Mike James to the Wolves

[Joycean Summons]

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

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.

[Silas]

I thought he would eventually go the wolves, and the contract seems about right. It'll be interesting to see what KG things of Mike James once they play together on the court.

[Gator]

I thought he would go to the Mavs...in realgm they said he was most likely going there....

[nets4life]

good sign for Minnesota, James will definatley help, and hopefully they make it to the playoffs

[Silas]

Yeah I hope they make the playoffs too, but only if its not at the expense of the Sonics....

[Its_asdf]

I'm glad he's gone from Toronto, but to let him walk away for nothing really bothers me.

[cyanide]

I'm glad he's gone from Toronto, but to let him walk away for nothing really bothers me.

Same here. If he went to the Mavs or the Rockets, the Raptors could've gotten something. I'm surprised he ended up with the Wolves.

[Fitzy]

at least toronto got rid of him

[Andrew]

Seems like it was only the other week he was talking enthusiastically about going to the Rockets.

[Matt]

of course he was talking about the Rockets.....but, this guys MO is a long term deal with plenty of $$$ and a starting job. The highest bidder wins in these situations.

[BZ]

Damn man, what the hell is wrong witht he rockets this off season... they let Mike James get out of their grasp, trade Rudy and Swift for Battier, what's next? Release T-Mac? ARghhhh

[ThaLiveKing]

Come on now. . anyone who left Toronto after a break out year never lived up to that potential. Except for a few, Vince, McGrady. Bring anyone to Toronto, he'll have a breakout year. I mean look at Donyell Marshall, nobody wanted his ass. Teams were only interested cause of his shine in Toronto!! Of course Mike James is gonna score 25 a game with a team full of Rookies and 1st and second year players

[H Rock]

First he loves the Rockets, want to come "home", and now he rejects. I'm just as glad that he went.

[Jugs]

Don't the Wolves have enough guards?

[funk99]

Don't the Wolves have enough guards?

maybe they just needed a ball hog

[kinokong]

the wolves have enough guards but none that are competent enough
hudson: injured half the time with a strained groin, pulled calf, sprained ankle... you know the sort
mccants: microscafracture knee surgery or something... ruined the careers of numerous all-stars
jaric: dont get me started on this loser
hassell: nice defensive stopper... wish he could become antonio daniels and learn how to shoot though
davis: erratic but nice slasher, ballhog sometimes
foye: comparisons have him to wade but i predict 1/2 of wade(which is still excellent for a team with retarded guards) but still a rookie
so in summary you have two guards who have bones made of plastic, one who is just retarded, one who can defend but can't score, one who would love to have the ball 24/7, and one rookie who'll end up probably 1/2 of wade. you have 3 players you can actually play the guard position... not too much

[Matt]

Davis will probably play SF....you forgot to mention Marcus Banks....although he's a FA

[cyanide]

Don't the Wolves have enough guards?

maybe they just needed a ball hog

I'm sorry, I just found that funny.

But in response to funk99, kinokong made a few good points.

[iKe7in]

I listened to both his interviews the last two days, one on The Score with greg sansone and one with swisky on the radio. This guy is truly fucking out of his mind. He kept chnaging his mind halfway through sentences about what he thought of something. First he talks about how he really liked Houston and really wanted to get a deal done and they were working well with him, then he says that they were disrespecting him by not giving him a player option for his third year, because apparently they only wanted him as trade bait, "just like last time." How fucking stupid are you, if they wanted to avoid a player option its because they wanted to keep you! So just in case your fucking craziness changes your mind again and you want out by then.

Then he ranted about the raps and Colangelo for a while, about how he was disrespected and that Colangelo "never liked him." Colangelo reportedly told him they weren't interested in bringing him back, unless he was willing to be a backup for T.J. Ford. They knew he wasn't going to accept that, and they probably wouldn't have even signed that deal (little too expensive for a shoot first backup point guard). Then, again he claimed he was just a pawn and he was disrespected by the raptors management, and the fans never respected how great he was.

So it sounds like this fucking retard passed on his hometown teams offer (where he's in the process of building a house, and where he will still spend his offseasons), because he needed to look out for his family. And apparently Houston not wanting to give him a player option was the reason he passed on them. And that must have been really difficult, passing has never been his thing.

So bon voyage, asshole! Enjoy the next four years Wolves fans, hopefully KG will smack him around and he won't quite exceed Spree's anticts.

[j.23]

i feel really bad for kevin garnett and ricky davis to play with this fucking douchebag. look at toronto last year, they had an all star player in chris bosh yet james had the audacity to alienate him and the rest of the teammates by trying to be the clutch player. keyword: TRY. the season's been over since april, but my hate for this guy is still the same. just a complete twat.

props to colangelo for disrespecting this little shit.

[jerry]

when i was watching thescore today and i saw mike james' face with a wolves logo i was so friggen happy...thats all i really cared about..i didnt really care what they said after that but wow i was so happy!
woohoo
and i think the wovles gm was high mike james doesnt deserve that much...why would u bring a guy who is no-pass all-shooting to a team with a guy like kg who needs to get the ball?
u need more solid players