Ex-Raptor James agrees to deal with Wolves

[shaw-xx]

If posted... sorry.

Updated: July 11, 2006, 6:20 PM ET

By Marc Stein

ESPN.com

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 for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2516449

He's done. Now who do we go after?

[G-Man]

I knew this b*tch was just jerking us around.

He was a jerk in Houston, but I was willing to put that aside to get some additional toughness on the Mavs. But as I said on here before, it would depend on what kind of ego he has. Clearly, he wants the money and the minutes more than he wants to be a role player on a championship team. Which means he probably would not have been happy as a role player here. So we probably dodged a bullet.

If he wanted to be a winner, he'd be a Mav. I guess he's just a loser.

[Five-ofan]

Wow ive never heard of this mike james guy. Who is he?

[sike]

silly Five-ofan, Mike James is a career back up point guard. don't worry though...he has never really done anything worth noting.

[fluid.forty.one]

lmao, the least expected place he would choose.

[accsuperstar]

hey thats good. I didnt really want him, but didnt want houston to have him either. going to minny is a win win situation

[mavsjunkie]

Now we can focus on making Devin Harris the future point guard that he can be. But we need to keep Armstrong around one more year so he can own Mike James again..

[TheKey]

I bet the mavs couldnt gaurentee him a starting spot, which he desperatly wanted.

[sike]

Originally Posted by TheKey

I bet the mavs couldnt gaurentee him a starting spot, which he desperatly wanted.

i bet it was a money thing.

[Five-ofan]

I bet you are right.

[dude1394]

Sheesh man, if the wolvies offered him 5million extra bucks only a complet moron would turn it down.

[sike]

well I tend to think that James is a "complet" moron...so.....not even a "complet" moron woud turn that down....

[DubOverdose]

Let's see if James is more than a one year wonder. This could easily be a big mistake for the TWolves...err...they really can't do any worse than they already are. They would be smart if they had traded KG for young talent to rebuild, but I guess they want to wait for lengthy contracts to come off the books before they can think about winning.

[dude1394]

I have to think we dodged a bullet. Anyone that McHale signs is an instant failure, he's the kiss of mediocrity.

[fluid.forty.one]

well KG isn't mediocrity.

[sike]

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

well KG isn't mediocrity.

unless you look at what he has brought to Minny.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

well KG isn't mediocrity.

Was McHale running the show when KG was signed?? I didn't think so.

However...

I've determined that James must be a bigot, he didn't want to play with the big german or the big chinese, he had to play with the biggest brotha he could find.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by sike

unless you look at what he has brought to Minny.

now that is a good point.

[fluid.forty.one]

ok well is that KGs fault, or McHales fault, or both?

[sike]

Originally Posted by dude1394

I've determined that James must be a bigot, he didn't want to play with the big german or the big chinese, he had to play with the biggest brotha he could find.

now thats a funny point.

[mavsjunkie]

Originally Posted by dude1394

I've determined that James must be a bigot, he didn't want to play with the big german or the big chinese, he had to play with the biggest brotha he could find.

He should be in Miami then.

[fluid.forty.one]

Originally Posted by mavsjunkie

He should be in Miami then.

I have a feeling Miami doesn't want Mike James.

[birdsanctuary]

Another move by Bill Duffy of a player to Minny because of long standing butt-piracy with GM Kevin McHale. The good thing is that in both cases (olakandi, james) its going to hurt Minnesota and not Dallas!

Good riddance you bastards!

[vinylstar]

i hope he enjoys not making the playoffs.


edit: oh sh*t...i have to replace my sig picture.

[StackAttack]

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

I have a feeling Miami doesn't want Mike James.

Nah, they were definitely courting him, but James narrowed it down to us, Minny, and Houston.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by birdsanctuary

Another move by Bill Duffy of a player to Minny because of long standing butt-piracy with GM Kevin McHale. The good thing is that in both cases (olakandi, james) its going to hurt Minnesota and not Dallas!

Good riddance you bastards!

Hadn't thought about that. Hopefully he'll screw McHale like he did last time. Was that kandi' man?

[Windmill360]

Mike James is now officially the most expensive prostitute out there.

[sike]

so true...he should take pride in that....

[Tokey41]

I guess he really doesnt care about a ring, but hey thats a lot of money so I would have taken it too, much more than hes worth though.

[kriD]

Mavs' top target going to Wolves

By DWAIN PRICE
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Going with the highest bidder, Toronto Raptors free-agent guard Mike James spurned solid overtures from the Mavericks and Houston Rockets and said Tuesday he will instead sign a free-agent contract today with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"We offered three years and incentives, and [the Timberwolves] offered more," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said. "Mike was honest that it was about money and chose the bigger offer."

The T'wolves gave James a four-year contract worth roughly $23 million, with a first-year salary of about $5.1 million, the league's mid-level exception. The contract gives James more security and flexibility, and also includes a clause that enables him to opt out of the deal and become an unrestricted free agent after three seasons.

James' new deal includes a "trade kicker" that will pay him 15 percent of his contract if Minnesota trades him within the next three years.

The Rockets offered James a four-year deal with a first-year salary that starts at the $5.1 million mid-level exception. But they were unwilling to allow him to opt out of the contract after the third season, and they also refused to include a "trade kicker."

Likewise, the Mavs were not going to invest that much money in a 31-year old combo guard who, this fall, will be playing for his seventh team in six years in the NBA.

"We were honest with Mike and told him that due to health concerns, we would only guarantee the last years if he was healthy and playing," Cuban said.

The NBA's free-agency period began July 1, and today is the first day free agents can sign contracts. With Tuesday's news that James is off the market, the Mavs have turned their attention to other prospects, including 6-5 guard/forward Bonzi Wells, 6-8 forwards Reggie Evans and Jumaine Jones and 6-5 guard DeShawn Stevenson.

The Mavs had hoped James would be their starting shooting guard next season after he admittedly was wowed at Monday's meeting with coach Avery Johnson in Las Vegas.

"Avery Johnson, he's a mentor to me, he's a friend to me," James said. "I didn't just meet Avery Johnson July 1. I have the utmost respect for him, and yes, I would loved to have been coached under him. But business is never personal."

James said a conversation with Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Garnett helped make his decision. Earlier, he also said he was impressed that Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy was visiting his Houston home one minute after the free-agency period started.

Despite all of that, James apparently simply signed with the team that offered him the most money and the flexibility to become a free agent sooner.

"It dragged on and on so long," Cuban said of the negotiations. "I'm just glad it's past us and we can work on other alternatives."

[jthig32]

Thank God. Mike James is not a guy you give that kind of control to. Trade kickers and opt out clauses? Please.

This kind of thing is exactley why McHale sucks. Bending over backwards for mediocre talent that won't help them win a title - see Joe Smith, an extreme example.