Posted by djsunyc:

talent is one thing.

$60+ million owed through 07/08 is another.

briggs, first it was ratliff, now it's francis.

"this is your brain on drugs..."

if ratliff was the conduit to get me james and patterson, i would do it.

if that isnt there, would i take steve francis for penny hardaways contract, absolutely.

like someone said
A its not our money
b were never going to be under the cap
c. when you have a chance to improve the team you do it.

now like i said id rather get into a scenario where i can get TOR and POR into a deal, because I like those players for this team. those guys are battle tested vets in their prime and play two way basketball. to take on ratliff for two more years--yeah, i would do it.

Posted by tomverve:

Posted by bigbeast:

Comparing Francis Shooting percentages to qrich is idiotic. Q-Rich is a specialist. If his threes are off he's worthless on O. Francis can put the ball on the floor, penetrate, dish or take it all the way to the rack.

I brought up Q as a reference to show how poor of a jump shooter Francis is. Nowhere did I say anything like "Q is a better offensive player than Francis." If you can't grock that, one has to wonder who the idiotic one here is. (hint: McK1 loves the idiots)

Maybe idiotic was wrong choice of words. Not trying to cause friction, just trying to point out that Francis can def. work here. His shooting % will go up and Turnovers will go down if he is moved off the ball as he would be in Knick offensive schemes.

Bringing him here is being innovative. Not too many teams would be able too match up with the three guard lineup. Marbury at the top with Craw and Fran on the wings. Teams will have trouble keeping that trio in front of them. Knicks went to the finals with Spree, Hou and Ward/Childs. Teams couldn't matchup. Now Knicks ran into trouble the folling years only because Ewing was old, Johnson wasn't the same player after back injuries. But this team is set up front with Curry 23, Frye 22.

problem is, can't see Magic giving away a talent like Fran, for an expiring contract.

Posted by SlimPack:

I dont understand why all of you guys want francis, to me he seems to be the selfish ball hoging cancer, that blueseats thinks marbury is. wasnt he JUST suspended for conduct detrimental to the team?

Slim, I know you're just being brief, but in all my criticizing of Steph I've never called him selfish or a ball hog, and never called him a cancer until he was looking like he didn't want to be here a couple of short weeks ago.

Maybe it's a subtle distinction but I've called him a ball dominator. Selfish and ball hog suggests that it's a conscious, greedy effort. I don't think it's that from Steph, I just don't think he's that smart or intuitive an orchestrator, so he ball dominates as he thinks and figures out how to orchestrate. But Larry's working on that.

As for the cancer thing, he just seems to be something of a diva. Massages instead of practice, "All Alone", telling coaches to shove their criticisms, not buying into coaches systems, leading thru intimidation, playing the blame game, moping around and looking defeated, etc. I think it is there, regardless of the ball hogging, where he is most destructive; and why even now, while his floor play has been much improved, I still don't trust him long term.

When Isiah was asked about his draft picks and what they had in common he gave a response I found very interesting. Now in no way did he relate it to Steph, but I certainly wondered. He said when you get these four year collage guys they come with good work ethics and no entourages. Steph just strikes me as one of these pimp, diva stars with an entourage. Some speculated that was a reason for wanting to get out of Minny, to get back with his homies as much as his family.

I actually have no idea if Steph truly is an entourage guy, but he fits the formula of a prodigal star coming out early and playing locally. And it was a concern of Isiah's that he NOT be drafting those types. Something with all my hate I'd never have given a thought to.

Anyway, not trying to make this about Steph, just don't want people thinking I subscribe to every cheap shot against him. At the same time I think there is something about tweeners with attitudes, like Steph and Francis, that makes them hard to fit, and one can't take that something for granted, one does need to proceed with caution. And it doesn't help one's flexibility that they're radically over paid.