<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The NBA's top remaining free-agent point guard should be off the market soon. Mike James is expected to announce his next team Tuesday after meeting face-to-face Monday in Las Vegas with Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson. James then returned to his offseason home in Houston to choose between the Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves, all of whom have been negotiating with James during the Vegas Summer League. It's believed that each of those teams is offering the 31-year-old a three-year deal starting at the $5 million mid-level exception. Mike James Point Guard Toronto Raptors Profile 2006 SEASON STATISTICS GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT% 79 20.3 3.3 5.8 .469 .837 The front-runner? Judging by James' comments over the weekend in Los Angeles at a charity basketball game hosted by Baron Davis and Paul Pierce, it's the Mavericks. And that's largely because of the former pass-first point guard chasing the shoot-first point guard who's coming off a breakout season in Toronto. "The biggest 'wow' in this whole situation has been Avery Johnson," James says. "I respect him as a coach, but we have a relationship beyond the court. We've been friends for some years now. I've always respected Avery, even as a player when he had that broke jump shot. But he has a ring and he knows what it takes to win. He's been the person who has wowed me the most through this process." James added that potential suitors must meet two requirements. Championship contention is No. 1. "These three teams want to win," James said. "Kevin Garnett tells me he doesn't want the playoffs, he wants to win the championship. Houston wants to get back to that point, and they've already got two superstars. "Dallas was two games away," James continued, noting that the Mavs are closest to meeting the first prerequisite. "That's a very important factor for me." No. 2? "I want a team that wants to win, but also believes that I'm a significant piece," James said. "It's about trust. That's one of the main things I'm focused on. Do you really believe in me? "These teams tell me they do. For them to say, 'Mike James, you're a significant piece,' that humbles me. With all the stuff I've been through -- everyone telling me I can't, can't, can't -- I'm humbled that these three teams believe in me." While he stops short of requiring a spot in the starting lineup, James isn't shy about his belief that he should remain a starter. "I was top 20 in every category besides rebounding, blocked shots and steals," James said. "There's over 400 players in the NBA, so I think I've proven what I'm capable of. All I can do is continue to work and erase all the critics minds." And according to James, the critics have been hard at work, hounding him throughout his career. Following a stellar college career at Duquesne, James went undrafted before eventually singing with the Heat as a free agent in 2001. Over the next four seasons, James bounced between Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Houston, respectively, before the Rockets dealt him Toronto on the first day of training camp last October. James went on to establish new career bests in minutes per game (37.0), assists (5.8), rebounds (3.3) and points (20.3). He became just the second undrafted player in NBA history, after John Starks, to average 20 points in a season. While some might credit the jump in production to contract-year motivation, James says it was a product of increased playing time, a lifetime of hard work and a love for the game that saved him. "If it wasn't for the game of basketball, I know what I would have done, and it wouldn't have been nice," he said, referring to his rough childhood in Amityville, N.Y. "The only other thing I knew was the streets. Basketball was my way out, so the only thing I can do to give back to the game is play with my heart." While James continues to ponder a decision that will alter the course of his career, he already knows where he'll be when that decision is announced. He dreams of a press conference. "I never had the chance to wear that hat on the podium in front of the media," James said. "I told my wife, I'm going to the podium because I've never done that before. For me to just do that once, I'm awed by it. I'm thankful."</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2515905 ~sigh~.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! This just doesn't make sense, he'll hardly see the floor with Terry, Howard, and Harris......God this sucks.
If they do this, they'd certainly have to deal somoene. Terry, Howard, and Harris all should have extreamly high trade values. But really, this doesn't make sense.
My hatred for the city of dallas just reached a new high after hearing this news. Well what other options do we have out there?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting THE DREAM:</div><div class="quote_post">My hatred for the city of dallas just reached a new high after hearing this news. Well what other options do we have out there?</div> Put this squarely on the shoulders of Van Gundy. Instead of retooling this team with getting younger, he took the opportunity to get even older. If James signs with the Mavs, it makes the draft even worse.
Well I still like the addition of Battier, because even with Gay this team still needed other players around Tmac and Yao.
I'm indifferent towards this becuase James would have taken the TE or the full MLE to sign. Now we can use that MLE on two players instead of one.
all we need are guys that are consistent and can knock down a jay. Trevor Ariza drew gooden demarr johnson devean george
We don't need another sg/sf so George is out of the equation....and Gooden???....I think I'll pass, he's like a slightly better stromile swift.....I don't know much about those other guys you named.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting THE DREAM:</div><div class="quote_post">We don't need another sg/sf so George is out of the equation....and Gooden???....I think I'll pass, he's like a slightly better stromile swift.....I don't know much about those other guys you named.</div> We don't need another SG/SF? We don't even have a legit shooting guard. That's the biggest hole we have. George is decent, but we should aim for better. Gooden only slightly better than Stro???? That's ridiculous. Gooden is a double double everytime he steps out on the floor. He can hit open jumpers, rebound, defend, and run the court. Why in the hell would we pass up on him????
I honestly think Gooden might want more money, and if we did get him we'd be waisting our whole MLE on him.....his jumper is inconsitent, his post game isn't that great, he can run the court and play pretty good D, but he's not worth it imo....and Tmac, Battier, Head, etc. will be filling the void at the SG/SF.......I don't mind another player at the position, but a PG who can score and play is what this team really needs, not a streaky jump shooter like Devean George.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rocket:</div><div class="quote_post">It's been announced on Houston radio. James came to an agreement with Minnesota.</div>Here's a link so you download the announcement: http://rapidshare.de/files/25581886/06-07-..._James.wma.html A mod should edit the thread title so we don't have to start another one.
Minny must be offering him an insane amount, because it makes no sense to choose the twolves over the rockets and mavs
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting THE DREAM:</div><div class="quote_post">I also heard (on another board) that James wanted some kind of no trade clause also.</div> Well, he pretty much wanted a trade kicker, which meant that if we did trade him, we'd have to pay him. Simply ridiculous...
The punk didnt choose higher chance of silverware(dallas or houston) or stay close to his home(houston) or how much someone wanted him, but rather financial security with minnesota. THat's fine but he shouldn't be mouthing off so much in the radio interview. He's such a arrogant little punk talking so much b.s when the truth is it was whoever would pay him the most. It's ok to decide that but don't fake by saying it wasnt about the money
