Francis can't improve? He doesn't even have 4 full seasons under his belt. It took Payton and Kidd at least that long to hit their hall of fame stride.
The only reason I take Francis is because of the history of injuries to big men over 7'2". Chances are that Yao will be healthy for 5 or 6 more years. After that, he could very well encounter health problems that will jeopordize his ability.
Jeff, With all due respect, I have not seen it brought up once, but then again, I rarely came to this forum until the season ended. As I typically do before I start a thread, I have looked to see if this was posted but did not see it. There is only so much research you can expect people to do before posting. I am not nor do I think you would read every thread posted for the last year or 100 days before making a post that is not a current event or story. I will pay to have access to the search function is there any chance of you guys setting it up to where those who pay can have access to the features such as the search function? I asked a question that I was interested in seeing how people here would respond. I am actually shocked at the overwhelming one sided vote. Neat thing about this forum, no one forces you to participate. Think about using that option, the board would be so much better for it.
Exactly, Both will become better. I could use that same reasoning and say you should keep Francis because you DON'T know what Yao will become.
I don't think the thread is entirely pointless. Let me rephrase that somehow. SUPPOSE we could trade Francis for Brand and KEEP Cuttino. Is there anyone out there who would be against such a deal? I certainly wouldn't.
Anyone who wouldn't is blind. Look, I want Francis to succeed as much as the biggest homer on this board b/c I want a team that is a winner. For that to happen, it looks like it will have to be with the current cast. However, I just do not have faith in Francis' abilities to get this team to that level. How much better of a player is he really than Cat? BTW, this pointless thread has been of interest to 125 voters to this point. I am guessing to this point you are outweighed 125 to 1.... Or did you vote too?
Francis. He can do everything. He's the best point guard in the toughest conference. He's a great player on a poor team. Yet he shines night in and night out. He's as good as Jordan, Kobe, and T-Mac. All he needs is another player to become one of the all time greats.
When skills are equal, you always go for size. But, I don't think we know that skills are equal. You have a known commodity in Francis: he's a big-time franchise player. Yao has shown promising signs, but I don't think we are yet assured that he's a can't-miss star. If we had to decide right now to keep one and lose the other, the safe thing is to keep Francis.
Why? Unless your objective is an early first round playoff loss. Gary Payton and Jason Kidd are different type of players. They are pure point guards. They were both missing a jump shot and that's the easiest skill to develop. There are countless players who couldn't shoot worth a crap when they came into the league and then developed their shot with years of practice. How do you develop court vision? We don't know what Yao will become but we know what Francis is. Id always take a chance on the lottery because no way we could ever beat the best Western Conference teams with Francis.
After seeing that Yao has skills and that he can only get better, I would definately build my team around a big man. Not because Francis is any less of a player, but I think you build with a big man.
Question: How many of the teams in the playoffs last year would trade their best player for Francis straight up? Nets- No Spurs- No Lakers- No (not even the 2nd) Mavs- No (not even their 3rd) Pistons- No Celtics- No Magic- No Pacers- No 76ers- No Kings- No Suns- No (not even their 2nd) Wolves- No Blazers- Probably yes Hornets- Probably yes Jazz- Yes Bucks- Yes Let's look at the non-playoff teams: Cavs- Hell no Raptors- No Clippers- No Sonics- No Grizzlies- Probably not Nuggets- Probably not Wizards- Probably not Warriors- Probably yes Heat- Yes Bulls- Yes Knicks- Yes Hawks- Yes Francis has proven absolutely nothing. I hope he does, but.....
Sydmill:- The reason Fans dont give much slack to Francis is that he has had FOUR seasons to bring himself up to showing what he can be as a Point Guard,like his Team needs him to be . He has shown that he is a remarkable athlete and scorer but has not shown much as a playmaker. Its not being down on him! Its what is obvious to most that watch the Games season in and season out and want the Rockets to be a great Team again. I can state most emphatically that I only want Steve Francis to be the best that he can be and nothing else. If Yao Ming after four seasons shows that he is just a playmaker and has not developed into a great offencive /defencive Center, like the Team needs him to be, then he will come under just as much controversy as Francis is at this time.
Pistons- Wallace, no way in hell they would do that. Clippers- Brand, no way in hell they would either. Sonics- Most GM's would take Allen ANY DAY over Francis. Wizards- Stackhouse for Francis? I wouldn't do that if I am the Wizards
