From today's Chronicle article: I can't believe he's telling the truth, that with all the zillions of trade rumors swirling about Steve (Now for Baron Davis) that Dawson has really not talked to anyone. If he's telling the truth it means either: a. No one thinks Steve is up for trade, and so teams haven't even inquired. b. No one wants Steve that has similar players to give up, so they haven't inquired. Option a. seems unlikely, because GMs trying to make trades would be stupid not to make at least a preliminary call to CD just to see, especially with all the rumors out there. Option b. seems a little more likely, since Steve is having a down year, and other teams might be hesistant to trade their star player for him, but still it doesn't hurt for the GM to make the call, just to see what options are out there. Therefore CD is almost certainly lying, but why? Maybe he has been told by Les not to trade Steve this season, (To wait out the base year, or see how the Rockets progress, etc..) and so he just wants reassure Steve. However, this could have been done better with the more typical statement of "Steve isn't going anywhere/he's untouchable, etc..." CD is fishing for more offers. Maybe he doesn't want to be seen as actively shopping Francis, so he's trying to let GMs know they should contact him. CD is concentrating mainly on trading someone else (Mobley? Cato?), perhaps in an effort to move Steve to the 2 spot, and so isn't *really* listening to the Steve offers. This seems the most likely, and probably not a bad course of action. Then again, I could be reading too much into an off the cuff statement, but it's that time of the season
Where did this Baron Davis rumor come from that was mentioned in the Chronicle today? Aren't they both base year players, making them virtually impossible to be traded for each other (without a lot of other salary being thrown in)?
JBC - I have not seen the Davis/Francis rumur either. I think you already know part of the BYC answer. The Houston trade exception handles Francis's BYC status for Houston. NO would have to send out about $5m in contracts to a 3rd party team. Given that both BYC's get removed this summer, I doubt any NO/HOU swap will occur before then. Also, NO is joining the Midwest Division next year so even then the Rox better be real sure of any health related issues for Davis.
It's all a freaking lie. First i heard, they would trade him for Vince Carter and other players involved. Then, for Wallace and Jason Terry from Atlanta. Now, it's IVerson? it's all a lie.
Don't you guys know how a guy like Vecsey works. He creates rumors hoping that he can convince the NBA community that he knows something and that someone will then pick up a phone to get in on the action thus creating the atmosphere for a rumor to create a trade and not the other way around. This is how they sell papers and pump up their own ego's. What is Vecsey's track record, about one trade right for every fifty rumors he creates? This is pure opportunism and there is no trade. The Rockets would get raped right now and even CD is not that lame. Van Gundy has said repeatedly that Steve is one of the MAIN reasons he came here.
Hrm. Or maybe he's telling the truth. I know I'd come out and say I'm not trading Francis if I was gonna...
CD is probably telling the truth, but if pressed for an answer publically, you always support the player. Even if they do shop him in the offseason they won't say they are. It's doubtful, extremely doubtful, that the Rockets would deal Francis before the deadline. It's been mentioned several times why (BYC), so no need to rehash it. IF they are going to deal Francis, it's much more beneficial to do it in the offseason.
CD is conservative. He will most likely not make any changes until after the end of the year; after play-off results. Now, if the SF vs JVG got out of hand, then he'd make a move earlier. But, that's not likley to happen...because things aren't chaotic right now.
Exactly. I don't know whether or not CD is talking to teams(kinda doubt serious talks are going on), but I don't believe for one second he'd tell some beat reporter about it if he was.
I think we should try and get our hands on Rashard Lewis right now. Maybe we can get Luke Ridnour and Rashard for Steve? That would be a superb deal. Rashard is just the type of player that will send Yao over the top, while Ridnour is a Steve Nash type of player who works hard, finds the open man, and knows how to work an offense. He's not starting off too great, but he's in the Hinrich/Nash mold.
No, he wouldn't. What bothers me is why he didn't go with the Rockets' pat response of "We don't comment on rumors!"? Why did he go into that tirade of a response at all? I think something's up & I'm not getting good vibes.
