Magic have their own problems...

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-bk-francis031905,1,6163719.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true

By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted March 19, 2005, 10:32 PM EST


PORTLAND, Ore. -- Orlando Magic point guard Steve Francis was suspended indefinitely by the NBA on Saturday for kicking a league courtside photographer Friday night in Seattle.

The Sentinel has learned that the length of the suspension will be determined after the NBA reviews a videotape today or Monday of the incident, which was captured by another television crew.

Francis was suspended without pay for Saturday night's game in Portland against the Trail Blazers. He will miss the Magic's next game Monday in Charlotte, N.C., against the Bobcats -- and maybe more games -- if the NBA determines Francis' actions warrant a more serious punishment.

The league suspended Dennis Rodman for 11 games and fined him $25,000 in 1997 for kicking a courtside photographer in the groin.

Reached on his cell phone in Portland on Saturday, Francis told the Sentinel, "It's crazy. ..... I don't even want to talk about it until I speak to my agent."

Asked if he wanted a chance to tell his side of the story, Francis said, "It don't make a difference. The perception's out there, so it ain't going to make a difference what I say."

Francis is the third Magic player to have been suspended or fined within the past week. Forward Stacey Augmon was suspended for a game for abusing reporters, and guard DeShawn Stevenson was fined $7,500 for kicking a ball into the crowd at TD Waterhouse Centre. Both incidents occurred after last Sunday night's game against the New Jersey Nets.

Jeff Reinking, a photographer who works Seattle SuperSonics games for the league, said that Francis kicked him in the thigh early in the fourth quarter after falling on top of him. Reinking was stationed beneath the Magic's basket.

"I fell back, couldn't get away from him. Then he kicked me," the Seattle Post-Intelligencer quoted Reinking as saying. Reinking was being interviewed by league security official Robert Sales at the time.

The Sentinel reviewed a videotape by Orlando-based Sun Sports Network, which broadcast the game Friday night. It shows that after Francis' shot was blocked by SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis, he tumbled to the floor. He slides to the baseline, his legs in the air. His momentum carries him forward, where -- on the Sun Sports monitor -- it appears his legs are then pushed away by the photographer to the right.

Francis has an angry reaction, kicks out hard with his left leg and mutters something.

Fans near the baseline who saw the incident booed Francis the next time he handled the ball.

When Francis was asked by reporters after the game if he had kicked a photographer, he said, "No. ..... Uh, uh ..... I don't know what happened."

Francis said, "He [Reinking] threw my legs down, man. That was it."

The Francis matter adds to the turmoil of a coaching change for the Magic. Chris Jent replaced Johnny Davis on an interim basis after Davis was fired after Wedneday night's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Rookie Jameer Nelson replaced Francis in the lineup Saturday night against the Trail Blazers.



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yuck! another undersized combo guard is not the answer. Crawford is a nice 6th man. francis really isn't much of an upgrade at starting point guard over stephon. if he is an upgrade at all!

actually he might be a better big shot shooter who doesn't shy away from the ball in the stretch and is a better defender than Marbury. I wouldn't mine a marbury for francis swap but we still need a real SG.

in the end Francis will still leave us with an undersized SG like Marbury and we'll still be wondering if we should move him to SG but can't because he's too small, but it would be a slight improvement in the more tangible things like rebounding, defense and big shot taking. Both expire after 2009 but Marbury makes 3mil more..

PG-Francis
SG-Green or Raja Bell
SF-TT(Ariza once TT is traded
PF-Sweetney
C-Bogut or Chandler or Nene or Splitter
Bench: Crawford, nate robinson

Not Bad but again I really don't see Zeke trading Marbury

[Edited by - gunsnewing on 03/20/2005 15:28:53]

yeah but at least he plays defense, rebounds and doesn't shy away from the big play

Posted by EnySpree:

I already started a Francis suspension thread you blind bat!!!!

I never thought of Francis being a Knick though. They are the same player basically. Marbs used to be Francis as far as the dunking...the ankle injuries probably changed that a little.

Ray Allen has been mentioned and Maggette too.....We still have Crawford....Craw is supposed to be that type of player for us. Craw has the potential but will he reach it anytime soon like before next season?

If Isiah has a chance to get Ray Allen, Maggette, or Francis without loosing Marbs then that would be the thing to do.....The Knicks gotta get young yet they still have to get guys that are on the same playing level as Stephon.

Look at Washington with Hughes and Arenas.......whoever has the ball runs the point. That's old school like Jerry West and Gail Goodrich or Clyde and Earl.

Craw needs some more seasoning....teams that are sort of stuck with lopsided rosters like Seattle, Clippers, and Orlando might love to get Craw...especially if they can get a big man too.

not Ray Allen his contract will be a lot longer than Francis's and we really have zero chance at Maggette who would be the perfect fit. Raja Bell would be a nice inexpensive 6'5+ defensive SG to sign. or even trade for Finley short-term. or get Piertus when he becomes available. Francis is a much more exciting and all around better player than marbury.