Mark Berman's Exclusive Interview to counter the comments he got from Steve Francis like months ago (2 days) concerning this trade: Les: Steve, you done did it. Quit messing with my $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!! Mark: There you have it.
And what about this: Steve et al. knew that he wouldn't be able to return to the Rockets after pulling this move, so by pulling it, they consciously screwed the Rockets organization. They had to know the team would be left with no options other than to get raped by giving Steve up to someone else for basically nothing.
Yeah, I agree that by hampering this trade he's devaluing himself. It si frustrating, and as one who has defended Steve a lot, I feel a little let down by him. I think it's a mistake, and others have pointed out that after the trade is when he should have talked privately with Orlando management etc. Just wait until the trade is over, and then deal with the situation he found himself in. There is one slight bit of leeway and that's that Steve knowing he was going to be unhappy in Orlando thought that by suggesting a thrid team coming into the deal, he would be doing Orlando, and Houston a favor. If he went to Orlando and then met with them privately they would feel ripped off. Houston might get a bad rep as far as trades, and it might be more difficult after the draft to orchestrate a trade. It could be that Steve figured he would just let them know where he stands now, so that it could all be worked out in a few tidy meetings and negotiating sessions. That scenario is doubtful. Anyway maybe the news that the deal is basically done is correct, and this whole speculation won't matter in the end.
Did you have the duct tape left over from a year or two ago? Did you buy it after the latest warning from Homeland Security?
Nah. This is a brand spanking new roll. I bought it special, just for our very own whiney bi*tch, & I plan on using the whole roll on him.
1. I think Steve is being foolish - Orlando is a GREAT FIT for him The line up would be OUTSTANDING Francis Mobley GRANTHILL Okafor and Cato someone . .that is better than portland or some other crap I am PRO Trade but i will say this If you have the power to affect your outcome . . .use it folx do it all the time. . . if ya company send you to the alaskan office. .and u don't want to go . . if you can stop it. . . why not? this just seems like how they do business in the NBA honestly. . . I think they should have done the deal like they did poor Kenny Thomas. . BOOM u gone Rocket River
What's your guys' problem? Cannot a guy do best for his own benefit? I though this is America and refusing to play for his own country is regarded as an understandable act. Why should Steve play for a garbage team? Just because the team that dumped him could get TMac? Steve Francis has every right to not want to play for Orlando Magic. And Rockets fans have the right to dislike that decision. To Steve, it is something he have to enduring in the years to come, to the fans, it's the team they love. Please be civil.
Because he signed a contract that allows his team to trade him as they will. Under the CBA, Steve does not get to decide who he plays for after he signs his contract. Otherwise, it would be like a constant state of Free Agency for every player. A team has to know that a player will honor their contract once they sign it, otherwise the contract is meaningless.
I think everyone is over reacting blaming Francis without all the facts. Here is a more likely scenerio. TMac tells Magic brass over the weekend that he will opt out of the current contract and will only waive his player option if they can work a deal to hook him up with Shaq or Yao. TMac not only tells Magic brass but he also lets it be known in the media so that it isn't a shock to everyone. Magic brass. Remebering Shaqs. Try to convince TMac to stay but they will explore all options and try to look courteous since they DON"T want to trade him. CD and Les get together with Magic brass over the weekend and do the only logical deal possible. TMac for Cat, Steve and Cato plus Houston has to take on a crappy contract. Howard. CD asks about Declerq and Gaines thinking we need a bigman and a future PG so what the hell. By now word is out that the deal is being worked on probably from TMacs people and the Rockets org. Phoenix and all other NBA teams are also calling, faxing sending emails, but Magic brass is still klinging to the notion that they cannot trade TMac event though they are going through the motions with Houston. Magic brass do not want to deal TMac to Houston yet they start contimplate the idea of the deal with Houston. CD is telling them that JVG is the reason the production of SF and Cat is down and they will kick ass again once they have an offense minded coach. Plus the Magic see there are no more assets left on the Houston roster unless you are talking about Yao. Les will never trade 4 billion fans away. Saturday, the Clippers out of no where trade the #2 pick for $5 million and the 4th pick (Sterling is such a cheap skate). Bobcats excited about the possiblity of the 2nd pick call to see who the Magic will take in with the first pick. Probably ask about Riece Gaines and Andrew Declerq and others for the expansion draft. Hereing NC. Magic Brass think well we will make the trade to Houston with Gaines and Declerq included. Bobcats will probably take Gaines in the expansion draft, which will kill trade with Houston buying us more time to convine TMac to stay. Now with this info they play CD like a chump and make deal thinking the Bobcats will take Gaines or Declerq nullifing the deal. In the mean time every one in Houston in ecstatic except for Francis. Like every other star player who gets traded. He says he doesn't like the deal and makes some comments to the press. CD also is a little concerned about Reice and calls the Bobcats and the Magic to make sure nothing happens in the expansion draft. The Magic Brass are gripping because they don't want to make this trade with Houston. Houston just doesn't have enough assets to make this deal. And now they also see a possible problem. All media including local Houston media think the Magic are crazy and they bash their beat witers. Scaring the Orlando Sentinal. The only people who think it will be a good trade for Orlando are Rockets fans because they know Steve and Cat get 45 win each year without any real help. With about 80% of those wins coming from an east confrence opponents. The expansion draft finishes without any problems but the Magic aren't returning Houstons calls and finally report the problems with the Houston deal because of pushback from Steve. I personally don't think Steve antics had andything to do with the trades holdup. I think the problem in Magic management. Their interview proves it. Was CD in a room by himself dreaming he made a deal. Is CD getting cenial? No. This is just Magic BS.
you can shut him up by tearing up his royce while he's sleeping and having him to wake up next to the broken up V12 engine with motor oil spilling all over the bed naw..I love Stevie
Your whole post fell apart from the very beginning. You believe everyone doesn't have all the facts, then you throw out a scenario of what you think the facts might be. Hmmmm......
We're fans. We don't have to be civil. You're right about one thing though. Francis doesn't have to play for Orlando, if he's willing to quit the NBA & walk away from his $13+ million per year contract. As has been stated already, Francis is in a different kind of job market, where you get paid more in one year than the average working stiff will get paid in their entire life. The difference is, that once he signs his name to the contract, the team owns his rights & can send him anywhere they want & when ever they want.
Well, HT, the stage is set for you. With all the wild trades and jockeying for draft picks -- assuming the deal goes down for SF3, Cat and Cato for T-Mac, J-How, R-Gain and T-Lue -- where do we go from here tradewise? Pick up B-Skin and send Mo-T and T-E for R-Lew?
