<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Minnesota Timberwolves' willingness to make a four-year commitment to Mike James has landed them the best point guard still available on the free-agent market.NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com that James on Tuesday agreed to sign a four-year contract with the Wolves worth an estimated $25 million.James also confirmed the agreement to radio station ESPN790 in Houston on Tuesday.Wednesday is the first day free agents can officially sign contracts.James had narrowed his choice to Minnesota, Dallas and Houston -- where he maintains an offseason home -- and indicated over the weekend that the Mavericks had a slight edge, largely because of his relationship with Mavs coach Avery Johnson and their recent trip to the NBA Finals.But the Mavericks and Rockets, according to sources, wouldn't commit to more than a three-year offer to the 31-year-old.Minnesota's four-year pitch and the chance to team with Kevin Garnett won it for the Wolves, who have injected their backcourt with plenty of scoring potential by signing James and acquiring rookie Randy Foye on draft night.Signing James alleviates Minnesota's need to start Foye as a rookie. James would likely team with Ricky Davis as the Wolves' starters in the backcourt, with defensive stopper Trenton Hassell at small forward and Foye coming off the bench.If Foye can make an immediate impact and James can approach his production from last season's breakout performance in Toronto -- 20.3 points and 5.8 assists per game, as well as 44.2 percent shooting from 3-point range -- Garnett figures to be pleased.The Wolves have resisted all trade interest in Garnett, vowing to take one more stab at building around their 30-year-old franchise player by finding scorers to play off him.Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer.</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2516449
Nice pickup for Minnesota. If he plays like he did last season I think that the Timberwolves could contend for the playoffs.
Got to go with what Marc Stein said about this, he went for the money. They also gave him the 4-5 years he wanted by upping to 4 years, which the Mavs nor Rockets did.
KG doesn't get enough support. He needs other scorers around him since he has proven he can't carry the load offensively. I think this is a great addition and expect Minnesota to be a 50 win team next year.
http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/...0James_7-11.mp3It's a Mike James podcast. He was on a radio show before he announed who he signed with. It's long but it's interesting. WolvesGuru posted it on FPM.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Jul 11 2006, 05:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think this is a great addition and expect Minnesota to be a 50 win team next year.</div>Dont you think thats going a little overboard?
i hope he does horribly in minnesota. lol. i was kind of hoping he was coming back to houston too. eh. who needs him.
Not a bad signing by the Wolves, but it's somewhat questionable. They just picked up Randy Foye, who is the same as Mike James (a combo guard). It will be interesting and exciting to watch a backcourt of Mike James, Randy Foye, and Ricky Davis though. The Wolves still obviously have a lot more work to do though.
I doubt Banks will re-sign with them now..I guess its an okay pickup..He won't be the player he was last year, on his contract year..
Marcus Banks is going to Los Angeles Lakers anyway.Sam Cassell and Latrell Spreewell=Ricky Davis and Mike James, as a supporting cast. A pretty good pickup, but nothing to get super excited about. Should go well with Randy Foye though in the mix.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Jul 11 2006, 03:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Marcus Banks is going to Los Angeles Lakers anyway.Sam Cassell and Latrell Spreewell=Ricky Davis and Mike James, as a supporting cast. A pretty good pickup, but nothing to get super excited about. Should go good with Brandon Roy though in the mix, a player who can ball right away.</div>If he doesn't it would have to be a sign-and-trade, which I don't see happening. The Lakers used their full MLE on Vlad.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Jul 11 2006, 02:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>KG doesn't get enough support. He needs other scorers around him since he has proven he can't carry the load offensively. I think this is a great addition and expect Minnesota to be a 50 win team next year.</div>50 wins your kidding me right??? I don't really know about this signing. Im not too fond of Mike James since he seems to only perform well in his contract year and can't stay with one team but fot the price they got him not too bad fo a signing.
Great pick-up, especially if we trade Jaric for Miles.Then we can play small-ball, almost have to with all the gaurds o this team. James/thudFoye/McCantsRicky/HasselMiles/GriffinKG/BlountSolid.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Marcus Banks is going to Los Angeles Lakers anyway.Sam Cassell and Latrell Spreewell=Ricky Davis and Mike James, as a supporting cast. A pretty good pickup, but nothing to get super excited about. Should go good with Brandon Roy though in the mix, a player who can ball right away.</div> Damn sunnyd, Lakers can't get Banks because they already used their MLE, the asking price of Banks. They've already moved on and are likely to sign Shammond Williams instead. And Brandon Roy is not even on the Wolves, he's on the Blazers. Randy Foye is the rookie Wolves got in this years draft via trade.
I really hope he sucks there. And I wanna see him say "Im like wine, everytime I get older the better I get." Or "I'll be a terror in this here NBA" . Stupid Prick.
