Panda - I agree with your analysis but there may be a slight flaw - Kidd is averaging 18.7 this year...Isiah averaged less than 20 ppg for his career and during his championship seasons. On the off chance that Kidd goes to San Antonio, you may someday include him with Magic, Isiah, and The Big O. It is interesting to note that Bibby, Nash, and Parker can all pass and score. Although for some of them, the assist numbers are not that noticeable because they play on pass oriented teams (especially Bibby).
Magic Johnson's a natural point guard more than anything. His biggest strength was running the offense, distributing the ball and setting people up rather than shooting the ball and scoring pts (Magic could score pretty good but that was definitely not his first priority). Oscar, Isiah and Kidd were the same, P1S2. Bibby, Nash and Parker are lesser players. But they're P1S2 as well. On the other hand, Francis's strength was scoring rather than running the offense and setting people up. Put it this way, Steve Francis's definitely closer to being an Allen Iverson or Kobe Bryant than to a Magic Johnson or Jason Kidd. So ignoring the defensive problem which might happen, why NOT just putting Francis on a position (i.e. SG) where he's natural at and can furthur his skills, rather than stuck him in a position (i.e. PG) hoping and praying that he can learn that position one day? The odds for us finding another Eric Snow (i.e. a big guard whose strength is running offense, setting people up rather than scoring) seems much BIGGER than waiting Francis develop those nautral PG mentality and skills (court vision, passing skills, etc).
Kidd is getting better at scoring, but he's not in Isiah' neighbourhood. Isiah can take over games when needed. He averaged 23 ppg in the second year, scored 43 point on a badly sprained ankle in 88 playoffs against the Lakers, and won the ring by averageing 27 points in the 1990 finals. Isiah didn't need to score a lot as his teammates could pick up the slack. He's a great scorer as well as a playmaker though. His record of 13.9 assists per game was later surpassed by Stockton. Jason Kidd has nothing on Thomas, and so is Francis.
