It would be great to get something good for him.....BUT wait till the offseason to discuss trades, so I don't have to be around.
I had the same thought and hope, Will ... its not that he's not a great player, just not what we need, now that we have Yao. We want value for value, but better fitting pieces. I don't thnk we want to trade him for another point guard though. I think we need to trade him for a PF, and then Cato for a PG.
I love Stevie Franchise, but I love the Rockets more. If we can get great value for him and trade him, I will not cry. I just want to make one thing very clear: The posts that call for trading Steve Francis for Kirk Hinrich just HAVE TO STOP. I know they were started by DocRockets who is an icon here, but nevertheless the idea is totally ridiculous and completely r****ded. You just don't trade a three time All-star starter for another MattMaloney/BrentPrice/BryceDrew. Hinrich is putting respectable numbers only because he is playing on the worst team in the league. Posters on this board will just have to end their fascination with white scrubs. We've had like a gazzilion threads started about Nachbar already. We just don't need this Hinrich crap, period. If Clutch and the other Administrators have any respect for this site they have to lock every thread that discusses Francis for Hinrich trades, as they are just ridiculous waste of bandwith.
Denver is not known as a strong defensive team. In terms of opponent shooting percentage, they rank toward the high end (wrong end) amongst NBA teams. 46.7% Orlando 45.9% Clippers 45.8% Dallas 45.5% Sacramento 45.4% Washington 45.4% Denver 45.1% Milwaukee 45.0% Portland 45.0% Seattle 44.7% Phoenix ..... ..... 41.5% Minnesota 41.3% Detroit 41.2% San Antonio 40.9% Houston <a HREF="http://statfox.com/nba/stats/custom.asp?Location=All&Type=Defense&Season=2004&Sort=OFGPCT-A">Statfox</a> The stats have yet to include Thursday (4-8) and Friday (4-9) play, but it is evident that Denver is not a strong defensive team.
This is the very reason why I have not been around for a while. Maybe, it's best that I stay away, because some of you are really getting on my nerves.
Kayman, those threads aren't one-for-one trades. It's a multi-player/draft trade. You know, like a Hinrich/Curry with some 2nd round picks or maybe Chandler instead of Curry. With a low 1st round. There's lots of options. It also hinges on Yao taking over and getting other *new* players to take up the scoring load (Ray Allen?). By the way, Hinrich scored 29 points tonight. P.S. Just to be fair. Hinrirch isn't a scoring PG. He's a efficient passing, outside shooting PG. He's also pretty savvy on steals (12th among guards).
why you would want to trade our best player is beyond me. and no, yao is not our best player...yet. and i know you people just don't want to recognize this, but everyone else in the nba KNOWS that francis is a franchise player. other players, other coaches, and other gm's know that if a REAL offense showcases francis ala iverson, he would be unstoppable. and before you say that rudy T did this, then your insane, ISO, ISO, ISO is NOT an offensive strategy. how do i know this? i watch all the rocks games on league pass and thats what i hear. i read articles and have found this to be true. but whatever, continue with your garbage, but will, i thought you would know better. i guess that you being staff doesn't necessarily make you any less biased.
Will: With all due respects to your posts in the past, as well as Clutch's recent post's about "The Tragedy that Might Be", I have to take hombrage. Francis just had his season high tonight with 33 points. Cat had 22. Yao sucked ass. .......Will that happen in the playoffs? Who knows? But I DO REMEMBER A CERTAIN PLAYER NAMED BIBBY who blew everyone else away, come playoff time. Let's let Franchise play first, before the disposals start occuring. Great point to the nay-sayers: How did you feel about Cato 2 years ago? And to the TRUE Rocket's fans..... Recall how fed up we were with Olajuwon in '91?
I'd like to see Yao dominate for a whole season before I'm comfortable trading away Francis. Also, thanks, I'm glad somebody spoiled my enjoyment of this wonderful feeling. You know, seeing Francis have a nice game and finally clinching a playoff berth. Yeah, no need to celebrate, let's complain.
yea...its funny...I should have known better. I just got finished watching this game on tape delay...and after wiping the huge smile of pride off of my face over Steves fantastic game...I figgered for at least a day we would be able to go wihtout everyone slamming the poor guy. I've been here long enough, I should have known better.
Sorry my fault bad typing, I meant to say how can you make an argument about steves “stock” verses other players that were in their first year. How can you compare 2 players “stocks” when one has played 5 years and other players that were talked about have not even played a full season yet? You wouldn’t sell a stock that has preformed well for close to 5 years for a stock for a has only performed well for a fraction of the time.
I like trade someone high, but I am afraid of being burned when they vomr back. The players we traded, Elie, Cassel and Horry, have us pay every time. Francis coming back and burning us is a nightmare to me if we trade him. I am scared.
Ah, the much vaunted "trade Francis for another PG" idea. The only problem being, those teams with a better PG(which are very few) won't trade them away, we should not be looking to trade Francis for a worse PG(hello Hinrich, Snow, Miller) and some other guys it's a wash so neither team really benefits.
I am truly puzzeled how anyone can claim in the same sentence that they have NBALP and that the whole league recognizes Francis as Houston's franchise player. I am in my 5th season with NBALP and the rational criticisms made of Francis on this board...bad decision maker/passer, can't run fastbreaks, is only effective with the ball in his hands, low bball IQ, high numbers of TO's on a ball possession structured team, etc, etc...are the exact same criticisms which are aired by almost all of the announcers on NBALP. And NBALP announcers have made the same basic criticisms under two very different coaches....RT & JVG. To answer your "why trade your best player" question more directly...Francis is not Houston's best basketball player. He is Houston's best athlete. There's a big, big, big difference between those conditions. The keep or trade Francis issue is a very polarized one. My view is that the Rockets as a team would be far better off with a sure-handed ball distributor with decent shooting range and who could run a break. To paraphrase Will, Francis's (athletic) skills are wasted in an inside out game and his flaws (passing, TO's, fastbreaks) are lethal. When (not if) Francis is traded, it will be for two dependable basketball players. Substance over fluff....which is a difficult concept for fans of Steve Francis (FoF's).
