<span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">Francis Decides On A Second Run In Houston</span><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Former Rockets guard Steve Francis is about to be future Rockets guard Steve Francis.Francis chose the Rockets over the Heat, Mavericks and Clippers, his agent Jeff Fried said on Thursday."I just hung up with Daryl (Morey, the Rockets general manager)," Fried said. "He is dealing with facilitating the contract."It's a combination of a variety of factors including the fit with the team, a comfortableness with the organization and a familiarity with the surroundings. He has a home in Houston. In so many ways, it has remained his home, despite some interim stops, Orlando and New York."For Steve, it's coming home."</div>-RealGM<span style="font-family:Tahoma">Well, I knew this move was coming but I didn't seriously think he'd go to Houston over the Clippers. Wonder how well he does with them.</span>
Wow I really thought Clippers too, but the Rockets have a better chance of winning the title. This adds more to the logjam at guard/forward.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CavsRules @ Jul 19 2007, 02:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-family:Tahoma">Well, I knew this move was coming but I didn't seriously think he'd go to Houston over the Clippers. Wonder how well he does with them.</span></div> I guess he's gotten over the Cuttino Mobely-Steve Francis era. -- As for this signing, it's great for both the Rockets and Francis. Francis comes back to his 'home' and the franchise that he played his best ball for. Rick Adelman should be very excited about this signing, despite trading for Mike James to get a point guard who can push the ball, they now have a solid starting PG who can also push the ball and will likely excel in Adelman's up-tempo system. I expect Rafer Alston or Mike James to be involved in a package for a solid starting PF. BTW, does anyone know if Francis is asking for full MLE?
Rockets better have something up their sleeve with acquiring so many guards this offseason. If it wasn't for that Scola trade, I would have no idea what they were doing. But they got some headaches with Rafer, Francis, and James now(withstanding Bonzi's attitude since he can play some 3). Each will want minutes. I guess they'll pursue a Rafer trade, since it would be morally wrong to burn James twice now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Mavs were in the running for Franchise? What?</div>I think we've been in the running for a lot of folks. But Yeah, this is one I'm glad did not work out!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jul 19 2007, 02:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I guess they'll pursue a Rafer trade, since it would be morally wrong to burn James twice now.</div>Yeah, that'd be horrible. Unfortunately I feel that Rafer is a better suited backup for Francis than James is.As for this signing, I love it. The Rockets may have a huge logjam at PG/SG, but very few of those players are really valuable trading chips. Rafer is gonna be tempting for some teams, especially after he showed he can be a top 3pt shooter and can be a good role player on a winning team. He also gives the Rockets a better chance of landing a solid PF without giving up Battier.Francis will give the team a very nice 3rd scoring option, he has a great relationship with Yao Ming, he loves to play in Houston, and will be a lot more comfortable in a Rick Adelman system than a JVG/Larry Brown offensive system.
This is a great move by Francis, he can go back to the only place he was fairly successful and really step in and be another leader for them. I know some may not agree, but I think he's a nice upgrade over Alston at PG. Right now they look good as long as Battier sticks around and they can find a PF in a trade or something like that.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jul 19 2007, 04:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Think the Rockets are regreting the Howard/James trade right now?</div>I'm thinking so. They really need to package off some of their PGs for a PF. I'm thinking they have a deal in the works with Miami. The Heat are searching for a PG, and shopping Haslem, and the Rockets have a solid options to choose from.
Tracy McGrady, Bonzi Wells, Mike James, Steve Francis, Rafer Alston, Luther Head, Aaron Brooks, Kirk Snyder, and John Lucas. We've had Atlanta stockpile forwards, Houston stockpiling guards. I'm just waiting for somebody to create an all-big man team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Jul 19 2007, 04:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm just waiting for somebody to create an all-big man team.</div>Portland was pretty piled last season at C and PF.
Houston should look in free agency to get a veteran PF who won't demand a big contract. I believe I've brought this guy up before but P.J. Brown would be a great fit. Despite aging he proved last year that he still has the ability to start and contribute to the team. Saldy, Brown, will not bring post scoring to the table. Luckily for Houston, they aren't in the same situation Chicago was. Yao is a solid low post scorer while Chicago starts Ben Wallace who has very little offensive capabilities. The Rockets should also look at Stromile Swift. Swift won't be hard to pry away from Memphis as they are developing Hakim Warrick at the PF slot. The Grizzlies won't have alot of interest in a backup PG with Mike Conley Jr and Kyle Lowry on their squad. The Rockets have other potential trade pieces though, it shouldn't be too hard to get Swift. --
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jul 19 2007, 04:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Think the Rockets are regreting the Howard/James trade right now?</div>No, it still was the right move. Howard just wasn't getting it done at PF and we woul dhave needed a replacement anyway. last year the Rockets had no depth at PG, now the Rockets have 2 players that are upgrades over Alston. Alston and a package of draft picks/expiring contracts can land a better PF than Howard was.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Rockets should also look at Stromile Swift.</div>He was a trainwreck in 05-06 for the Rockets, he simply isn't a great fit.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Jul 19 2007, 04:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Rockets should also look at Stromile Swift. Swift won't be hard to pry away from Memphis as they are developing Hakim Warrick at the PF slot. The Grizzlies won't have alot of interest in a backup PG with Mike Conley Jr and Kyle Lowry on their squad. The Rockets have other potential trade pieces though, it shouldn't be too hard to get Swift.--</div>I'm not sure if I'd want to give up Stro though. He did a good job for us with limited minutes off the bench last season (8 points 5 rebounds.) With us waiving Johnson, and Warrick probably playing some SF, we'll need another big man to help backup Gasol and Milicic. And like you said, right now the Rockets are trying to pawn off some PGs, but the Grizzlies are in no need at all for another PG right now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Lefty @ Jul 19 2007, 04:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Luther Head for Brian Cook!</div>Bleh. We have enough shooting. We need more of an athletic, defensive presence next to Yao Ming.
Ehh im not sure how helpful this will be. Houston now has a selfish point guard to replace the other selfish PG we had in Rafer Alston only that this one can score more. Im not really thrilled about the trade but it may help the team. Hopefully this can help out the team. All I know is that Houston better get some big men
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jul 19 2007, 04:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Bleh. We have enough shooting. We need more of an athletic, defensive presence next to Yao Ming.</div>The Rockets really need Haslem. I wonder how interested the Heat would be in for a player like Rafer Alston. They are shopping for a point guard, and Alston could fit in with that team. Or maybe Brooks, while his stock is semi-high after the summer league?
