This may sound weird, but.... Does he still have game? He played very well with the Rockets, but it seemed that his game graudally went down the toilet when he went to the Magic and then the Knicks. Was it just that he was unmotivated? Or has he lost the edge?
I voted no, because I doubt that Steve Francis would play well in an Adelman motion offense. Francis is the antithesis of that style. He likes to dribble too much and doesn’t make quick decisions. He also does not gel well with other teammates. There is a reason why Portland, New York, and Orlando didn’t want him.
Not for the MLE - no way......he is getting older, losing his athleticism and has never been a great brains guy. But, for the LLE...sure. DD
Steve Francis is like the David Carr of basketball. He’s a guy that everyone wants to see succeed, has tremendous athletic ability, but doesn’t make good, quick decisions.
I'm torn... I think he could be a great value at any salary we'd be likely to give to him, and with his signing, theoretical trades of our guards are easier and with less remorse. But... I just don't see the fit. Not with the Mike James signing, and I don't think management would be willing to trade Mike James nor split the PG minutes to two similarly faulted guards. At best, we could keep Rafer, James, and Francis -- give Francis and James back-up minutes at the two as well as minutes at the point, and have Luther Head, Kirk Snyder, V-Span's contract, Sura's contract, and JLIII to play with for our new PF. Possibly Battier as well. We'd just have too many 20+ minute players... Center: Yao - 32 (I expect his minutes to decrease a touch with more running), Deke - 10, new PF - 6 Power Forward: New Guy via trade - 27, Chuck Hayes - 18, Landry - 5 Small Forward: McGrady - 36, Wells - 7, Novak - 5 Shooting Guard: Wells - 18, Francis - 10, James - 10 Point Guard: Rafer - 20, James - 12, Francis - 10, Brooks - 5 As in minutes averaged over 82 games... I'd expect there be plenty of games where Landry/Novak/Brooks do not play at all, so there actual minutes played in a game could be 10-15 on some days. Ugh... I hate our rotation with so many guards. On second thought, I'd pass on Francis. Love the guy, just wish he had been bought out prior to the Mike James/Juwan Howard trade.
Can't edit, but just realized that the SG minutes add up to 38... change to Wells - 21, Francis - 12, James - 15. Take away two minutes from James at the Point and add to Rafer. Leaves Bonzi with 28, James at 25, Francis and Rafer at 22 -- not too terrible, just a lot of rotating...
I'm sure you also thought Houston was #1 on the list for Rashard, too, right? The fact of the matter is, there's zero chance Francis will end up in Houston while Alston and James are still on the roster. Steve wants to play, and we currently have little to no PT for him. Unless Alston is being moved, I don't foresee a Francis-Houston reunion. (And really, since James and Francis are similar players, I'm not sure why we'd trade in Alston for SF, anyway.) The Clippers have everything Steve is looking for: money (sort of), PT, exposure (sort of), nightlife, and Cuttino Mobley. He's totally going there. Book it. Besides, don't we have like an assload of players on the roster already?
Honestly I think we should offer him the starting 2. Get James/Alston, Francis, Tmac, Battier, Yao in there. Small team (outside of Yao), but Francis brings a slasher and decent shooter to the 2 spot which we desperately need.
If we have Francis, we must clear out our Guard roster. He is the kind of play who plays better with minutes. Yes. there is plenty of risk of doing so since SF has devaluate much since his last Rockets' appearance. but he is the kind of player with talents and heart. If Houston can provide him a starter position, SF will play hard for the team and lead Rockets to a higher level.
Who better are we gonna get for MLE? Amir Johnson is NOT coming here, if we sign him pistons will get him back, they can afford 3 mill a year. Francis would be perfect, we should then turn around and trade Head for sure and Alston or even ship James back out. .
