Report: Francis signs with Houston

by ivanbe on Jul 19, 2007 11:50 AM PDT

This may be a non-factor, but I found it interesting. Steve Francis is going to sign with the Houston Rockets.

Years after Houston traded him for McGrady, they end up getting him back for close to nothing (probably--haven't seen the contract details, of course).

Does anybody think Francis has anything left in the tank? If he does, and they stay healthier this season, Houston is going to leapfrog a number of teams in the West, right into that top echelon that includes the other two Texan teams along with Phoenix. They've already acquired Euro-star Luis Scola, as well as getting Mike James for Howard. If Francis gets in shape, they'll suddenly be a lot more athletic in the front AND backcourt.

This doesn't really affect the Dubs too much, as Houston was already ahead of them on the conference depth chart.

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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whooopdy doo!!!

who cares about steve francis....I have never liked the guy since he practically cried on draft night when he got drafted by the grizzlies...i mean who does that!!!crybaby!!!but I mean he was a pretty good player for a good amount of years so I can't knock him for that....he will help out houston some, but I think his confidence has dropped alot over the years and all...plus the injuries hasn;t hlped his confidence...I don't know how he is going to handle being the 3rd option on a team either....maybe he'' just cry about it like on draft night...or maybe he'll cry about it like he did when cuttino got traded away from him...or maybe he'll cry when he doesn't like his coach...such a crybaby!lol

by spartawarriors on Jul 19, 2007 11:56 AM PDT reply actions

I'm

guessing Stevie Franchise is a 3rd string PG now? That's too bad, I really liked his game except the fact that he really cant shoot.

Skip and Stevie Franchise.. that's a whole lotta street ball right there for one team.

by WarriorFanForLife on Jul 19, 2007 12:35 PM PDT reply actions

franchise really reminds me of monta

the have simalar skills except that monta handles arnt that good.

i got an elevator in my house...... thats f'ing ridiculous

by stevenro59 on Jul 19, 2007 12:52 PM PDT reply actions

Not that similar

The difference in their ball-handling isn't the only difference. Ellis and Francis are rather different players.

Ellis has shown an ability to get to the rim and to hit mid range shots, but his long shot is at best a work in progress. The high percentage shooting though is a big asset. Francis hasn't consistently shown the ability to shoot for a high percentage, but he's been a better shooter from beyond the arc and gets to the line more often. All told, their scoring efficiencies have been pretty similar but they get their points through different avenues.

Francis has consistently been a better rebounder, good enough for it to be an asset to his team. Yeah, Monta's young and he could improve in that area, but very, very few guys, even the ones who enter the league young ever substantially improve their per-minute rebounding.

by jae on Jul 19, 2007 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Similiar how?

I dont find their elements similiar, motion, or personality...

And Francis is a horizontal ballhandler...he goes left right left, then drives...

Monta is a vertical ballhandler... he goes forward slows down, backs up, blows by you.
I dont really see any similarities..

This is my team There are many like it But this one is mine. My team, without me is useless. Without my team, I am useless

by BlueNgoldBlood on Jul 19, 2007 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Word

Francis is way more like Baron than Monta, but Barons fadeaway jumper is straight money

by BaronForPrez on Jul 20, 2007 2:46 AM PDT up reply actions

i have to say

that this doesn't do as much for them as you think. neither does any of the other moves they made. i mean yeah they are minor tweaks and could make them a tiny bit better, but nothing to get excited about for houston fans. i haven't even heard steve francis doing anything in the last few years. i think he's done. yeah if he shows that he can play close to like he did when he was in his prime then yeah, it will make them better, but i just don't see that happening and i just don't see houston being up there with SA

by Proof on Jul 19, 2007 12:54 PM PDT reply actions

am i the only one who was saying

"who gives a crap?" when the james/howard deal went down and people were raving about how the west got so much better and crap. i mean your not gonna get much better by swapping one mediocre player for another.

by Proof on Jul 19, 2007 12:56 PM PDT reply actions

This is important...

I really think that the addition of Steve Francis will help out the Houston Rockets... especially if he can get into shape. Just imagine having two solid point guards in Francis and Mike James. And if he is signing for cheap then he would be a low risk, high reward type of player. Francis should still have a little left in the tank as he was semi-effective when NY called on him to take on minutes.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

by mightymadskillz on Jul 19, 2007 1:04 PM PDT reply actions

If.

Steve Franchise gets healthy, gets back in shape; he can easily become a 15/5/5 on the houston rockets.

by BTT on Jul 19, 2007 1:05 PM PDT reply actions

hahah

francis is fat now..but i hope he really gets to rebuild his career. He is 30 but he has years to go , hopefully.

by djchuckdeez on Jul 19, 2007 1:11 PM PDT reply actions

This is a great move

For the Rockets. They bring back a player that once was a fan favorite and their star player. After trading him to Orlando for Tmac they get him back. That was one hell of a good deal for the rockets, though Steve has gotten worse in the last couple years. Steve "The Franchise" Francis should not be underestimated! Who knows, he could be that star he once was again with Houston. (I'm guessing he feels comfortable in HOU and he could play a lot better)

Francis was one of my favorite players back then, and I wish him all the luck and I think he's going to start for them, since he is "the Franchise"! :-)

This combo is gonna be sick for Houston:
Francis, McGrady, Battier, __, and Yao

by ballin on Jul 19, 2007 1:22 PM PDT reply actions

I have to go with Ballin'

on this one. They have ALMOST every position filled with Talent, and they'll be hard to stop.

But can they dethrone Phoenix, San Antonio, and Dallas? We'll see.

Tony aka Drawlz600 is AWESOME!!!!

by Zorgon on Jul 19, 2007 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Do Rafer Alston or John Lucas fit the dubs at all?

Cause they just got a lot cheaper. Unfortunately I don't know much about their respective games. What about Aaron Brooks? Could he be had for cheap?

by belli nellie on Jul 19, 2007 1:23 PM PDT reply actions

Alston

might fit in our team. A street ball player who can hit some 3's. Not a bad player and I could see him as a backup to Baron.

by ballin on Jul 19, 2007 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Quantity, but where's the quality?

The Rockets have a buncha guards now:
Francis, Head, James, Alston, Brooks...and not one of them is a pure PG. Well, you might call Alston one, but he's not great. Seems like wasted roster spots.

On paper, Francis has alot of Tremendous Upside Potential for the (likely) low price, I just don't think he'll be any better than Mike James, who makes alotta cash. Maybe they'll work out a deal with Miami or LAC, who still need PGs.

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jul 19, 2007 1:28 PM PDT reply actions

True, but...

This is a team that's built around two high-paid superstars. Certainly their role players aren't as good as, say, the Spurs', but I think their recent moves help at least piece together a more meaningful puzzle.

A big part of that is Rick Adelman. I think he can do some of what he did in Sacramento, playing Yao in the high post and cutting guards down the baseline or off of Yao's screen. Adding James, Francis, and Brooks gives them more options in that formation, as all three guys can finish but also make passes back out to the perimeter. Head doesn't belong in that role, as he's more dangerous just hanging out at the 3 point line. Alston.. well, I dunno how he fits in at all.

Having more guards also takes some ball-handling pressure off of McGrady, which might just be the most important element of this, as he seems to have back problems every year. He, like Baron, needs to play less minutes. If Francis can get back into shape and become a streak scorer, McGrady won't have to play as many minutes and land on the IL quite as often.

by ivanbe on Jul 19, 2007 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Bet their lineup will be

Alston, Francis, McGrady, Battier, Yao. They no longer have Van Gundy, but if they play like the old Kings then Yao is going to blow out a knee from all that running. I don't think Francis is really going to try that hard next year because he's no longer the focal point of the team. I see Francis playing a Jerry Stackhouse type of role, where he will come in off the bench, not pass the ball, and then complain about not getting enough minutes.

by Mdawg851 on Jul 19, 2007 2:04 PM PDT reply actions

As long as he was cheap...

I guess it's not a bad move, but I really don't like his game. He seems to get satisfaction fround having the ball in his hands and pounding it relentlessly for 21 seconds at a time, he can't make a low-post entry pass and he can't shoot consistantly. If he can accept an off the bench roll and get into shape it might work out. Haha...thats a pretty big if.

by olympicmike on Jul 19, 2007 2:41 PM PDT reply actions

this is good and all

but whos going to play PF for the Rockets? They traded their only decent PF Juwan Howard for another guard. And what about when Yao gets hurt again? Is the 40 something year old Mutombo going to be able to play? They might have depth now at the guard positions but their front court looks very weak.

The J-RICH show is on his way out...=(

by dajrichshow on Jul 19, 2007 4:07 PM PDT reply actions

Howard? Decent?

Juwan Howard gone is addition by subtraction. If ever someone didn't live up to hype and a huge contract, it was him. A power forward should be a good rebounder, get high percentage shots, and pick up fouls. Howard was at best adequate at rebounding, wasn't particularly good at hitting baskets for a big guy, and never got to the line regularly. Trading him is very, very, very unlikely to hurt the Rockets, even if they got nothing back in return.

by jae on Jul 19, 2007 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Rocket's PF

They acquired the rights to Luis Scola, who is nearing a deal with the Rockets. He is purportedly the best big in foreign competition, low post scoring skills, and an NBA-ready veteran.

The Scola trade also netted him Jackie Butler, another big with great size and alotta potential

Chuck Hayes can be retained.

Shane Battier can spot minutes at the 4. He's not going to defend the biggest guys, but he's long and intelligent enough to make up for lbs. and inches usually.

They also drafted Carl Landry.

In other positions, they have Mcgrady at SF (duh) and Wells at SG. Ming and Mutumbo control the paint.

The Rockets actually have plenty at every position , they might make the West Triumvirate a West Foursome now.

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jul 19, 2007 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions

If he's healthy...

It might be a good move. He's no longer the franchise though. I went to the game vs. the Knicks on valentines day this year and had the best seats I've ever had in my life. And they were free so it was a double bonus. Anyways they were in the courtside club ($350 ea)4 rows behind the Knicks bench. I was almost afraid to say anything because the players could actually hear me. Around the 3rd quarter I was got some confidence and yelled at Francis as he was walking to the bench. He was having a horrible game and I said " Stevie Franchise? More like Stevie sits the bench!" I know he heard me. I crushed his ego.

by Bake Da Ripper on Jul 19, 2007 4:11 PM PDT reply actions

I was at that game...

My seats sucked though. Him and the rest of the Knicks looked hooorrrriiibbbble. That game was a joke. Fun for Ws fans though, it can be nice to watch a 30pt blowout every now and then.

by olympicmike on Jul 19, 2007 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Stevie Franchise

I think he'll make Skip to My Lou run for his money at the starting PG spot. It will give Mike James a lesser role in the rotation ever since that trade involving Minnesota and Houston. This is Francis' last chance at stardom. He'll get to play with Yao Ming again and see how life's like as the inevitable 3rd scoring option in the Rockets' offense. Rick Adelman is a well-suited coach for Francis' development to get back to the all-star level he has risen to during his early years. Houston got the best available guard free agent. New York and Orlando were just not good to Stevie Franchise. Or was it the other way around? Anyways, the Houston Rockets are potentially a scarier team in the West with this move. Francis will spell both Yao and T-Mac from the scoring load.

by Phil T28 on Jul 20, 2007 12:42 AM PDT reply actions

Stevie...

Here is what Stevie will get next year:

9 points/game
2 boards/game
3 assists/game
1 steal/game

As they say in the Big Apple where he just left- big whoop! Monta will blow by his crickitty old butt then BD then Belinelli then Buike and the list goes on...

by gabezgsw on Jul 23, 2007 2:17 PM PDT reply actions