Steve Francis comes full-circle

We have always heard that a sports career could be here today, and gone tomorrow, but athletes seldom pay attention. When you’re an athlete, it doesn’t matter what sport you play, when you’re on the field(or the court), you feel invincible. Nothing can touch you. No one can tell you what to do. You have all the control. After all, you have the talent. The team needs you. You don’t need the team.

This is the attitude Steve Francis began his career with. Who would want to play in Vancouver? Not Steve Francis, but as fate would have it, it all started with the Grizzlies, and now it all ends with the Grizzlies.

June-30-1999- With the Second pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, the Vancouver Grizzlies select… Steve Francis.

The look on Steve’s face said it all. ‘What? No Way! Where’s Vancouver?’ Francis cited the fact that Vancouver was far from Takoma Park, Maryland, and he wanted to be closer to his Maryland home. He also claimed a lack of endorsements, higher taxes, and having to adjust to a new country were reasons he couldn’t possibly play in British Columbia.

These are just some of the sacrifices you have to make when you're making millions of dollars, living the life of a star, and playing ball for a living. Francis didn’t see it that way. They needed him, not the other way around. After much reluctance on Francis’ part to join the Vancouver franchise(he refused to sign), he was subsequently traded to the Houston Rockets. He packed his bags and headed to Texas, leaving behind the struggling Grizzlies. This was the beginning of the end for the Grizzlies in Vancouver.

Steve Francis went on and took Houston by storm. He was one of the up and coming superstars of the NBA. Houston now knew him as simply, ‘the Franchise’. He was the new breed of scoring point guards that came into the league along with Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, and Baron Davis.

He gained many personal accolades in his five years in Houston and three straight all star berths, getting selected by the fans to start in the 2002, 2003, and 2004 NBA All-star games, but he along with the Rockets could not taste playoff success. The only playoff appearance of his career came in 2004 resulting in a first round exit. No one doubted his talent. He is one of only four players in NBA history that have averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in their first six seasons in the league. Despite all this, he had many knocks against his game. He had failed to make his team better, failed to win a playoff series, and his me-first attitude on and off the court was quickly souring on management.

Following the 2004 season, his numbers dropped after a change in offensive scheme by new coach Jeff Van Gundy. His scoring average came down from 21 ppg to 16.6 ppg. This caused many conflicts as Francis did not agree with Van Gundy and the new offense. Their relationship quickly deteriorated and the Rockets traded Francis to the Orlando Magic where he returned to form and put up numbers more customary to Stevie Franchise. It was all for naught though as the Magic failed to reach the postseason, while Francis became peeved at management for trading Cuttino Mobley.

The 2006 season began with Francis still disgruntled at the Magic Front Office for trading teammate and best friend Mobley the season before. The animosity towards management and dissatisfaction in general grew. Francis was suspended by the Magic for conduct detrimental to the team.

Francis also wasn’t the same player the league was accustomed to. He had lost a step or two, as he developed tendinitis in his right knee. He no longer had the athletic ability that separated him from the rest of the league. His speed, penetration, and his ability to fly to the hoop was his bread and butter.

Without the athleticism, he just didn’t look that pretty anymore. His cancerous attitude didn’t help. He was traded two days before the trade deadline to the New York Knicks, where delusional GM Isiah Thomas believed he could resurrect Francis’ career and pair him with Stephon Marbury to make a present day Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier/Earl ‘the pearl’ Monroe backcourt. We all know how that worked out.

Francis, clearly no longer ‘the Franchise’ struggled. His numbers dropped to new career lows, and his knees were getting worse. He looked slow, and his vertical was diminished. After only eight years in the league, It surprisingly began to look like Francis could no longer play at the NBA level. Francis finished the 2007 season with the Knicks playing only 44 games while averaging only 11.3 points.

After the season he was involved in another draft night deal being sent to Portland along with teammate Channing Frye for Zach Randolph. The deal was made by Portland to clear cap room for the future. Francis had two years left on his contract while Portland malcontent Zach Randolph had four years left. Francis never got an opportunity to wear the Blazer red and black as he was quickly bought out for the remainder of his contract for a reported $30 million, saving the Trail Blazers about $3.6 million.

Even though his skills had deteriorated, and his demeanor was frowned upon, the Houston Rockets decided to take a chance and bring him back to his old stomping grounds hoping the change to welcome scenery would rejuvenate Francis’ career. They signed him to a 2 year deal worth $6 million.

It didn’t work. The 2007-2008 season was even more disappointing for Francis. It was sad to see him struggle on the court. He had fallen far. The flash, the sizzle, the highlight dunks and crossovers were all gone. They were nothing but a distant memory. He was just a shell of his former self. He could not even crack the Rockets rotation, and sat on the bench. He played in only 10 games that year, averaging 5 points before he underwent season-ending surgery resulting from a quadriceps injury.

Francis chose to return to the Rockets for the 2008-2009 season. He came into camp back in shape, but couldn’t play as he was still recovering from injuries.

On December 24, 2008, the Houston Rockets traded Steve Francis and his $3 million salary to the now Memphis Grizzlies along with a 2009 2nd draft pick for a conditional 2nd round draft pick in 2011. The move was clearly made to get Francis’ $3 million salary off the books. It is doubtful Steve Francis will play again this year or in the future for that matter. Memphis made the deal to get back the 2nd round pick it sent Houston in a separate deal.

It all comes full circle for Steve Francis; A man blessed with the utmost talent on the basketball court, now reduced to cap clearing fodder. Less than 10 years later Francis comes back to the Grizzlies franchise; a franchise he ‘helped’ relocate to Memphis. He left as a proud man, with stars in his eyes, and his future and basketball in the palm of his hand. He comes back a broken man, his career coming to an end, and an honest example of how quickly it can all go away.

STEVE FRANCIS TIMELINE

-06/30/1999- drafted by Vancouver Grizzlies with the 2nd overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft.

-08/27/1999- traded to Houston Rockets in an 11-player deal after refusing to sign and play in Vancouver, B.C.

-05/09/2000- Steve Francis and Elton Brand are named the 1999-2000 NBA Co-Rookies of the Year

-01/26/2002- selected by the fans to start in his first All-Star Game

-08/26/2002- The Houston Rockets sign Steve Francis to a 6 year contract extension worth approximately $85 million

-01/23/2003- along with teammate Yao Ming, Francis is selected by the fans to start in his second All-Star Game

-01/29/2004- selected as a starter in his third consecutive All-Star game

-06/29/2004- The Houston Rockets trade Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato to the Orlando Magic for Tracy McGrady, Tyronn Lue, Juwan Howard, and Reece Gaines.

-02/22/2006- The Orlando Magic trade Steve Francis to the New York Knicks for Trevor Ariza, and Anfernee Hardaway

-06/28/2007- The New York Knicks trade Steve Francis, Channing Frye, and a 2008 2nd round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for Zach Randolph, Fred Jones, Dan Dickau, and Demetris Nichols

-07/10/2007- The Portland Trail Blazers reach a buy out with Steve Francis for $30 million. Francis becomes a free-agent

-07/19/2007- The Houston Rockets sign Steve Francis to a two-year deal worth $6 million

-12/24/2008- The Houston Rockets trade Steve Francis and a 2009 2nd round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for a conditional 2nd round pick in 2011