I can't stand him, but the guy has been putting up numbers lately.

Assuming isiah gets rid of him, who needs him and when can we drop him off?

You can't deny the numbers he's put up over the course of his career. At the top of his game, Francis one of the best all-around guards in the NBA - he fills up a stat sheet and is very exciting to watch (think back to his performance against Washington, w/ his game winning shot). He can fill up a (fantasy) statsheet.

His chronic knee tendonitis will likely scare off potential trade partners, but certainly any team would consider him as great 3rd guard, if not a starter. He's a bit of a ball hog, so maybe his best fit is in a Microwave-type of role where he's given the green light all the time.

Looking around the league, these teams could use starting PGs:
Atlanta (Speedy is constantly injured), Memphis (they're a mess - maybe Lowry gets a shot?)

These might have a need for PG upgrade:
Milwaukee (Mo Williams FA), Indiana (Tinsley out?), Houston, Minnesota, Seattle (Ridnour/Watson), Clippers (Cassell is breaking down, Livingston is a long ways away from playing again), Sacramento (Bibby might be on his way out), Miami (Williams is always hurt, Payton is done)

I doubt Francis has a future in Memphis since he made a big fuss about the Grizzlies franchise before his draft. Maybe it was about not wanting to play in Vancouver - who knows. Pairing him w/ Gasol and the guys there would bring 'em back to a playoff contender.

Posted by technomaster:

You can't deny the numbers he's put up over the course of his career. At the top of his game, Francis one of the best all-around guards in the NBA - he fills up a stat sheet and is very exciting to watch (think back to his performance against Washington, w/ his game winning shot). He can fill up a (fantasy) statsheet.

His chronic knee tendonitis will likely scare off potential trade partners, but certainly any team would consider him as great 3rd guard, if not a starter. He's a bit of a ball hog, so maybe his best fit is in a Microwave-type of role where he's given the green light all the time.

Looking around the league, these teams could use starting PGs:
Atlanta (Speedy is constantly injured), Memphis (they're a mess - maybe Lowry gets a shot?)

These might have a need for PG upgrade:
Milwaukee (Mo Williams FA), Indiana (Tinsley out?), Houston, Minnesota, Seattle (Ridnour/Watson), Clippers (Cassell is breaking down, Livingston is a long ways away from playing again), Sacramento (Bibby might be on his way out), Miami (Williams is always hurt, Payton is done)

I doubt Francis has a future in Memphis since he made a big fuss about the Grizzlies franchise before his draft. Maybe it was about not wanting to play in Vancouver - who knows. Pairing him w/ Gasol and the guys there would bring 'em back to a playoff contender.

The Lakers if they can't get Kidd seem like a very likely landing spot.

I also forgot to say Houston.

HIs numbers are good but the player is a ball hog and stagnates the ball worse than Marbury.

Packaged with an asset, he can be moved.

Teams I see that Francis would flourish would be Atlanta, Cleveland and Minny.

Atlanta : team him up with Joe Johnson. Steve needs a SG that can cover his deficiencies which is handling the ball and Joe can do that. Problem is who do you trade for Stevie? Their only big contract is Joe and they need him to stay. Zaza Pachulia, Lue and Wright for Francis works contract wise with Lue and Wright ending contracts which we cna then buy out. Basically a Zaza for Stevie deal.

Cleveland : See Atlanta on what Stevie needs to flourish. LeBron is just what the doctor ordered, but again..Who do you trade that would benefit both teams? I ain't taking Hughes with his bloated contract. This would be a pure salary dump for us. Send Francis to Cleveland for Ira Newble, Eric Snow, Donyell Marshall and a future 1st round pick. Cut all 3.

Minny : This a looonnngg shot but I think Minny would bite at this offer. Stevie, Nate, Jamal and Frye for KG.

Posted by joec32033:

The Lakers if they can't get Kidd seem like a very likely landing spot.

Well, I think Phil Jackson has in the past said he's not interested in a short, ball-dominating PG. Then again... Kobe was awfully chummy with Stephon on his show, ya know, talking about their kids and all.

Actually, Collins is the prototypical Phil Jackson PG. Tall defender-type who can see over the defense. I wonder if the Lakers are still interested in Frye at all. (and if they're still interested in dumping Odom)

Posted by NYKBocker:

Teams I see that Francis would flourish would be Atlanta, Cleveland and Minny.

Atlanta : team him up with Joe Johnson. Steve needs a SG that can cover his deficiencies which is handling the ball and Joe can do that. Problem is who do you trade for Stevie? Their only big contract is Joe and they need him to stay. Zaza Pachulia, Lue and Wright for Francis works contract wise with Lue and Wright ending contracts which we cna then buy out. Basically a Zaza for Stevie deal.

Cleveland : See Atlanta on what Stevie needs to flourish. LeBron is just what the doctor ordered, but again..Who do you trade that would benefit both teams? I ain't taking Hughes with his bloated contract. This would be a pure salary dump for us. Send Francis to Cleveland for Ira Newble, Eric Snow, Donyell Marshall and a future 1st round pick. Cut all 3.

Minny : This a looonnngg shot but I think Minny would bite at this offer. Stevie, Nate, Jamal and Frye for KG.

i like the atlanta ONLY if we are targeting agents after marbury's contract is up. i think that year, the free agent crop is ridiculous like the 96 crop was (2010?). we need to probably keep lue for the season too as he is an experienced and solid point guard to spell collins.

a guard should not dribble the ball off his foot as much as francis does.

Posted by EnySpree:

Posted by joec32033:

I also forgot to say Houston.

Houston is like Memphis cuz they don't really have much to give.

Clevland is another team that has a pack of guys the knicks could get. Nothing cool about that rat pack though.

Houston Trade Breakdown
Outgoing

Juwan Howard
6-9 PF from Michigan
9.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.7 apg in 26.5 minutes

Bob Sura
6-5 from Florida State
No games yet played in 2006/07

Bonzi Wells
6-5 SG from Ball State
7.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.1 apg in 21.2 minutes
Incoming

Steve Francis
6-3 PG from Maryland
10.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.9 apg in 27.2 minutes
Change in team outlook: -6.8 ppg, -6.7 rpg, and +1.1 apg.

Cut Sura, Cut Wells(FA's at the end of next season). Juwanna Mann has next season and the season after, but we can plug him in next to Curry or as a pretty good scorer/post player off the bench.


From Memphis:

Memphis Trade Breakdown
Outgoing

Mike Miller
6-8 SF from Florida
18.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.3 apg in 39.1 minutes

Stromile Swift
6-10 PF from Louisiana State
7.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.3 apg in 19.3 minutes

Hakim Warrick
6-9 PF from Syracuse
12.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.9 apg in 26.2 minutes
Incoming

Steve Francis
6-3 PG from Maryland
10.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.9 apg in 27.2 minutes

Channing Frye
6-11 PF from Arizona
9.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 26.5 minutes
Change in team outlook: -18.8 ppg, -6.2 rpg, and -0.7 apg.


Successful Scenario

[Edited by - joec32033 on 17 April 2007 05:54]

we can probably drop him off at Penn Station, cuz the only way he leaves town is on a train ticket he buys himself... no one's going to trade for him.