[Newsday] Rockets mentioned as possible Francis location

Hey UIW Rocket -

Ignore the snide comments about your first post. You're absolutely right. Even with all of his warts (and their are several), Steve Francis is better as a combo guard than everyone else on our guard list put together.

If we can jettison JL3, VSpan (still hate to lose his potential), and Rafer, I'd welcome Stevie back with open arms.

Now, having said that, and after going from NY to Portland (where everyone knows there's no night life), Stevie's going to have some culture shock, but may decide that staying with a team that has no place to go but up (with the Sky as the limit), he may just lobby to stay there.

However, there's been multiple sources reporting that SF is anxious to get back to Houston so he can work with TMAC and Yao on the court at the same time, (Especially now that JVG is gone).

OK guys, obviously all of our collective prayers to the B-ball gods did NOT work out last Thursday, so let's all get down on our knees and pray REALLY, REALLY HARD that a buyout for SF is on the way.

If so, of course we'll try to sign him, unless Morey is intent on creating a drop in season tix sales so bad they'll have to dig him out of the whole left by the exodus of fans streaming away from the tix counter!!

Hey Morey, we're not getting Rashard, if anything, he'll use you the way that James did last summer, and then not sign with you anyway, and you'll be scrambling without the backup of CD and the guy who went to the Spurs. Anybody but me wonder how many more rings the Spurs will have before we can Morey's sorry behind for someone who actually "gets" basketball?

 

I really cant understand Portland's insistence on buying out his contract. They need a veteran, Jack isnt that good yet. They need a scorer. Francis is drooling over a fair shot to rejuvenate his legacy. I expect him to be a Blazer next year. I expect him to work hard and perform.

 

I see your point, but really, Paul Allen has more than God (oops, I meant Bill Gates), actually, not that much money, but if he's looking for an entirely clean slate (and If I'm one of his PR / Marketing Flaks I'm telling him that SF comes with exactly the wrong kind of baggage for a makeover to work).

Still, as I said in a previous post, I think it has more to do with whether SF expresses a desire to stay in Portland then whether Allen and Co. want him there.

If we were to offer Rafer (another veteran with MUCH less baggage and a better "True PG" game to teach Jack), then if there's no immediate buyout, maybe we could swing a deal that would still put SF here, and more importantly create a rapport with the management of the team with the most money and assets in the league!!!!!

I'd say it's a 50/50 toss up at the moment.

 

That ability is still there. He has certainly lost a step but when you used to be the best penetrating (and finishing) PG in the league and you lose a step it still means you're better than 90% of the guys out there.

I also feel Rafer, Head and another guard are going to be gone by opening night. I would have absolutely have no problem with a Mike James/Steve Francis combo at PG.

There is no reason why these guys could not split the minutes at PG and each give us 12 PPG, 4 APG and 3-4 RPG. Not bad.

 

No that is why we should say no to Rafer, VSpan, JLIII, Luther Head and yes to Steve Francis.

 

Let us just go for a 15 guard roster. Deke and Hayes are free agents, so let them go. All we have to do is trade Yao, Shane and Novak and plenty of teams should be interested in them.

Kidding. I would really love to see Francis back in Houston.

 

Exactly. Rafer and Head both have value as does Vspan if only based on his potential. I think JLIII is also considered better than most "throw-ins" so between all of those guys we could get something of value and clear some space for SF.

 

Actually trade away Alston and Head with Battier for Lewis.

Then cut Lucas a check for $500,000 cash (like Les can't afford it) and waive him.

That could lead to a lineup something like this:

PG Francis/James/Brooks
SG Wells/Spanoulis/Newly
SF McGrady/Snyder/Novak
PF Lewis/Hayes/Landry
C Yao/Mutombo/Tsakalidis

I actually see a roster spot definitely being open for Francis if they can unload Alston and Head along with Battier in a trade for Lewis.

It puts either Francis or James as the 6th man and Brooks as a 3rd string replacing Lucas.

 

Here's the deal with Steve Francis. I like the guy, many fans like the guy. We have fond memories of Stevie Franchise, and would like see him play for the Rockets. But therein lies the rub. The Stevie Franchise we knew and loved was flawed (see the 18 second shot clock dribble), and never got the knack of running a structured offense.

For SF3 to work in Houston this time, we'd have to get good answers to the following questions:

1) Is he still explosive? He's been injured on and off the last two years. This is definitely an open question.
2) Can he run a motion offense and work within the bounds of the offense? The best of Steve was when he and Cuttino Mobley played a two-man game under Rudy T.
3) If the answer to number two is no, can he play significant, effective minutes at the 2? If we look at the Knicks, this did not seem to be the case.

So is Steve Francis worth shoehorning into our roster? At this time, I reluctantly have to say no. I'd like to see him back, but I just don't see him fitting in. To me, Stevie leveled off and never really maximized his potential as a point, and a true 1 is something we need. Right now, Steve is a 2 guard in a point body.

 

I'm seeing jealousy from one poster who has less senority than others.

Some people like myself like to post only when we feel its important, not rack up post counts with "I agree", "Great post dude", and my favorite "You suck dude" posts.

In any case, last year we clearly lacked atheletism and speed on this team. Bringing in players like MJames and SFrancis is first logical step in improving this team.

Some fans were upset that we didn't draft Baby Davis but if we want a running team would a 6'9, 340 pound guy fit? Probably not.

Of course R. Lewis would be an excellent fit, and we all know he wants back, badly!! But money comes first so we'll see were that goes.

Hey, that 72 posts in almost 8 years!! That's 9 posts a year, I'll try and post more than once a month so to keep some of my fellow posters happy!!

 

If he is healthy and Adelman thinks he can fit him into his system, then go ahead. If not, then talking about him is a waste of time.

There isn't much talent out there to be had with the MLE anyway.

 

I got a cousin in the NY area. He says Francis is not athletic anymore, doesn't hit his 3's, and dribbles way too much. Of course, Francis barely played in NY and was not on good terms with the team.

If Francis takes the LLE, I'm all for it. In fact, he's probably the best player on the LLE market.

 

I would love to sign him with the Rockets on MLE and trade Rafer along with JL3, Vspan and Hayes. I take him back with the heartbeat!

 

Once Francis comes here, within a few months we'll see the millions of "TRADE FRANCIS" threads again.

 

Agreed. I hope and believe we will take care of 1 and 2 in the same move. We all know a trade is the best way to grab a solid power forward.

If we do get Francis though, I say we start Francis and make James the primary guy off the bench:

Francis/James/Brooks <<---speed, penetration, and Francis hopefully can still dish and create
McGrady/Bonzi/VSpan/(James/Francis)
Battier/(McGrady/Bonzi/Hayes)
*NewPF*/Hayes
Yao/Deke/(NewPF)

Obviously what I just threw out here entails a lot of mixing and rotational creativity, which as far as I know, Adelman tends towards. He'll throw out a lot of different combinations, which I think Francis can help provide. Anyone I didn't name, we get rid of. Rafer and Luther say goodbye for a solid power forward, and perhaps JL3 as well, though I love the guy's heart and hate to see him go. VSpan I consider more of a shooting guard because he is very much about what he can do himself with the ball. James and Francis can also take time at the 2, when the other plays the 1, with TMac taking the 3. That'll create a lot of opportunities for penetration and ball movement that can get Yao open with good amounts of movement.

Who knows what will happen? I'm for it if we make the right moves.

 

seattle would rather let him get away for FREE

 

Great post dude!

 

Would Seattle turn down Head, Battier and a first round pick?

I cannot imagine why they would. Presti is running things now. I bet he would be all over that deal.

 

He'll play for little because he wants to win. He's going to get paid for the 2 years he doesn't have to honor anyways so he'll sign for cheap.

 

we could run francis at the 2. or backup either guard spot.

francis would give adelman a player who can RUN.

we should sign him if we can get him for the minimum! trust me, he'll be great to have.

we'll have lots of guards, but i am guessing morey could move a combination of a few of our guards pretty easily.

as for PF, we need help there, but we may as well stockpile assets until a REAL PF solution presents itself.

upon the rockets signing francis, he immediately becomes our 3rd best player (tied with battier).