For Finley MLive.com - 08/18 - 10:20 AM EST The Heat and Pistons are again battling it out; this time for Michael Finley, arguably the best available unsigned free agent. Although several media reports indicated that Detroit and Miami are joined by San Antonio and Phoenix in trying to woo Finley, three NBA officials contacted on Tuesday said that Finley will decide between Miami or Detroit. "It only makes sense that he would play for either Miami or Detroit," said a league source whose team was among those who contacted Finley's agent, Henry Thomas, after the 32-year-old became a free agent late Monday night. "They (Pistons and Heat) have the most money to offer him, and they provide him with the best chance at playing time while competing for a championship. " </div> SOURCE <div class="quote_poster">Quoting DynastYWarrioR6:</div><div class="quote_post">from what I've heard Finley is looking at the Heat, Pistons, Spurs, and the Suns...then the Nuggets as the most he would strech from a title race......so yeah I've pretty much discounted him from the Rocket's hunt now..... Just treat it as if it's down to DA and Spree....</div> ^^I feel ya...it was worth the try but I say we should sign DA (or even Spree) asap while we still have a pretty good chance of getting them. ..(also, i heard there was some speculation that the ROX are going to sign DA and go for a sign and trade with Spree ..but take the Spree rumor for a grain of salt )
