Steve Francis decides on Houston
Thursday, July 19th, 2007
by John
You probably already heard the news about Steve Francis turning down more lucrative opportunities from the LA Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, and Miami Heat to come back to Houston. It’s reported that Yao and Tracy McGrady recruited Steve to come back, and I guess it made a difference.
Still, I’m shocked he didn’t go to the Clippers to be with good friend Cuttino Mobley and business partner Sam Cassell for more money. Considering Cassell is old and Shaun Livingston blew out both knees last season, LA needs more guard help than the Rockets.
I’m not as excited about this move for the Rockets as the Mike James, Luis Scola and Bonzi Wells deals this off-season. I have a feeling that Francis hasn’t matured enough and will expect to plop himself back into the starting lineup like a few years ago before he was traded. Francis has that kind of ego, and perhaps his motivation to come back to Houston for less money is to prove the world wrong after the Magic, Knicks and Trailblazers gave up on him.
This is a dangerous and combustible addition, especially since I expect Mike James to start at point guard. Francis may think otherwise (that’s one of the Houston Chronicle writers wrote).
It would be one thing if Francis was on the tail-end of his career, was trying to win a ring, and was willing to play limited minutes a la Michael Finley with the Spurs. But Francis just turned 30 years old, and is probably a few more years away from taking the Finley route. Something tells me he still wants to be The Man.
You probably already heard the news about Steve Francis turning down more lucrative opportunities from the LA Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, and Miami Heat to come back to Houston. It’s reported that Yao and Tracy McGrady recruited Steve to come back, and I guess it made a difference.
Still, I’m shocked he didn’t go to the Clippers to be with good friend Cuttino Mobley and business partner Sam Cassell for more money. Considering Cassell is old and Shaun Livingston blew out both knees last season, LA needs more guard help than the Rockets.
I’m not as excited about this move for the Rockets as the Mike James, Luis Scola and Bonzi Wells deals this off-season. I have a feeling that Francis hasn’t matured enough and will expect to plop himself back into the starting lineup like a few years ago before he was traded. Francis has that kind of ego, and perhaps his motivation to come back to Houston for less money is to prove the world wrong after the Magic, Knicks and Trailblazers gave up on him.
This is a dangerous and combustible addition, especially since I expect Mike James to start at point guard. Francis may think otherwise (that’s one of the Houston Chronicle writers wrote).
It would be one thing if Francis was on the tail-end of his career, was trying to win a ring, and was willing to play limited minutes a la Michael Finley with the Spurs. But Francis just turned 30 years old, and is probably a few more years away from taking the Finley route. Something tells me he still wants to be The Man.