Minnesota Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale announced the team has signed free-agent guard Mike James. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. (Video)
"We are pleased to sign a veteran player like Mike who brings the ability to score, shoot from the perimeter and run our offense," McHale said. "He is a tough competitor who will be a welcome addition."
James, a 6-2, 190-pound guard, completed his fifth NBA season in 2005-06, averaging career-bests in points (20.3 ppg, .469 FG%, .442 3FG%, .837 FT%), rebounds (3.3 rpg), assists (5.8 apg) and minutes (37.0 mpg) in starting all 79 contests in which he played with the Toronto Raptors. He ranked fourth in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage, 19th in assists, 20th in scoring and 25th in free throw percentage. The Duquesne University product scored in double-digits on 71 occasions, including 20-plus points 38 times and 30-or-more in 14 outings. James posted a career-high 39 points vs. Detroit on April 14. He handed out seven-plus assists on 32 occasions and 10-or-more 10 times, including a career-high 13 Jan. 9 at Chicago. James grabbed five-plus rebounds on 21 occasions, including a career-high 11 boards April 5 at Indiana. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Jan. 2-8, after averaging 25.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists.
James, who went undrafted in the 1998 NBA Draft, has averaged 11.9 points (.433 FG%, .384 3FG%, .794 FT%), 2.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 27.0 minutes per game in 327 regular-season contests (started 147) over five NBA seasons with the Miami Heat (2001-02 - 2002-03), Boston Celtics (first half 2003-04), Detroit Pistons (second half 2003-04), Milwaukee Bucks (first half 2004-05), Houston Rockets (second half 2004-05) and Toronto (2005-06).
Prior to entering the NBA, James played the 1998-99 season with St. Polten in Austria, 1999-2000 with Chalons in France, 2000-01 with Slu Nancy in France and the start of the 2001-02 campaign with the Rockford Lightning in the Continental Basketball Association.