There are around 5 other teams looking to salary dump. OKC don't have a open roster spot. That leaves Grizzlies as the only real option out there. Setting a high price for that service does not hurt them. They just sit and wait. If anything Deke threatening to sign with the Spurs/Celtics put pressure on Morey to get this done.
This move is good for Francis. Maybe not exactly a good move, but it at least gives Francis a better chance of resurrecting his near-dead career. I'm not surprised if the Rockets chose not to use him. Francis just had a season ending injury late in his prime, and since had trouble getting back in shape. Then from out of nowhere, Brooks and Wafer emerged, playing like a Top 10 draft pick, well at least Brooks is. There are a lot of theories going on around here that we might resign Francis. I doubt it, Francis has yet to even prove himself on the court, and obvious at this stage of the season. RA refuses to risk losing a game by playing Francis, and I doubt trash-time would do Francis any good except label him as a scrub. On the bad side, Stevie has to go. He was a good player, just didn't manage to change his style when his body grew older. On the good side, we may experience some Morey Magic. To be honest, I think our team can really gel, but I would feel a lot better if we can make yet another move. Waiting for our team to gel is not the best idea.
its sad that SF3 2nd coming didnt work out. but trading him for cap space is the way forward for the Rockets. now we have an option to sign a player who will help us and its very likely Deke. lets look at the positive side, when we first traded SF3, we got Tmac who still can play (though some of u might think otherwise), SF3 went downhill after the trade. i wish him all the best and i hope Morey can pull something to improve our team
Well... the Grizz sure sounds excited to have Steve Francis contributing, don't they: Yep... the 2nd round pick is a valuable commodity... Steve Francis, not so much.
honestly? Doc Rocket. Morey has to say the PR stuff otherwise he will be shooting himself in the foot. What GM comes out and openly says: "I traded 'x player' because we needed to get under the cap and I didn't tell him either" the fact that the trade went down right before christmas also tells me they did it because of Deke who has been saying all along he was planning to sign somewhere after christmas. If Deke is not in the rockets plans at all it makes no sense to deal francis now, trying to move him closer to the deadline would have been smarter. Maybe he does come back to contribute more than Luther is doing in the next two months, that means luther is moved at the deadline to save $. I like SF3 a lot and all he has done for the Rockets. I figured he wouldnt see the end of the season in a rockets jersey but I was hoping he would have been treated slightly better than this being traded on christmas eve. I know its all business but I dont see how this couldnt have waited possibly till after christmas if not for Deke.
Am thinking this is just a opportunity for Steve to get real game experience coming off the surgery, if he's good. I think the rocket will sign him when he hit the FA market next year. Hopefully that's the case, if not really sad to see Steve to go. Wish you the best of luck Stevie. Houston will never forget the fun you brought us.
Just the same, it's a bit ridiculous the suggestion. One, I don't remember being some Francis hater. I was a big Francis guy until his final year here and I loved the trade for T-Mac. I was happy to see Francis back, but didn't think he was the right fit here (thought Mike James was). I loved what he did in that game in Phoenix last year. And even if I didn't like Francis, I wouldn't make something up about him in a report. I've been pretty consistent on Francis' situation for a long time because I've had very good information on him (none of this stuff is much of a secret at the Toyota Center). The Rockets would schedule private workouts for him and he wouldn't show to several of them. He acted very much like a guy who put basketball a distant second (or third or fourth or...). No one wanted him to pick up the player option, but it was common knowledge he would (free money). And there's more info too, but I wouldn't post it here. Think about it -- I set the over/under on <a href="/showthread.php?t=156021">how many games Francis would play this season</a> for the Rockets at 0.5 and took the "under" -- I didn't overhear a mall cell phone conversation to get to that number either. I have opinions on players and likes/dislikes, but I don't play favorites with information I get.
Steve went to Grizzlies may have chance to play. This is good for Francis. As a Rocket man, he hasnt played for Rockets this season.. Indeed, I think Morey did a stupid trade, although after do this trade we can resign Mutombo, Morey trade Francis before Adelman let him play even one second. At least, before we trade Steve, we should let him play, let him show, if his performance is not good enough, then we can trade him. Trade Luther Head for 2nd round pick is much better. Sorry to see Francis leaves.
-- > http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=4112761&postcount=75 Geez how'd I miss this, or how did other people not quote this more in other threads? I guessed correctly 2 weeks ago finally, but woulda saved everyone who pondered on his possible return alot of time and energy early on Thanks for trying to help us out
I think Feigan mentioned something about this too... someone asked how coaches can evaluate Francis in his blog when he doesn't play, Feigan replied "They have these things called practice. The coaches are always there, and sometimes Steve is there, too."
