Michael Finley

[loflin3hree5ive]

I've been thinking of potential Clipper free agents, and I'm starting to think Finley could be a possibility. He's old, we all know that. But shooting doesn't fall off with age. If the Clippers offer him a long enough contract, Finley might just take it.

4 years $15 million? It's more of a commitment than any team should want to make, but it isn't an unreasonable price. Acquiring a guy like Finley might just convince Cassell that it's worth coming back to the Clips. Other older free agents with out as much value as Finley might also start to consider the Clippers as a destination with vets like Dunleavy, Mobley, Finley and Camby running things.

Any thoughts?

[ClipperEric]

I've always liked Finley. He's an amazing shooter and has been a Clipper Killer many times.

But that's just way too much for an old man. He can still shoot but he's not much of a defender. I doubt he's more than just some instant-offense off the bench these days.

If we could pull him in for maybe 2years, $2mil per, that would be great. But he was almost a $20mil/year guy, so who knows what he's looking for.

[adiedanny]

Any potential FA should get the same offer Azubuike received. We need to have space in 2010. I still would rather have Ricky Davis, if he willing to sign for that amount and understands he will be coming off the bench.

[illastrate]

I've seen people mention Robert Horry and Michael Finley as possible candidates, and it just makes no sense. Horry has nothing to contribute to our team except threes. Finley is still a nice player, but he's 35. Ideally, we need a guy who can be one of Baron's running mates. We have to build this team around B.Diddy to maximize our talents. That's why Bookie would've been such a great addition.

Ricky Davis would probably be the best choice, as far as strictly basketball goes, but then again this IS Ricky Davis. And Wells is a multi-talented player, but again, attitude problems. However, Dun did try to sign him in '05, so maybe they have a good relationship from the Portland days. Personally, Kirk Snyder would be my choice, he's young, athletic, and skilled at the wing. And he would come relatively cheap. Check out this highlight clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz_9rA1-sIg

[mj_shoefanatic]

We have enough old guys on this team. JR Smith or Kirk Synder would be the best fit on this new look run-n-gun Clipper team.

[mkwest]

I personally don't think we're the right situation for Finley. If we were a championship contender in need of a 3-point assassin then definitely. He recently turned down a deal from some Euro club, so I am inclined to believe that he's playing for the gold as opposed to the green.

I have that read Bonzi Wells & Ricky Davis are the likely frontrunners that we're persuing, but it's only a rumor so I don't know how true it is.

[illastrate]

We have enough old guys on this team. JR Smith or Kirk Synder would be the best fit on this new look run-n-gun Clipper team.

Exactly. Although JR is an RFA, so Denver will likely match (3mil won't do it). Which leaves Snyder as our best bet.

[mj_shoefanatic]

Yeah _enver needs JR more than we do.

[jgustav1]

I've been thinking of potential Clipper free agents, and I'm starting to think Finley could be a possibility. He's old, we all know that. But shooting doesn't fall off with age. If the Clippers offer him a long enough contract, Finley might just take it.

4 years $15 million? It's more of a commitment than any team should want to make, but it isn't an unreasonable price. Acquiring a guy like Finley might just convince Cassell that it's worth coming back to the Clips. Other older free agents with out as much value as Finley might also start to consider the Clippers as a destination with vets like Dunleavy, Mobley, Finley and Camby running things.

Any thoughts?

That is way too much and too long of a contract for Finley. I look for him to sign a 1 or 2 year deal with a championship contender like the Celtics or return to the Spurs.

Cassell isn't coming back, why would you want him back in the first place after he insisted on being bought out?

[madmaxmedia]

I think the length of the contract was suggested as a way to 'sweeten the deal', vs. him signing a 1/2 year contract with a Boston, Detroit, San Antonio, etc.

But yeah, it is too long to make sense for us, the last couple of years might be kinda dicey.

It is an interesting prospect to me though. I'd rather have Finley taking the big 4Q shot than TT, and having his offense off the bench would not be bad for winning now rather than later. How about 3 years for $12 million?

I'm personally not too worried about the FA market in 2 years. Rather than compete with a bunch of other teams for a few marquee players that we're probably not getting anyway, I think our much more likely opportunity is to package TT and Mobley expiring next year and get a good player in return (there will be good players available as other teams try to clear cap room.) Then keep Camby if he's still playing at a high level. On top of that, we sign say Finley to fill in some quality bench minutes at the wing, sign a quality MLE next year, plus Gordon and Thornton's continued development...That's the best, most realistic way for the team to improve IMO.