I personally don't think this is a robbery - Orlando might have even gotten the better of the deal, getting 3 starters in exchange for one.
Despite all this talk of Francis's "selfishness," the fact remains that he's one of the top young point guards in the league. He's a great rebounder at point, and he's capable of running an up-tempo offense - one which will suit the young Magic. It's in the slow-down game where he struggles.
Concur.
ESPN ran a stat on who has averaged 15pts 5rebs 5 assists for their 1st 5 NBA seasons. Oscar R, Magic, ____, and Steve Francis.
You can't suck and accomplish that. Or be so selfish as to accomplish 15 5 and especially 5 assists when only 3 other players in history have done this.
JVG was one of the worst coaches possible for Francis.
I say that even hearing from the board on how uncoachable Francis is, i believe he may be but i dont believe its forever.
Concur with Ted that Van Grunty will now force Yao to do the same thing he did with Patrick Ewing. Stand around the low post and kill all Yao mobility. Some boring no offense all defensive gruntfest. I hope not. Perhaps McGrady will force Van Grunty to think in terms of scoring.
Yao is soo the real thing with a good coach. A good coach would make this a McGrady-Yao and company a dream.
Reality,
Point taken Francis is one of only 3 PG to score 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists for his first 5 years.
However just to put things in perspective
Only 2 point guards have done following
4 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 17 ppg in each of their first 3 seasons
Oscar Robertson and .......................................................................................................................................................................... Damon Stoudamire
Not Magic, not Isiah, not Stockton, not Tiny Archibald, not Payton, not Kidd.
No point guard but 1 ever ......
Averaged 6 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 13.5 points, in his first 5 years and improved his FG%, 3 pt %, and PPG each and every year.
Not Magic, not Isiah, not Stockton, not Tiny Archibald, not Damon, not Kidd, not even Oscar Robertson.
Only Gary Payton did
No point guard but 1 ever .....
Avg 14 ppg, 6.2 rbs, 9.2 ast, 2 steals, and less than 3.4 to's per game
Not Magic, not Isiah, not Stockton, not Tiny Archibald, not Damon, not Payton, not even Oscar Robertson.
Only Jason Kidd did
You make a million and one different "combination of stats" to prove one point or another, all of which don't prove squat. Is Damon better than "ANY" of the point guards who didn't accomplish what he did? We all know the answer to that.
Francis isn't a terrible player, he has some very good qualities. He is still a turnover machine, who hasn't improved his game much at all in 5 years (look at his FG%, FT%, and 3 PT% of his career), who had not played a playoff game until Yao's second season.
The players who most compare to Francis stat wise over his career are in order
Warren Jabali 91.1%
Mike Bibby 90.6%
Jason Terry 90.4%
Cuttino Mobley 90.3%
Vince Carter 90.1%
Derek Anderson 90.1%
