<i>Francis OK with extension Rockets hope commitment translates into leadership By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle The Rockets' offseason needed less than 48 hours to become an improvement on the regular season. Guard Steve Francis said Friday he would accept the Rockets' extension offer in July, assuming it is for the maximum, approximately $95 million over seven years (to be determined in the summer of 2003, when the contract extension would take effect). "I would love to," Francis said. "I'm going to sign the contract. There's no debate about me wanting to be here. But at the same time, everybody has to be on the same page. I don't want to have a summer where I'm not connected with the team, because I've seen that happen where guys go home and they're having a debate. I don't even need my agent. "I would love to play here." Francis, 25, has spoken previously about playing for the Rockets "for many years." "That's the way he's been all along," general manager Carroll Dawson said. "There's been no deviation. We've never gotten anything but that. When the team was on the road and he was in my office, the main thing he was talking about was leadership. It's on his mind. I guess it's maturing." Friday's comments were Francis' most direct on the subject. And he didn't stop there. Francis said investigating and treating his recurring migraine-like symptoms is an offseason priority. But he also used Friday's long team meeting to challenge his teammates to start a turnaround this summer. "The most important thing to me is to make sure everybody comes back thinking Houston Rockets basketball," Francis said. "I sat back last night and really thought about the progression for me the last three seasons, and the thing I wanted to get across in our team meeting was the way we've been losing; I respect the NBA that much. "When you leave in this offseason, I think you should think about what you're playing for and how you're living. You should work on the things that are important to you. You have to think about this team and think about our progression. "Even though I made the All-Star team, I really didn't have a great season. I have to look at everything I do. I don't think this team displayed a lot of heart this season, (although I'm) not saying I displayed a lot of heart 100 percent of the season. Coach (Rudy Tomjanovich) said there's going to be bullets shot at us. The person those bullets are coming at wears Teflon, and that's me. Somebody wants to write something about the Rockets, write it about me." If Francis is to step in front of those bullets, he will have to beat Maurice Taylor to it. Taylor missed the entire season and will begin next season serving a five-game suspension for violating the NBA's substance abuse policy. But he said he welcomes the pressure of turning around the Rockets' fortunes. "It was a really tough year for me personally," Taylor said. "A lot of things happened. I think it made me mature. There's definitely going to be pressure coming to me for how we do next year. I want the pressure. I don't want the guys who went through this season to feel any pressure on them. They went through the losing. It's on me." Taylor, 25, said he is a few weeks short of going full-speed in workouts. Glen Rice is expected to begin running next month. But for all the Rockets' myriad of injuries, Tomjanovich said improving the team's health is not enough. The Rockets are over the salary cap, but they get a midlevel exception to offer free agents in a summer when few teams will have cap room. Walt Williams, Kevin Willis, Dan Langhi and Tierre Brown are the Rockets' only free agents. Williams said he would like to return but is prepared to move on. Willis and Langhi are unlikely to be back. The Rockets will get their earliest draft pick (they had the league's fifth-worst record and could pick among the top three, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth depending on the draft lottery) since Hakeem Olajuwon was selected in 1984 with the first choice. But the Rockets will face difficult choices in the draft even before they consider players. With a pick so high, they might have to choose between a player with the best long-term potential and one who offers an immediate return. That will be a difficult choice, given they stepped out of character in picking 19-year-old Eddie Griffin last year. "We never had to worry about that," Tomjanovich said. "We never did that (take a teen) before. Without studying them and seeing who's in, I can't say if that would be worth the gamble. You would think that would be pretty tough." Tomjanovich cited "another five" and "a natural three" as positions most likely to be targeted. "I'd like to find players that are not just offensive players -- that will block shots, rebound, get some steals," Tomjanovich said. "Defense, we know, has to be an area we improve in." The Rockets could have two first-round picks, having acquired a first-rounder from Toronto in the Olajuwon sign-and-trade deal. But the Rockets owe Memphis a first-round pick this season or next. There might not be much playing time for two more rookies, and forfeiting a pick this season would protect next year's pick, prompting Dawson to say evaluating next year's draft would be part of the decision. The Rockets also might have roster decisions to make. The top three frontcourt players -- Taylor, Kenny Thomas and Griffin -- are all best-suited for the same position, power forward. As much confidence as the Rockets have in Griffin's potential, they cannot predict how quickly he will develop. Taylor will be coming back from a devastating injury. They can begin negotiating an extension with Thomas this summer but cannot predict what his long-term role will be. "I hope that isn't a problem," Tomjanovich said. "We'll see how it works. I really think they all have versatility. I'd love to see it work." It might have to. Tomjanovich said there is pressure building to turn around the team, but he doesn't mind it. "There should be pressure," Tomjanovich said. "We want to get this thing turned around. We have a lot of work to do. It's not going to happen by us just getting healthy. I talked to our guys about that. We've got to do it." </i>
Sweet! I hope Francis gets the migraine problems solved before he signs though. Rudy's quote about wanting non-offensive skills in the draft pick seems to suggest they'd be interested in Butler. Interesting.
Rudy was on 610 this afternoon and was notable in his refusal to say anything about him being worth it or about the Rox offering him the max. It seems to me that perhaps without the disruption of the migranes this season, Francis might not be comming out quite so vocaly with this? In any case, I think that the added uncertanty can do nothing but weaken his position.
I don't think there was much notable about Rudy's reluctance to talk. I don't think Rudy can say anything about a contract negotiation until the signing period begins. Otherwise, the Rockets would face stiff penalties by the league. This is the same as the situation after trading for Griffin when reporters were asking how Griffin would fit with Taylor--who was still a free agent. Rudy could not speak on any issue regarding Mo until Mo was under contract.
For me, this tells me everything I need to know. The Rox want Ming. If CD's luck returns...that is their pick. Otherwise I can see them offering everything other than Francis, Mobley, and Griffin (including both first-round picks *and/or* any other player) to land the guy. Should be fun.
Well I think the blocks are already there but could you imagine the blocked shot numbers with Ming and EG??? My gawd...twin towers...who??? That said, I think the more realistic pick of Butler would be a huge plus for this team on defense. Like I said in another post, grab Butler and trade for Magloire. Defensively...awesome additions.
I couldnt agree more. That is awesome that Francis wants to stay, he CAN be a real leader for this team. He just has to wake up and realize what has to be done.
Those migranes are a pain in the ass... If we sign Franchise to the max, it could make or break us. Besides pointing out the obvious, how will his maximum salary affect the Rox cap? Most undoubtedly, Walt Williams is out with his inflated salary...
"I'd like to find players that are not just offensive players -- that will block shots, rebound, get some steals," Tomjanovich said. "Defense, we know, has to be an area we improve in." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BUtler? Sure he would be nice to get and i would be happy to get him, but there is no way in Hell we could pass up on Woods if hes still available. THis guy will be a superstar in no time. I think he can provide us with more immidiate Health than Butler, or Wilcox. Imagine how versital we will be with a guy like Woods on the team.
Good to see Francis reflecting on his perfomance and his professionalism. Hopefully, he will take this to heart. I would sign him to the max with an out clause buyout if the Migraines are not curable. DaDakota
YES!!!! STEVE'S STAYING!!! It's great that he is willing to take sacrifices for us. He is going to be a heck of a leader!
DaDakota, Is a clause like that allowed? Is there also a clause where the salary will be reduced if he has continuing migraines? To be honest, I hope the migraines are gone because if we sign him to the MAx and then later on sign Griffin to the MAX, we have Mo T and Cato. We'd start to become like NY. A player away, but can't afford that player.
eh? Cap space is a rarity, something most teams don't have. New York's failure wasn't in not being able to afford a guy, but never being able to sign the right player to an exception or acquire someone in a trade, or luck out with a player in the draft. That was a result of not having any true tradeable commodities. As to whether Francis is worth the max... of course he is. Max contracts are a funny thing. Tim Duncan is worth the max, of course. And Tim Duncan is much better than Steve Francis. But Steve Francis is worth the max, too. As is Jerry Stackhouse, who also gets the max. The migraines are a concern, of course. But that's what insurance is for...
Ah Good News... Now someone can start the EG's going to Philly rumors... Eddie Griffin's favorite team is the Sixers!
Steve needs to cure the migraines alright.......... The one's that he gives me over his lack of defense. That should be his main offseason concern.
