<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> </p> Steve Francis almost joined the Clippers in the off-season. Instead, he signed a two-year deal with Houston, where he was a three-time All-Star before being traded to the Orlando Magic along with Cuttino Mobley in 2004.</p> </p> "I had conversations with the Clippers, the coach, we had some deep conversations up until the last couple of days when I made a decision to come to Houston," Francis said Monday.</p> </p> "I made an easier decision I thought was best for my family, my daughter, my wife. We have a home in Houston. We've been living there for seven, eight years." -- <font color="#000000">Los Angeles Times</font></p> </p> </p> [*]"I was super close (to signing with Los Angeles)," Francis said. "I was super close to Miami and Dallas, but here I was real, real close. I talked to the coach (Mike Dunleavy) a couple times and, of course, being that Sam and Cuttino were here made it even more intriguing to even consider it." </p> Francis said he has thought about his decision often when not playing.</p> </p> "I always looked at those situations and wondered what I could have contributed," Francis said. -- <font color="#000000">Houston Chronicle</font></p></div> </p>
it would've been cool if we coul make a deal for cuttino rather than steve in the last offseason. I think cuttino would suit our system better. ie. if we actually play a proper adelman system.</p>
