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Sorry Francis Haters: Rockets to pursue Francis extension

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Old School, Jul 1, 2002.

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  1. Old School

    Old School Member

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    http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/1477458

    Rockets to pursue Francis extension

    Free-agent market less than frenzied
    By JONATHAN FEIGEN

    Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
    As this summer's free-agent recruiting period begins, the Rockets' top priority is not a free agent. It could be that sort of summer in the NBA.

    A year after the Rockets went into summer with seven free agents, including the greatest player in franchise history, their primary offseason goal is to sign point guard Steve Francis -- Hakeem Olajuwon's successor as the "franchise" of the franchise -- to a contract extension.

    "You kind of take care of your own people first," Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said. "Then you see."

    Francis is under the terms of his original NBA contract through next season, and the Rockets could match any offer he received after that. But beginning today and until the start of the season, they have the exclusive right to negotiate an extension with Francis and have made it clear they plan to chase a deal with him.

    If the money is right, Francis said, he gladly would take it.

    The contract extension might have to be for the maximum allowed -- expected to be between $88 million and $95 million over seven years for a player with Francis' years of service -- and would go into effect with the 2003-2004 season. That extension and the contracts that will still be on the books could determine how the Rockets approach the rest of this month's free-agency decisions.

    "Many believe that the salary cap ($42.5 million) will be the same, but we will not know until the middle of July," Dawson said. "The max should be about the same. But we don't know yet."

    For the Rockets, and most of the NBA, a series of factors is conspiring to slow the pursuit of other teams' free agents.

    ·The greatest factor seems to be the impending luxury tax.

    Teams appear to have dodged the expected implementation of a luxury tax this summer. But next summer the tax is almost a certainty. Under it, teams would be penalized a dollar for every dollar their payroll exceeds a threshold figure.

    "It's a concern to almost every team," Dawson said. "You get to a certain point where you can add someone who is going to help your team, but you don't do it because you're going to pay double."

    Teams expect the threshold figure for the luxury tax to be between $51 million and $54.5 million. Any free agent who puts a team over the tax figure would effectively cost a team twice what it was willing to spend. If a team signs a coveted free agent to a $10 million contract but goes over the threshold by $8 million, it would be penalized an additional $8 million, effectively turning that player from a $10 million player to an $18 million player.

    Rockets owner Leslie Alexander has said Dawson can spend what he deems necessary -- up to the tax threshold figure. But when the assumed extension of Francis goes into effect with the 2003-2004 season, the heavy contracts of Glen Rice, Kelvin Cato and Maurice Taylor will still be on the books. And until the Rockets' lottery victory gave them the first pick of this year's draft, they did not expect to pay a draftee the sort of salary Yao Ming will earn.

    If the Rockets sign a free agent this summer, even to the mid-level exception (expected to be up to $4.5 million in the first year), the real hit would come with the second year of the deal.

    Like Francis, forward Kenny Thomas is eligible for a contract extension. But with Thomas under contract for next season and Taylor and Eddie Griffin also under contract at power forward, the Rockets might not want to lock up another player at the position long-term unless the deal is right.

    Though an extension for Francis is almost certain, it might not come quickly. As with Taylor last year, the Rockets will likely expect a full physical before the deal is completed. Francis' rehabilitation from shoulder surgery and expected trip to the Mayo Clinic to investigate his headache problems might have to come first.

    The Rockets' free agents -- Walt Williams, Dan Langhi and Tierre Brown (the team holds an option to extend Oscar Torres' contract) -- likely will find the roster full. The team will have approximately $50 million committed to its payroll before getting into free-agent talks.

    ·Few teams have salary-cap room, anyway.

    The Bulls, Clippers and Cavaliers are expected to be the only teams with cap room. The Clippers, loaded with talent still on their rookie deals, are not expected to be free-agency players. The Cavaliers are so determined to be frugal that they have been considering dealing their best player, Andre Miller, before having to face extending his contract.

    With few teams able to compete with the contracts teams can offer to keep their own free agents -- and many more working to avoid the luxury tax -- there is far less competition to drive up prices. Many teams over the salary cap are not expected to spend their mid-level exceptions.

    Next summer, at least six teams are expected to have cap money to spend. They are not likely to mess up those plans, particularly with an outstanding group of players hitting free agency after the 2002-2003 season. Other teams likely will protect as much of their ability to compete with those spenders as possible.

    ·This season's class of free agents is not a particularly glorious one. It will be the summer of the role player.

    Even the Kings' Mike Bibby, Mavericks' Raef LaFrentz, Clippers' Michael Olowokandi and Sonics' forward Rashard Lewis, perhaps the class of this class, are not to be confused with next summer's expected free-agent stars (Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd and Jermaine O'Neal), and each is expected to return to his team.

    Many of this year's free agents -- including the Raptors' Keon Clark, the Jazz's Bryon Russell and Donyell Marshall, and the Lakers' Devean George -- could find themselves waiting well into summer for the right deals.
     
    #1 Old School, Jul 1, 2002
  2. ROXRAN

    ROXRAN Contributing Member

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    Good...Now shut up and play Steve.
     
    #2 ROXRAN, Jul 1, 2002
  3. yao ming

    yao ming Contributing Member

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    When Hakeem was young and immature, he said much more than Steve ever did, and he did so publicly. Many fans wanted to run him off for the first offer on the table. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed, Hakeem stayed, and the Rockets won a couple championships. Steve might be a bit immature (weren't we all at that age, though?), but he will develop, I think, into one of the all-time greats. He might not make it to the top of the list, but he'll definitely be ON the list. OK Rockets fans, let's all take a deep breath, forgive and forget, and get ready for this fantastic point guard to be a Rocket for life. Good decision Rudy and Carroll!
     
    #3 yao ming, Jul 1, 2002
  4. Oski2005

    Oski2005 Contributing Member

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    I just read this, I'm glad they are going for it and that Francis has said he would sign if they offered it to him. The only problem is the BIG contracts we have with Rice, Cato, and Taylor as it said in the article. I guess that explains some things, like the fact Tierre is gone because he would probably want like a 2 or 3 year deal, while Maddox can be signed for a one year deal. Rudy said somebody was going to be added to the roster, probably a player that is going to be on waivers is what I would assume. This is why we should have just let Shandon walk. Even if Rice was healthy, that contract was just too big IMO. We could have signed a cheaper player like Bowen(2yrs $1,448,000), we could have re-signed Bullard(3 yrs. 4,211,000) if we really needed a 3pt specialist, or the guy I wanted, Jim Jackson(1 yrs. 480,000) who could have played the 3 and backed up the 2 for us.
     
    #4 Oski2005, Jul 1, 2002
  5. Achebe

    Achebe Contributing Member

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    because of this quote I'd think the rockets were careful:

    but Taylor went down immediately after he signed for big bucks.

    get riddy of Keith Jones
     
    #5 Achebe, Jul 1, 2002
  6. Relativist

    Relativist Contributing Member

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    What about Willis? Feigen just forgot about him or is there a chance that he might return? I'd be surprised if they re-signed him, since the roster's so full although I wouldn't mind keeping him.
     
    #6 Relativist, Jul 1, 2002
  7. Oski2005

    Oski2005 Contributing Member

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    I don't think you can predict a torn achilles unless it was already injured. It was something that happened on the court and in another city. By the way, Jones doesn't do the physicals, the Rox have a team doctor who does those things, so maybe you should ask for him to be fired.
     
    #7 Oski2005, Jul 1, 2002
  8. bigboymumu

    bigboymumu Member

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    Bring on the extension!
     
    #8 bigboymumu, Jul 1, 2002
  9. ESource

    ESource Member

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    GREAT! I'm NOT a "Francis or Mobley hater" and I'm glad they're trying to sign him to a long-term deal. That way, he can't use the "free-agent" leverage if/when they pout about personel issues and want to play GM again! I agree, SHUT UP and PLAY Franchise and Cat! That's what you all are paid to do, NOT play wannabe GM!!! :eek:
     
    #9 ESource, Jul 1, 2002
  10. Jeff

    Jeff Clutch Crew

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    Technically, it would be "get riddy of Dr. Walter Lowe." Jones doesn't do the physicals.
     
    #10 Jeff, Jul 1, 2002
  11. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

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    Glad to hear it, I am sure part of the physical will be his report from the Mayo clinic, and his prognosis for recovery from Menieres disease.

    I hope that Steve has a long career as a Houston Rocket.

    DaDakota
     
    #11 DaDakota, Jul 1, 2002
  12. TheFreak

    TheFreak Contributing Member

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    What if Francis doesn't want to re-sign if his buddy Walt gets the boot.
     
    #12 TheFreak, Jul 1, 2002
  13. A-Train

    A-Train Contributing Member

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    Who are you, and what have you done with DaDakota? :)
     
    #13 A-Train, Jul 1, 2002
  14. verse

    verse Contributing Member

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    um, can anyone tell me why in the hell he has not taken the time to go to the mayo clinic yet? i mean, during the season he gave the excuse that he didn't want to leave his teammates during a run where they were playing well. many applauded him as a warrior. others said (rightfully, imo) that the season was lost anyway, so why not take care of a potential health problem that could affect the rest of not only your basketball career, but your LIFE?

    here we are now in july, and he still hasn't carried himself to the mayo clinic. WHY???? all i've heard thus far is that he cut salt out of his diet (after the season) and now feels better. um, steve, please tell me you're not this fricken' stupid. please tell me so. cutting salt may have had a small affect, but i'm guessing a larger reason for your remissive migraines was the fact the the damn season was over!!! could it be that the removal of a physical and mental stress stimulant caused the migraines to go away??? most people know that stress is a potential trigger to a regular headache, never mind an advanced one.

    this is part of what concerns me about steve...his maturity. damnit steve, i'm not your biggest fan by any stretch of the imagination, but no matter who you are i'd tell you to take care of your damn health! and you expect to "lead" a team? :rolleyes:

    ridiculous.

    as for the extension, should everything check out medically, you have to give it to him. steve francis (i refuse to call him the "franchise" until he assumes the responsibilities and maturity that comes with that label) is an amazing athlete....absolutely amazing. and should he ever remove his head from his ass he will be one of the alltime greatest rockets. i just have questions about him. i mean, will you learn to be responsible on the court if you aren't responsible off of it (ignoring the mayo clinic visits, driving under the influence, hanging with weed smokers, etc.)???

    c'mon steve, grow up. take on your responsibilities. THE DYNASTY NEEDS YOU!!!
     
    #14 verse, Jul 1, 2002
  15. Samurai Jack

    Samurai Jack Contributing Member

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    I'll give you 95 MILLION reasons that won't matter. ;)
     
    #15 Samurai Jack, Jul 1, 2002
  16. Oski2005

    Oski2005 Contributing Member

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    Steve has already gone once, that's why he hasn't had as many problems lately. He's going for a second time in July.
     
    #16 Oski2005, Jul 1, 2002
  17. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

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    Oski,

    Steve has NOT gone once, he has NOT gone at all. He is scheduled to go in July.

    He needs to get this sorted out BEFORE the Rockets sign him to a long extension.

    DaDakota
     
    #17 DaDakota, Jul 1, 2002
  18. NJRocket

    NJRocket Contributing Member

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    Steve means as much to the Rox as Grif, Cat, Ming, Nachbar and Rudy combined. Losing him would set us back in a major way. Lets hope this extension gets signed asap.
     
    #18 NJRocket, Jul 1, 2002
  19. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Contributing Member
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    I guess surgery sometimes can put plans on hold. The shoulder surgery seems a valid reason to not have gone yet to me.

    Your post goes on about Steve taking care of himself, and I think having the surgery early in the off-season so he will be ready by the time the season rolls around is a good start. Remember, certain people on the sixers didn't have their surgeries last year until much later.

    Hopefully he'll go to the clinic soon. I don't think it will take too long of a stay.
     
    #19 FranchiseBlade, Jul 1, 2002
  20. verse

    verse Contributing Member

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    :eek:

    did magic johnson mean as much to the "showtime" lakers as worthy, scott, jabbar, cooper and pat riley combined? i don't think so.


    important? yes.

    more than the rest of the components combined? hell no.
     
    #20 verse, Jul 1, 2002
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