Would Nuggets take Steve Francis?

[Amente]

One free-agent forward who might interest the Knicks is rugged Denver rebounder Reggie Evans, but he might impede the development of second-year Knicks forwards Channing Frye and David Lee, which is a priority for Thomas.

If there's a major deal out there, it would have to be for Denver power forward Kenyon Martin. One NBA executive said the Nuggets are "desperate" to unload him and almost certainly could be forced to take Steve .Francis, who has three years worth $48.7 million left on his contract, if only because he costs so much less than Martin, who has five years left for $70.9 million.

But Martin is coming off microfracture knee surgery and was suspended by the Nuggets during the playoffs for behavioral problems. Denver asked for Frye in the past and likely would again, but the Knicks won't trade Frye.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/basket...orts-headlines

[Grego]

So Carmelo isn't enough? Martin too? Oh no!

[coyotes_geek]

If I were Denver I'd do it if that was the only way to get him off the team. KMart NEEDS to go and while Francis is definitely overpaid, overrated and selfish, he can score and Denver does not have a legitimate #2 scoring threat after Carmelo. Not to mention you save about $22 mil.

Not too many teams are going to want to take on KMart so you've got to take what you can get.

[Wiseacres]

Yeah, I think they would take Francis, but the Knicks would have to be nuts to take Martin, which of course means it's only a matter of time. I really don't think Denver wants to keep Martin, and I certainly hope the Spurs don't trade for him.

[admiralsnackbar]

Originally Posted by Wiseacres

I certainly hope the Spurs don't trade for him.

Don't worry about that, brother.

[Dunc n Dave]

Back when they were talking about the 8 team-19 player trade that was in the works, I posted a scenario where the Nuggets would trade Kenyon Martin and Andre Miller and get back Stephen Jackson (from Indiana) and Steve Francis. The contracts match up nearly perfectly. Of course this was before the trade for JR Smith. It is widely known that the Nuggets have been in desperate need of guards who can hit the 3. Getting Francis (and SJax) would definitely solve that problem.

Re-signing Reggie Evans would lessen the impact of losing Martin in the post, of course. With Smith, there is less of a need for Stephen Jackson, but Francis (selfishness & all) would be a TALENT upgrade over Andre Miller. Of course, we've seen what "Talent before TEAM" does to the Knicks...

Still, if they are interested in Francis, the deal would probably include either Miller or Boykins, since they traded Watson cuz they couldn't get him any playing time last year behind Miller & Boykins.

[scheely]

Boo Martin

[babalanja]

If the Nuggets were planning to ship Martin out for Francis w/o getting another big man in return, wouldn't that make them more likely to match Elson's offer?

[Wiseacres]

Originally Posted by babalanja

If the Nuggets were planning to ship Martin out for Francis w/o getting another big man in return, wouldn't that make them more likely to match Elson's offer?

You would think so.

[pjjrfan]

so now you'll have two ball hogs. Boykins and Francis. Although, I got no problem with Boykins cause he is smarter in how he uses his quickness and ball skills. Francis will just run out the clock with some wierd logic.

[mavsuck]

He is an awesome player and can do some pretty awesome dunks but after he got traded to Orlando he wasn't a team player. I wouldn't really want him on my team because he is really more of a wild card and doesnt listen very well. However, when he was in the playoffs with Houston against the Lakers, he was a diehard always going to the basket and the only person keeping the rockets in the game.

[coyotes_geek]

Originally Posted by mavsuck

I wouldn't really want him on my team because he is really more of a wild card and doesnt listen very well.

I wouldn't want Francis on my team either, but that's not the issue here. The issue is who do you want on your team less, Francis or Martin?

[Wiseacres]

Originally Posted by coyotes_geek

I wouldn't want Francis on my team either, but that's not the issue here. The issue is who do you want on your team less, Francis or Martin?

Geez, that's like asking which boot do you want to get kicked in the ass with, left or right?

[mavsuck]

Like I said earlier Francis is an awesome player but he is not a team leader. He always wants the ball and has confidence in himself which is great, but he doesnt have the leadership abilities that he thinks he has. He needs to understand that he is just a really good role player and if he does he will help out the nuggets a lot. But I have a feeling that his mindset isnt going to allow him to do that.

[Amente]

Originally Posted by coyotes_geek

I wouldn't want Francis on my team either, but that's not the issue here. The issue is who do you want on your team less, Francis or Martin?

Originally Posted by Wiseacres

Geez, that's like asking which boot do you want to get kicked in the ass with, left or right?

well, since Francis has the smaller contract I guess I rather chance it with Francis which I guess is like answering Wiseacres question with "ah, which boot or foot is smaller?"

[coyotes_geek]

Originally Posted by Wiseacres

Geez, that's like asking which boot do you want to get kicked in the ass with, left or right?

Pretty much. It's not a decision with a positive outcome no matter which way you go, but it's still one you have to make.

[Wiseacres]

Originally Posted by Amente

well, since Francis has the smaller contract I guess I rather chance it with Francis which I guess is like answering Wiseacres question with "ah, which boot or foot is smaller?"

Point taken I guess. Martin's contract runs to 2011, Francis has a player option in 2008, so you wouldn't have to put up with him as long. So, a lesser of two evils?

[NugzFan]

few people i woudlnt trade kmart for but francis is one of them.

[MrDeeds]

Francis is a loser. He'd fit in well in Denver.

[1SOTEX]

A while back I remember reading about how Carmelo & Francis do not get along at all.

[Den]

If they want to get rid of Kenyon Martin, then they'll have to. They have choice. Both players are, more or less, damaged goods.

[Grego]

Originally Posted by coyotes_geek

If I were Denver I'd do it if that was the only way to get him off the team. KMart NEEDS to go and while Francis is definitely overpaid, overrated and selfish, he can score and Denver does not have a legitimate #2 scoring threat after Carmelo. Not to mention you save about $22 mil.

Not too many teams are going to want to take on KMart so you've got to take what you can get.

Yes, and no. He does fill a role a little more than Martin, but he's probably worse of an attitude than Martin, which is hard to top. But then, it is Isiah. He can probably trade Francis back in a few years down the road.

[SF4L]

Milwaukee is looking for a player like S. Francis. Milwaukee is looking to trade Magloire.

Milwaukee could take on a Francis type contract...
http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/milwaukee.htm

[Grego]

Originally Posted by SF4L

Milwaukee is looking for a player like S. Francis. Milwaukee is looking to trade Magloire.

Milwaukee could take on a Francis type contract...
http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/milwaukee.htm

Bad bad bad move. Why? They have Redd who's their go to guy scorer. Then you have Bobby Simmons. They moved Desmond Mason because they had too many guys who were too similar.

Also remember, they have rookies who have short, cheap contracts. Francis would destroy cap room completely. He would not help and his contract is still too long to be useful to come off the books.

[SF4L]

Originally Posted by Grego

Bad bad bad move. Why? They have Redd who's their go to guy scorer. Then you have Bobby Simmons. They moved Desmond Mason because they had too many guys who were too similar.

Also remember, they have rookies who have short, cheap contracts. Francis would destroy cap room completely. He would not help and his contract is still too long to be useful to come off the books.

I'm glad you feel that way.

Poor Magloire...he just wants to go to a team like the Spurs for a season...help them win a championship...do a heck of a job that year...then look to get a mega deal from another team.

If we're about winning championships now...I'd figure a way to make it happen.

[Grego]

Originally Posted by SF4L

I'm glad you feel that way.

Poor Magloire...he just wants to go to a team like the Spurs for a season...help them win a championship...do a heck of a job that year...then look to get a mega deal from another team.

If we're about winning championships now...I'd figure a way to make it happen.

What do Spurs have to do with Francis? NY and Bucks can swap without Spurs being involved. I dont' see how that helps the Spurs though.

[SF4L]

Originally Posted by Grego

What do Spurs have to do with Francis? NY and Bucks can swap without Spurs being involved. I dont' see how that helps the Spurs though.

I'm just thinking about Duncan. With the aquisitions made...Duncan is going to have to play a lot of minutes durng the regular season. Doesn't bode well for post season if Duncan is worn out. A player like Magloire would probably be assurance that Duncan could be relieved during games enough so as to be fresh for the playoffs.

What does it have to do with Francis you ask...Bucks are looking for a SG - SF type to replace Magloire. Knicks are looking to reduce salary. Spurs have got expiring contracts and or draft rights.

[Grego]

Originally Posted by SF4L

I'm just thinking about Duncan. With the aquisitions made...Duncan is going to have to play a lot of minutes durng the regular season. Doesn't bode well for post season if Duncan is worn out. A player like Magloire would probably be assurance that Duncan could be relieved during games enough so as to be fresh for the playoffs.

What does it have to do with Francis you ask...Bucks are looking for a SG - SF type to replace Magloire. Knicks are looking to reduce salary. Spurs have got expiring contracts and or draft rights.

How do you know Duncan has to play a lot of minutes? The past two seasons he hasn't. It wasn't like Spurs had dominant big men then, either.

The only time Rasho put up big numbers was when Duncan was injured the previous year. Nazr was inconsistent. Duncan was very inconsistent during the season especially at the tail ends of long trips and back to back nights.

So I still don't see where Duncan plays more minutes? Parker has improved and hopefully Manu is healthy. Finley has shown he's adjusted.

I really don't see what's different for the Spurs. The big men changed, but that's about it. Maybe they'll proved some more scoring relief, but that won't change Duncan's minutes. Pop is smart enough to keep the minutes down, I think. He saw the benefit in the post season this past year, even with the plantar facisitis.

Jamal is not a 2 or a 3. Redd and Bobby Simmons make up their swing tandem. Their weakness is bench of course. Then point guard situation is a tad weak. They need to bolster their front line to help Bogut and Smith(who missed significant time).

But they don't need a guy like Francis who will try to be a big option.

[SF4L]

Originally Posted by Grego

How do you know Duncan has to play a lot of minutes? The past two seasons he hasn't. It wasn't like Spurs had dominant big men then, either.

The only time Rasho put up big numbers was when Duncan was injured the previous year. Nazr was inconsistent. Duncan was very inconsistent during the season especially at the tail ends of long trips and back to back nights.

So I still don't see where Duncan plays more minutes? Parker has improved and hopefully Manu is healthy. Finley has shown he's adjusted.

I really don't see what's different for the Spurs. The big men changed, but that's about it. Maybe they'll proved some more scoring relief, but that won't change Duncan's minutes. Pop is smart enough to keep the minutes down, I think. He saw the benefit in the post season this past year, even with the plantar facisitis.

Jamal is not a 2 or a 3. Redd and Bobby Simmons make up their swing tandem. Their weakness is bench of course. Then point guard situation is a tad weak. They need to bolster their front line to help Bogut and Smith(who missed significant time).

But they don't need a guy like Francis who will try to be a big option.

You just answered my concerns with the responses highlighted in bold.

As far as Milwaukee...they have said in reports that they were looking to get a quality PG or b/u SG to even consider trading Magloire.

[Grego]

Originally Posted by SF4L

You just answered my concerns with the responses highlighted in bold.

As far as Milwaukee...they have said in reports that they were looking to get a quality PG or b/u SG to even consider trading Magloire.

You can't ever replace Duncan. You have to accept it. Seemingly, Spurs seemed to gel when he was out, so it wasn't all bad.

Parker is continuing to grow and the team is learning to play better when he is sitting. So when Manu is injuried, should we worry about lacking a guy to replace him or Parker(who doesn't have a suitable backup it seems)? Spurs don't have a lot to offer for Magloire. He'll move, but not to the Spurs.

Duncan may or may not miss time next year. Hopefully its not during the post season. But there's no addition you can really put in there that can make up for his loss. Only a few would come close with KG, Rasheed, etc.

[NugzFan]

Originally Posted by MrDeeds

Francis is a loser. He'd fit in well in Denver.

[MrDeeds]

I think it would be funny too.