Steve Francis to Washington???

[fixer26er]

I just heard on ESPNEWS that Orlando could be moving Steve Francis to either Washington or Seattle. Has anyone heard anything else about this?

[afparent]

I wouldn't be suprised. He apparently does not want to play in Orlando and after the Vancouver incident, Orlando has to take him seriously. I am sure he would want to play at home, but how many more Maryland players are we going to have?

[kappaluvacee]

Francis isn't a good fit for Washington unless they unload Stackhouse. I'm thinking Seattle for Ray Allen.

[SKINtil8tin]

Wouldn't mind if he was the next Maryland player to become a Wizard. We just lost Baxter so it would even things out.:cool:

[BlitzFiftySix]

Well - they lost Lonnie Baxter in the expansion draft tonight, so there is room for another Terp on the roster.

[BlitzFiftySix]

Question is, who do you give up for him?

[Renegade7]

Wow, I most be slow. Since when has Steve Francis been with the Magic? Did I miss something? Someone fill me in before my head explodes!

:thud:

[SKINtil8tin]

Stackhouse for one.

[Hooper]

We should pass because he doesn't.

[afparent]

Originally posted by Renegade7
Wow, I most be slow. Since when has Steve Francis been with the Magic? Did I miss something? Someone fill me in before my head explodes!

:thud:

The big rumour is the Magic are going to trade McGrady to Houston for Francis, Mobley, and someone else. One of the agents of the players involved said it is almost a done deal.

[Skinned]

Francis to Washington wouldn't surprise me at all. The question is what would we be giving up in return. You would think that we would force them to take one of our guards (Hughes, Arenas, Stackhouse) and then they would probably want our #5 pick. I would not give up Kwame in this deal. We cannot trade big for more small at this point.

[Buford]

Francis comes home....puts on his UMD 23......Bufford is happy again

[Skinned]

Another thing to think about is that this would probably go down as a three-way trade and that we would potentially receive a big man as well, possibly Kelvin Cato. That also means that we would probably give some role players up, possibly Jeffries.

[fixer26er]

Originally posted by Skinned
Another thing to think about is that this would probably go down as a three-way trade and that we would potentially receive a big man as well, possibly Kelvin Cato. That also means that we would probably give some role players up, possibly Jeffries.

I would say Laettner over Jeffries. He's more valuable because his numbers are off the books after this year.

[Fatty P For The Pulitzer]

Arenas would have to be part of the deal, because he is essentially a poor-man's Stevie Franchise right now, we don't need 2 high salaried shooting PGs. Arenas ($9.4) and the 5th (approx. $2.2) would work out salary-wise with Franchise ($11.4), but I would not do that. If it counted as our future first we owe Orlando, I might be okay with it, but I'd rather stick with Arenas and the pick. Hopefully, EJ can get through to Arenas this year and get him to pass more with a healthy Hughes and a more experienced Hayes and Kwame.

[Buford]

did anybody else hear this?

[monkey66]

I haven't heard a thing or seen anything online...

[fixer26er]

Originally posted by Bufford
did anybody else hear this?

Watch ESPNEWS. They keep mentioning it, but they are not giving details. I am sure that they will mention it on the 11:00 P.M. SportsCenter.

[Buford]

I watched ESPN News for like 20 min and didn't hear a thing about Washington besides us taking Deng at #5

[fixer26er]

Originally posted by Bufford
I watched ESPN News for like 20 min and didn't hear a thing about Washington besides us taking Deng at #5

I have heard it twice, but not in the last half hour. I guess just watch the 11:00 P.M. SportsCenter.

[nfchamp1]

Originally posted by Skinned
Francis to Washington wouldn't surprise me at all. The question is what would we be giving up in return. You would think that we would force them to take one of our guards (Hughes, Arenas, Stackhouse) and then they would probably want our #5 pick. I would not give up Kwame in this deal. We cannot trade big for more small at this point.

I like Stevey Franchise but I wouldn't give up Arenas for him. They are both undersized shooting guards forced to play point. If we didn't already have Arenas I wouldn't mind trading him for Stackhouse, Hughes or a big other than Kwame.

The Wizards is not a good fit for him. Let's let our young guys grow. The Wallaces and Rip Hamilton in Detroit should be lesson enough for us. Let the Wiz build for a championship in 3 to 4 years rather than the playoffs next year as they always do.

[method man]

I think the only reason stevie franchise would want to come here is because this is his hometown area. we need to prove to francis and his agent that with his help we can go to the playoffs. however i am not really for or against this trade. arenas and francis are two of a kind. according to stats, one of the only things arenas is beating francis in is points. francis averaged only 17 ppg last year. i think van gundy tried to make him more of a legitimate point guard. if we are trying to get francis, it is for the money from marketing scales. if this trade involves our no. 5 pick then screw it. francis not wanting to play in orlando definitely lowers orlando's bargaining power. so if we are going to pull of a trade then it is going to be arenas and 500k roster filler for francis (some options: draft the 2nd round pick and include, dixon, jeffries). altho this will not be a great basketball move on our part; this will be a stroke of genius for susan "the stupid" omalley.

[Buford]

Sportscenter....with Marc Stein calling in just talking about Orlando and Houston. Nothing about Washington. He does ask "Where will Francis go next?".......saying he wouldn't be happy in Orlando.

No Bullets talk.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62230-2004Jun22.html

Francis Looks for a Way to Avoid Orlando
Guard's Agents Look for Other Suitors as Thursday's Trade Deadline to Magic Looms
By Greg Sandoval and Steve Wyche
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, June 23, 2004; Page D01


The representatives for Houston Rockets guard Steve Francis tried yesterday to prevent him from being traded to the Orlando Magic by seeking a third team willing to take part in a blockbuster NBA deal, a source close to the talks said.



The Rockets and Magic are close to an agreement to swap Francis and Tracy McGrady, the NBA's leading scorer, in a deal that involved four other players. But Francis would prefer to play for a playoff contender and his District-based agents, Jeff Fried and Nate Peake, contacted more than five NBA teams yesterday about trading a player to Orlando for Francis should the Rockets and Magic complete their deal, the source said.

Each of the teams contacted by the agents expressed interest in Francis but had to address their own salary cap issues, said the source.

The source said the Rockets and Magic have decided to wait until after Thursday's NBA draft to finalize the trade.

Fried told reporters yesterday morning that Francis was unhappy with the proposed trade and that while the 6-3 point guard and three-time all star has nothing against the Magic organization, he wishes to continue to play for a playoff contender. The Rockets were 45-37 last season and made the playoffs for the first time in five years.

"[Francis] was in the playoffs and helped the Rockets make a run on the Los Angeles Lakers," Fried said. "He's already been through a rebuilding period."

Francis could not be reached for comment last night but in an interview with the Houston Chronicle on Monday, he said he would miss playing for Houston should he be traded.

"I thought we were really building something, something very good in Houston," Francis told the Chronicle. "Obviously, that's not the direction they want to go. I still think we could be a very good team."

Should Francis' agents find a way to get him out of Orlando, it would be the second time that they helped move him to a team more to his liking.

The Vancouver Grizzlies drafted Francis, then a junior from the University of Maryland, with the No. 2 pick in the 1999 draft but traded him to the Rockets in an 11-player, three-team blockbuster deal after Francis balked at playing for the Grizzlies.

The prospect of the trade -- which would involve two of the NBA's brightest stars -- had officials around the league buzzing.

Under the terms of the proposed trade, the Magic would send McGrady and former Washington Wizards Juwan Howard and Tyronn Lue to the Rockets for Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato.

McGrady is approaching the final year of a seven-year, $93 million contract and in recent weeks he had warned Magic executives that unless they dramatically boosted the team's talent level he would test free agency.

McGrady, 25, won the NBA scoring title last season with a 28-point average but has a reputation for being selfish. The question for the Rockets is how McGrady would fare if he joined Houston center Yao Ming, another of the league's most popular players, in an offense that revolves around the 7-foot-4 Yao.

Should the deal go through, the Magic would get one of the NBA's most consistent guards. Francis joined Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Grant Hill this season as the only players in NBA history to average 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in each of their first five years.

But Francis clashed at times this season with first-year coach Jeff Van Gundy. The 6-3 guard was reportedly unhappy about the Yao-first offense

[Skinned]

What I don't get is why Orlando would continue making this deal for Francis if they are going to have to deal him. Larry Bird has come out and said that his offer from Indiana is better than Houston's. It included a package of Bender, Harrington, Artest (not all 3 but probably 2 of them at least) and their 1st rounder. If I was Orlando, I would prefer that deal.

[Skins11]

Damn it, if only Stackhouse could somehow magically disappear in such a trade, and we keep Arenas. I wouldn't mind having two scoring PG's playing as long as stupid Stackhouse is far away from DC.

[REDALERT]

NO WAY! Aerenas for Francis and our #5. Oh heLL NO.....

Aerenas is coming along great playing with Hughes and Francis is not the answer. Now! what I might see us doing is shipping our #5 pick and maybe Stack and someone else like Dixon or Blake. That way, the Magic get the players they want and also have 2 high first rounders to help build around.


Who knows! anythings possible. But if were looking to get Francis outta mere publicity, I see forget it:( .

[jbooma]

It will be interesting to see if the wizards pick for them or Orlando on Thursday. Maybe Arenas and the Coach just don't get along.

[BlitzFiftySix]

I wish Orlando could trade Francis back to the Terps. They could use him this year.

[Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40]

Originally posted by BlitzFiftySix
I wish Orlando could trade Francis back to the Terps. They could use him this year.

The Terps wouldn't need Francis. They are going to have a great lineup this year, and I think they will end as a nationally ranked team. They have D.J. Strawberry, who will be much better with a year of experience and hopefully as a starter. They will also have Travis Garrison, John Gilchrist, Nik Caner-Medley, and many role players.

[Buford]

I agree. The Terps could be the best team in the ACC this year. Duke lost a number of guys and their top recruit. Terps only lost Smith who I liked but was never more than a quicker Sleepy Randall.

This is now Gilchrist and Nik's team, hopefully Mike Jones' also. The era of Juan, Steve and Lonnie is fully gone now. Last year was just emotional leftovers from that.

[luckydevil]

Arenas is younger, cheaper, and just as good as Francis.


I agree. The Terps could be the best team in the ACC this year. Duke lost a number of guys and their top recruit. Terps only lost Smith who I liked but was never more than a quicker Sleepy Randall.

This is now Gilchrist and Nik's team, hopefully Mike Jones' also. The era of Juan, Steve and Lonnie is fully gone now. Last year was just emotional leftovers from that.

Wake, Gtech, and UNC will be right there.

It's Gilchrist's team, Nik for the most part was awful last year.

[Buford]

Nik was trying to take the lead roll....and its just not for him. Nothing bad about it.

I'm not saying those other teams won't be good. But this roster and system have been in place awhile now. Something about Maryland and Duke in the ACC. UNC will be up there also. The rest are just a half-step behind.

[RaleighSkinsMann]

Im a maryland fan living in raleigh, nc...I'm more worried about wake forest and georgia tech than i am about duke and unc........duhons gone he was there floor general, and unc wont be right until roy williams can get his own players.

[Buford]

nobody said those teams would be bad. But the ACC Tourney Champs are coming back pretty much in one piece. They turned it on at the right time....at the Tourney this year is at the MCI Center. About time we got a hometown crowd.

[luckydevil]

I'm not saying those other teams won't be good. But this roster and system have been in place awhile now. Something about Maryland and Duke in the ACC. UNC will be up there also. The rest are just a half-step behind.

Yes as a program, we are better than Wake and Gtech.

Team and talent wise they are just as good as us, if not better.

Paul for Wake is the best pg in the nation.