Fox: Talks Between Rockets and Francis Get to "Serious Stage"

Let me guess. There is a meeting Thursday the 25th with Francis's agent. And on a side note, Cato is really working hard this summer.

<font size="1">Oh, and Francis still won't express excitement about Ming like Griffin, TMo, MoT, Moochie and Cuttino have.</font>

 

Maybe "serious stage" means that he's now demanding that Rashard Lewis be signed to MCE with a "wink-wink" (pun intended) extension for the max three years later.

 

Nothing "serious".

Going to Vegas Thursday, face to face meetings. Rockets want a 6 year deal. CD compared it to a marriage, "We think Steve likes us, and we definitely love him."

On a side note-No mention of Rashard in the broadcast.

 

Can we at least get the Rockets management to acknowledge the fact that Rashard Lewis exist? Show the guy some love and maybe he will come home for next to nothing to prove himself.

 

so much for that 3 year deal people were scared of.

6 years with stevie "the franchise" francis!!!!

 

Well, it takes two to tango. Last we heard from the agent is they still want to "discuss the direction of the team." To continue the simile further, sounds like one side wants to get married badly, and the other is somewhat nervous about long term commitment. lol

The 3yr deal is always more likely (not that I'm hoping for it or anything) to come from the player. They make significantly more money that way and more control of where they play. All they do is risk a career-hampering injury that drops their value. Not much of a real life risk, since they'd still have the $45m from their first 7yrs of contracts.

 

I can't believe they wouldn't actually contact Rashard, unless they're too stiff-necked to admit a past mistake (hindsight being 20/20). Maybe the Rockets have contacted Rashard and it's being kept quiet, and the agent has said, "We'll see what kind of money the Stupor-sonics are offering first, then we'll get back to you."

 

crap...i dont want him for 3 years...how can he be scared of long term commitment to the team? cuttino sure as hell wasnt. learn from a friend.

 

Berman is the man in Houston. Maybe DocRocket is Berman. Naaa.

Again, Steve will sign for the maximum. That includes money and years.

 

Jeff,
How are you catching all the Fox 26 reports when you live in Austin?

 

Doesn't Jeff live in The Heights (Houston) and Clutch live in Austin?

Unless I passed go, did not collect $200, I think that's the case.

 

Jeff lives in Houston.

 

Signing Rashard or any other FA to the MCE (damn, love this jargon ) means the Rockets will have to pay the luxury tax in '03-'04.

Also, given their existing or planned (Francis/Griffin) commitments, they won't be able to reward him with a big contract after 3 years, so he'd just be screwing himself all over again.

So both sides can probably do math well enough that they know not to bother, unless HOU is working the phones behind the scenes to arrange the necessary overhaul that would make the numbers work.

 

6 years?

I hope the Rockets know what they're doing...

 

There is no luxury tax this year, so you are just going to declare it for next season again like a good GS lemming. Face it, your owner is lying to you. There is no luxury tax now, or in the future, despite his waffling on signing your free agents.

 

Sorry Jeff, I could've sworn I read your profile once and it said Austin...my bad