http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...706,0,1947821.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines The Lakers aren't the only team interested in Francis. The Houston Rockets -- Francis' former team -- have picked up interest in the past few days to make a "dramatic move" with the Magic.
Are you kidding me? What about the salary cap consideration? Does Rockets want to be the 1st team with THREE max players? Did les just win A COUPLE lotteries, I mean the actual lotteries?
If the Rockets can get back Francis the trade might go down as the most lopsided trade ever. It'd basically be Cato and Cat for T-MAC.
LOL. Some scrub writer from the Sentinel must've read that ESPN 'Insider' story and threw it in their column to make it look like they have some insight on the Francis situation. These guys just leech off each other like a bunch of...uh, leeches.
So obviously it would be Luther Head and our #1 pick next year, but what else would they want that we have? David Wesley has an expiring contract.
A question that needs to be answered is whether or not we should be shopping our 1st Round Pick this season. We could have a Top 5-7 pick which could net us a player like Splitter/Aldridge/etc... An unprotected pick could net us a good player, especially if the Rockets are willing to throw in some expiring contracts like Wesley or some cheap deals like Swift. On paper, it doesn't seem like the Rockets have a whole lot to offer teams, but factoring in a high first round pick could change a lot of things.
Well, the Rockets would have to give up something to make the deal, but yeah... when you consider what the assets have amounted to, it would actually be Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Rafer Alston (Mike James) and Jon Barry for Kelvin Cato, Doug Christie (waived) and whatever they get for Francis. Orlando got pillaged... no matter who they deal Francis to. Francis-back-to-Houston sounds like pure bull to me. The way Francis half-ripped the offense in Houston, JVG's style, the way JVG pulled his hair out over Francis' game. I'll play along though for just the discussion. In my opinion, Francis' game doesn't fit here ... I love watching the Rockets whip the ball around on the perimeter to find the open man, and I don't think Steve is that type of player. The Rockets need efficient players around Yao/T-Mac, and Steve is not ... his long-ball stroke is suffering bigtime lately. He hasn't hit 30% or better since 02-03 with Houston (then again, McGrady is hitting 29.6% this season - ouch!). But does the threat of McGrady and Yao open penetration to Stevie? Don't know. It's not like Rafer can't already drive and he isn't exactly getting bucket after bucket driving to the hoop. In my opinion, he's got the negatives of a Rafer Alston (shooting) without the positives (efficient playmaker). He's very athletic, but not a lockdown defender and probably too small for the big guard position. The only three things that could make me think the Rockets would consider interest are: 1) They recognize that because of Steve's play this year and his contract, his market value is pennies on the dollar for the type of talent he is. I mean, trading Francis for an expiring contract like Penny Hardaway? The mighty have fallen. 2) They recognize this team needs a fireplug type of guy, and Francis is certainly a pitbull in that regard. 3) They see marketing potential in the story of bringing Steve back. On the funny side, can you imagine the crow we'd have to eat if Steve came back? I think the pgabriel-rolleyes machine would explode from overuse.
I still love Steve, he played with a lot of heart and I know he wants to win. That beings said, I want Rafer running the team right now though, Steve would have to play the 2, and I don't think JVG would go for that.
Hell, forget Francis. Let's go for Odom. Lakers are dangling Odom for Francis. We could still send expiring contracts, and draft picks to Orlando, the Lakers would get Steve and we would get a quality forward that can score, create, and rebound. Swift, Wes, Anderson, 1st round pick (top 3 protected if 2006 or no protection in 2007) to Magic Steve to Lakers Odom to Rockets The salaries match up on that deal, and it seems like everyone gets what they want.
Well of course but as long as those players arent T-Mac or Yao. Than its going to be another lopsided trade in terms of talent for talent. I'm guessing it would the #1pick this year. Hopefully a mid range pick. And Luther and a filler. I love Luther but Francis is on another level. Talent wise I say bring him back. But is he a good fit? I'm not so sure. If the Rockets can get a player like Francis w/o Yao or Tmac involved. I'd be curious to see what other players they could net.
Now we are talking, I like that idea. Odom, yes! That idea briefly returns me to life from my "Rockets-induced" depression. On Tuesday they took me to the "heights" and on Thursday, they dropped me into the pits of hell. I have to get a life. We are not men; we are certainly not men. Things must change. It is only sports, it is all largely meaningless. I need to eat better, exercise, get another hobby. Yes, that is what I need to do.
All that plus Swift. Cap relief, draft pick, two young & relatively cheap pieces. It seems like a fair offer, especially when you calculate how Steve's trade value has dropped and how big his contract is. That being said, I could see somebody making a better offer. IMO: I think Steve is exactly what this team needs. A shooting guard with incredible athleticism and an ability to get into the paint whenever he wants. For whatever reason, TMac has become more of a jumpshooter. Steve is a wrecking ball. Breakdown the defense. Draw some fouls. Make it happen. Give TMac some scoring help. Yeah, it's a lot of money, but I think Les would be willing to pay a little luxury tax to get Steve back. Re-acquiring him would be a big splash. I don't think the Roxs will get Steve, but you can see why they would put their hat in the ring.
Just to add to that, I don't think this team would have any problems not being "ready" for a game. Everyone loves Bobby Sura so much because he gave us the edge we lost when we lost Francis.
This won't ever happen, but if a coach can't make a team with Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Steve Francis and a good PG like Rager Alston win, then the coach would have to be replaced, that said I think JVG would find a way to make it work. But again, it won't ever happen, I do think the Rockets would do it though just that the Magic won't because it would be a PR nightmare and they have much better offers than what the Rockets could potentially offer.
How soon we forget that Steve and company would pretty much always play up or down to the level of the competition. How many times did we come out flat against the Atlantas of the NBA. Steve would often "bring it" on the biggest stages, but he would just as often put it on cruise control against the dregs of the league. I really don't have anything against Steve. Truly. I just don't think he would fit with this team at all. He's not a better PG than Rafer, and he would be a poor SG because he can't play off the ball and would struggle defending the SGs in the league. I really hope that CD and company got into these Steve talks in order to angle for other options like Odom.
Odom would fill our 4 perfectly-as a scoring threat, quick inside presence-a Garnet lite. What does Odom make?? Like Rasheed Wallace money - 10 mil per year?? We would be in Lux tax land, but with Rafer at the point and Odom at the 4, or spelling off TMAc at the 3 we sould be set. Odom is one of those unique players that could play 3 positions.
