Steve Francis?

[RHBullsFan]

Guys, Magic fan here checking in. Congrats on the terrific season, you guys have an exciting team and I would love to see them represent the West in the finals.
One question...what's up with Steve Francis? I am a huge Francis fan going back to his days at MD. They guy was steller his first few years in the league with Houston, and I was excited to see him on the Magic. It seems his career completely died when he left Orlando for NY. Is his career over? He doesn't even get off your bench. Have we seen the last of Stevie Franchise? He seems too young to have "lost it" already. Thanks for the input, best of luck the remainder of this season.

[Eralp]

He closed the season.That is pathetic but he said he will try to be there for next year.

[BallaBoy]

He had surgery in February that ended his season, he'll be back next year and *hopefully* can get off the bench.. otherwise.. he'll just be an expiring contract that we can use next year

[Ksnyder18]

I miss Stevie

[A.J.]

i cant wait till he comes back next season

[TMU]

I am not sure what our plans are with him. We should cut him and make space for another player who can contribute.

[wireonfire]

C'mon, Francis is a bargain at 1 mil a year. If he comes back healthy, we have another big weapon. We can move Jackson who has an expiring contract and his contract is much bigger.

[A.J.]

C'mon, Francis is a bargain at 1 mil a year. If he comes back healthy, we have another big weapon. We can move Jackson who has an expiring contract and his contract is much bigger.

jackson is a free agent after this season

[etopn23]

Next year will make or break him.

[texasholdem]

-= original quote snipped =-



jackson is a free agent after this season

no, he's not.

"Jackson is signed for $6.1 million through the 2008-09 season, potentially offering the Rockets the roster flexibility next season

[RaoulDuke79]

nos

[moofs]

bahahahahaa

[texasholdem]

if Grant Hill can come back and be a productive NBA player then so can Steve, who is younger and has had less severe injuries.

We wouldn't have won our last game at Phoenix without Steve back on November 28.

[Baller 24]

Francis is not a PG, and I doubt he gets mins at PG if he is still here. We better be looking to upgrade our point guard position this off season. Rafer has done a good job, but I think he would be perfect to come off the bench if we can land a good offensive weapon. Someone like Calderon would be perfect, doubt it happens though

[jove9]

The problem with Francis has always been that he's turnover prone and he's a ball hog.

In his last year here before the trade he didn't pass the ball to Yao and he often dribbled out the clock. When he come back, we lost in a couple of blowouts early in the season with Steve running the point. I won't blame him completely for the blowouts, but his turnovers and lack of defense didn't help.

Anyway, if he refuses to play team ball like he did earlier this year (remember his "I'll play the way I know" comments?), I don't expect him to stick around.

[tisbee]

Francis needs the ball to be effective. In NY they tried to play him as a 2,paired w/a PG who also needed dribble to be effective. Horrible mis-match. His injuries have cost him enough of his quickness and explosiveness that it's doubtful he could be a significant player on a good team unless he alters the way he plays,which isn't going to happen.(He will say all the right things about how he's grown and changed and knows what a true PG needs to do,but he will still play the same old way.)
His style is a horrible fit w/Adelman who wants crisp passing and off ball movement. Bobby Jackson will get away w/dribbling out the shot clock and jacking a 3 because Adelman trusts him from previous yrs.
I fully expect him to be traded this off-season because of numbers. The Rockets cannot afford to keep 4 PGs and a combo(Head) and have any depth at the 2,3 spots. Look at current roster and who's Battier's back-up...Harris. McGrady's...Head. There is no there there. And w/Yao's recent injury history the Rockets will have to keep at least 2 guys who can play C.

[CuttingEdge]

Jackson is overall better than Francis. The shooting touch and the passing ability.

[RHBullsFan]

thanks for all the input guys. I would like to some day see the FRanchise back to the form that earned him a few West All Star starts. It was not that long ago.

[chuckerz]

if Grant Hill can come back and be a productive NBA player then so can Steve, who is younger and has had less severe injuries.

We wouldn't have won our last game at Phoenix without Steve back on November 28.

the difference between Hill and Francis is that Hill plays on a team where he is given 30 plus minutes. Francis on the other hand is playing on a team full of guards and had to compete in order to get a spot on the roster.

[moofs]

More importantly, Grant Hill has a basketball IQ, can pass, play defense, and is still more athletic at 35 on a club foot than Francis is at 30. He was also a vastly superior player to begin with.