I used to be a "trade Cat" guy as well. Now, I could careless. I am now on the Steve has to go bandwagon. He just doesn't fit here. Maybe we can get a pure pg in the draft.
I seem to remember him being at the top of his game (27ppg/14rpg/52%FG). I think the problem was that we were just outclassed by a rookie Bird lead TEAM (Had Bird reached his peak yet?). So, Moses Malone gets traded to the 76ers and wham! Teamed up with Bobby Jones, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Julius_Erving: Champion. I also seem to remember the 81 Rockets being refered to as the "Pesky never-give up Rockets." Their record was only 40-42. We just needed *more* talent around Malone. I have to say, though...I miss the ball movement we used to have back then!
Well I figure half this board has put something in this thread I might as well do it too....right? Well, let the rant begin! I really like Steve as a player, he has some serious skills! I don’t like Jeff Van Gundy. I don’t like his coaching style. I think it is too restrictive. I don’t like his continual downtrodden attitude. Pessimism is a disease and it will eventually overthrow all optimism. Not to mention his basketball style is BORING! I will shorten this because I have to go soon. But finally I would like to say, (This is nothing against you Doc Rocket) I don’t put a lot of stock in the so-called “insiders” I will believe all of this the day I pick up the Chronicle and Steve Francis has been traded. One more finally, IF you do trade Steve leave Kirk H in Chicago where he belongs! If he could lead a team the Bulls would have a better record than they do! Joshua
It's not about having Hinrich "lead this team" it's about having a competent point guard "lead the PG position." If our "star" is not the PG, then we get someone else to do it (Yao and someone else).
David S, hell no your memory's not incorrect. But Moses didn't shoot nearly 80% from the stripe then and I guess we probably both remember that series. Stats? Cool, you and Moses and I can probably describe every bucket and rebound. If you want to argue Moses in '81 vs. 83-84 take it up with him or Dream or history. Jeff, the administrator posts what I think before I can get to it you're second and Deckard's on the same damn sofa. We don't write the same and God knows we can piss each other off, but disagree? Well Moses took a .500 team to the NBA finals. We can fight this over like brothers - viciously, or reasonably as men. Moses had to leave to win, he knew that. He left we got Sampson and then still tanked it and got Dream. Memory's a plus, but guys who are sketchy still give me pause. David S. I wouldn't even remember what we're arguaby about... so I hope you win.
Great thread. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it. My two cents: The fact that Steve is a max player is largely irrelevant after this year. First, he is a "baby max" player, at $11 million (since he has less than 7 years experience). $11 million will get you two averaged salaried players in today's NBA. Second, there will probably be no luxury tax next year. So I personally don't care if Les has to pony up $11 million for Steve, when he may only be worth $8 million per year. So Steve's salary shouldn't really be a concern. I don't mind trading Steve, if we can get equal or almost equal value. But I don't think that will happen. Since we don't have the combined talent to rival the Kings, Lakers, TWolves, Spurs, etc., we need to add talent, not subtract it. If we can't get equal or almost equal talent for Steve, I would rather see us use our trade exception to pick up a moderately over-priced SF, who can shoot and is tall enough to get his shots off. I think JJ's window of productivety as a starter is small, and our most pressing concern is adding a young, starting caliber SF. For example, if Milwaukee wants to save money (a definite possibility), perhaps we could pick up an overpriced Keith Van Horn for the trade exception plus a player. Just an example. I think the only way we can make this team a contender is to take the aggressive Mark Cuban approach, payroll be damned. But of course, I am not cutting the checks.
I sort of liked the spark and regretted his weak apology afterwards. It would have been better had he actually been fouled on the play in question, though. I have no idea what your point is.
Steve is the whiniest biotch in the NBA, at least 2-3 times a game he fakes being hurt and lays on the ground in mock agony. It is getting to be a joke around the league...even the announcers were talking about him and his whiny behaviour. DD
Steve is WAY worse than Gasol......how many technical fouls does Gasol have? And I don't see Gasol writhing on the floor in mock agony....Steve has become a laughing stock to the refs, he will NEVER get calls as long as he is a drama queen. Too much bravo TV Stevie !! DD
Steve for Kobe sign and trade!!! Steve for Kobe sign and trade!!! Steve for Kobe sign and trade!!! Steve for Kobe sign and trade!!!
Steve "The Franchise" Francis has negative trade value. I think if and when the Rockets finally decide to try to ship this guy many will be amazed at how little the Rockets get in return. High draft. pick. No. Hinrich. Forget it. Kirilenko. Falling down laughing. Allen. Seattle would rather lose him for cap space than tie themselves to a guy in desperate need of a brain transplant.
This thread made Francis basher/hater more crazy. That trade Steve for anyone who's a All-Star player or even a several 2nd tier star players is ok to them no matter what value we got or how big egoes those players have
I strongly disagree. At the point he has limited value, but that's not where he'd play anywhere else. Stevie is a premier athlete who will sell tickets. Other teams will look at his potential and think of what they could do w/ him, and talk themselves into how much of a better fit he'd be w/ them. Players w/ Stevie's potential are quite rare.
