guys im scared. i think steve is going to keep having problems with his migraines and keep missing and missing games and he'll end up being another grant hill. i heard him on rome and he is still having migraine problems. whos to say they will ever end. im seriously concerned. did you see him at the allstar game? with those migraines hes a ? every night. for these reasons im kind of leaning on trading him. i would never say such a thing if he were healthy and played 100% all the time. but i see a bad storm brewing. trade steve francis to the bulls for the #2. draft ming. draft williams. i usually dont post like this. its an experiment.
I thought that not even a month ago Steve said his migraines were subsiding due to taking on a different diet. Did something change? I guess so...
I think its too early to call him a bust. We do need him on the court to win and we also need for him to improve his game and learn to make his teammates better. The next two years will be a make or break for his career.
What he said on Rome (radio, not TV) was that the change in diet had drastically reduced the migraines, and that he still had the trip to the Mayo clinic coming up.
Wait and see is not much of an option. Everyone else will see how well he holds up this year as well. If he holds up, we don't trade him and everything's fine. But, if he doesn't, who will trade for him? Especially with his shiny new $100 million contract? Unless you're proposing that we don't sign his extension until he becomes a free agent, but that's suicide. If he gets traded, it should be this offseason, though I hope it doesn't happen at all.
that's a bad thread title. steve francis hardly equates to bust, especially having played only 3 years and putting up monster numbers. but i agree with you that the migraines are still something that the rockets have to worry about and factor in when it's contract time.
Steve Francis is far from a bust. But his problems are snowballing. No D, preferring friends to complementary players, leadership/maturity questions, migraines, TO prone, and now playing GM. Showcase him this upcoming season, make him shine. But he should be traded next year. For the number one pick, then take Lebron James. James is a super athlete with long ball range, who can create for himself but seems to relish the challenge of setting up his teammate even more, think of a unselfish Kobe Bryant. Rockets need to start cultivating players who are natural passers and WANT to play D. Maybe Rockets should just "go international" this upcoming draft. Int. players are more team oriented b/c that is the style of play ingrained/emphasized outside of the U.S. Top 10: Yao Ming Nikoloz Tskitishvilli (D is an issue, but he's just turned 18, has the athleticism to be better, huge upside - compared to Nowitzki, Peja & Gasol, in terms of upside) Top 15: Bostjan Nachbar Nene Hilario Amare Stoudamire (No Int. player, but real physical post up guy and an attitude that Rockets need more of) Top 25: Jiri Welsch (compares himself to Brent Barry, but this guy plays D way better than Barry, but has a similar shot) 2nd Round: Predrag Savovic (Has one of the smoothest shots I have ever seen, strong enough to also play the 3, great BB smarts as well, clutch player) I also wouldn't mind Dan Dickau in the 2nd either. He would make an excellent sixth man.
Steve's dietary change consisted of reducing his sodium intake. Apparently, the disorder he has reacts poorly to high salinity and causes the problems associated with his migraines. Since cutting down on salt and taking some supplemental medication, etc, he has said his migraines have been cut significantly.
Um...not saying that there aren't any talented euro-players in this year's draft, but the Rockets haven't had the best luck in picking them. Mirsad Turkan ring any bells?
Terrell Davis had a migraine on the day he won Super Bowl MVP. And what edc is saying is correct. Francis's headaches have significantly gone down, but he is still planning a trip to Mayo.
im not saying steve is a bust. im just saying thats potentially the worst case scenerio. i mean wouldnt you consider grant hill's career a bust up to this point. or penny hardaway? i do feel better though from the responses.
Grant Hill, yes. Penny Hardaway at least got to the championships with Shaq. SF, jury is still out he turns the ball over like he's allergic to it but he's playing in a lousy offense that I assume is meant to showcase his best skills which means passing and creating opportunities for others aren't among his best skills, either, unless he can draw a double team, then if he *had* the court vision, pass to the open man.
I just think Steve is in that awkward phase right between being a leader and a loud mouth. I remember a young Akeem Olajuwon who loved to flail elbows, got branded a "dirty" player more than once and demanded a trade. Soon after, he got some maturity (along with some religion) and became a leader. Great leaders, as young people, often carry the cocky swagger of a smart ass. Steve is not really much different. The key is learning to control the swagger and learn to turn it into confidence and leadership. Can he do that? Only time will really tell. At some point, he is going to learn that he is just another player in the NBA and he can take that on and become a legend or just be pissed about it and complain. I think the guy has enough character to be a leader but, right now, he can be a smack-talking little punk at times just like Akeem was. Akeem learned. So can Steve.
Steve a bust? I think so, and I hope we don't resign him next year. Francis gets what ever he wants, and I don't like it. He was picked by the Grizzlies and refused to play there. Just think Bibby and Francis on the same team, Francis does not care if he wins, he just wants to be a star. Francis is not worth the max, and if he keep him we are never going to be a good team. The Rockets need to start all the way over in rebuilding this team. I think everyone on the Rockets besides Eddie Griffin, Kenny Thomas, Oscar Torres should be traded.
Francis is not a bust. He has only played THREE YEARS. Two of those years he could not lead because of two aging superstars that still ran the team. Last year he and everyone else on the team was injured. The team cratered without him, that is why he is "Stevie Franchise". His migraines are getting better thanks to his diet and he can learn to play through them just as the other players have (TD and Kareem). So give him a chance. He has shown me enough flashes of greatness that I would sign him to the max. I can promise you the Rockets would not be the only team wanting him if he was a FA.
