Phil wants a Guard...Why aren't the Laker's going after Francis again?

thumpinghead · Star Player Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 5657

I don't understand it. We could have 50 points from our staring backcourt. We need athleticism and defense and scoring, a legit second option who can handle the ball. Steve Francis is an all-star, but even he knows he's not Kobe Bryant. Why wouldn't he want to play second fiddle to Kobe? Someone enlighten me on why we aren't pursueing him.

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Socks · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:28 am Post subject:

1) he's a pouty spoiled brat
2) he has one of the worst contracts in the L
3) his game is basically dribbling around for 20 seconds, then putting up a shot - not triangle worthy

thegreatest · Star Player Joined: 02 Sep 2002 Posts: 9911

francis and defense...

also might have to do with the fact that francis is shooting 26% from 3. and isn't what we need defensivly.

he also got mad about not playing the point, on this team running the tri, i don't think he'll be pleased.

thumpinghead · Star Player Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 5657

venturalakersfan · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:33 am Post subject:

Francis is overrated. For his salary, you could do better. But of course, most here would rather settle for less, as long as something is done.
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mporter · Starting Rotation Joined: 30 Oct 2005 Posts: 628

Francis is a good scorer, but I can't imagine him working within the confines of a structured offense, he's more of a free-lancer. Also, $14M, $15M, $16M, $17M...that's what "Franchise" is owed on an annual basis until 2009.

I think when Phil says he needs a guard, he doesn' t mean a star. He's just asking for a smart, serviceable guy who won't make a lot of mistakes. I'm guessing in the mold of a David Wesley, maybe?

venturalakersfan · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:34 am Post subject:

Wesley would be my top choice for the MLE this offseason.
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2Cleva · Star Player Joined: 17 Jun 2001 Posts: 9195

If Phil is talking, he's thinking of dealing for one now. Wesley makes sense. So does Eric Snow.

mporter · Starting Rotation Joined: 30 Oct 2005 Posts: 628

"Wesley would be my top choice for the MLE this offseason."

I too like Wesley, but Matt Harpring will also be a free agent after this season. With his shooting, toughness, and basketball IQ, he'd flourish in the triangle.

Socks · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:42 am Post subject:

RG73 · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Jul 2001 Posts: 11508

Drifts · Retired Number Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 28374

And 1 · Star Player Joined: 12 Apr 2001 Posts: 2586

Sage_10 · Star Player Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 6668

I haven't liked Francies since he said no to Vancouver, because he just didn't want to play there. He's spoiled and he tries to act too much like a hard @$$. I can't see him and Kobe meshing.

Socks · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:06 am Post subject:

Basically what I'm hearing from people here is that Lamar is a bad fit for the Lakers and he's on our team, so we should go for Francis as well. I just can't buy into that argument.

I'm not one of the Lamar bashers around here, so I can't agree there. Drifts, you say Lamar pouts, but c'mon, there's not even a comparison to the degree of pouting that Francis does. Lamar has never been benched for conduct detrimental to the team. We all know about Lamar's past trouble, but that's almost 3 years behind him without any other incidents while Francis has been trouble throughout his whole career and shows no signs of maturing.

Also, Lamar is by all accounts a good teammate, Phil and Kobe have said he's crucial to the team, so enough said. Regardless, if the Lakers are going to make a move for someone who doesn't have issues and is a high caliber player, Lamar is going to need to be part of that deal since he's our best trade asset, so he has value to the Lakers on the court and in trade talks.

Again, the bottom line here is that regardless of your feeling for Lamar, that doesn't justify bringing in a guy who is not going to bring this team a championship but will hang his albatross contract on this team's neck as well as bringing his piss poor attitude and poor fit. When you make the argument that despite all this you need to bring Francis on board you sound like another brilliant guy named Isiah who has taken this approach in NY.

filipensses · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:16 am Post subject:

My guess is Jalen Rose. There has been rumours about talks with the Knicks, and those Frye talks could very well be smokescreen...

He's a veteran and versatile big guard, and just in case there's still a 2007 plan, that's when his contract ends. The problem is that he has a huge contract, it would probably take a whole lot of our scrubs to get it done..
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Laker-Ryoku · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:27 am Post subject:

I dont like francis, but if Phil felt like he could work with him, Id do it. But can we get him without giving up Odom? Kobe and Francis carry the scoring load, Lamar sets it up, the front court just has to defend the paint, rebound and chip in here and there.

No way should we give up Odom for him.

pjiddy · Retired Number Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 29045

I don't know if I'm pro-Francis (his contract does concern me), but if "he forced his way out of Vancouver" is your primary concern, you need to consider that:

1) The guy was only 20 years old at the time. So it was an immature thing to say/do. John Elway did the EXACT SAME THING with the Colts (he threatened to play baseball if they drafted him) and the guy won 2 superbowl rings. So mark it up to some immaturity. Begrudging the guy for his whole life over this is just being petty, ignorant and unfair.

2) Anyone saying "Steve Francis can't play in a structured offense" also doesn't know what they're talking about. How do you know? Those are the offenses he played in--the freewheeling kind. He also knows that he's not a superstar anymore and just wants to play for a good team and win a ring. Don't hold his past against him. It's easy to be a rich young star and be fed the idea by entourage, marketers, agents, etc that you're a Superstar that should get to do what he wants. I think Steve Francis has been humbled by the trades and futility of seasons past. The guy is still a big guard that can score (don't forget, he had a really good series against us in the last year of the Shaq era) and I think he'd make a great combo with Kobe. It's just that contract i'd be worried about...

drzucchini · Franchise Player Joined: 28 Sep 2002 Posts: 16327

Savory Griddles · Starting Rotation Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 920

My gut feeling is that it wouldn't work out, but if it did, it would be glorious.

The Dagger · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:38 am Post subject:

orwell · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:50 am Post subject:

THE_SHOES · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:26 pm Post subject:

Fansince88 · Sixth Man Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 48

Francis sucks! He has rep of being a black hole, and he's #3 on Turnovers stats.

Afro · Starting Rotation Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 134

Do you guys think Phil Jackson could change Steve Francis attitude? If he can, Francis would be fit pretty good. Kobe's Ron Harper.

1. Steve Francis can hit mid-range shots. Triangle-fitting.
2. Kobe couldn't be double-teamed that often with Odom, Francis and Mihm playing.
3. Francis is big (6-3/195), could use his height defensively.
4. Francis would improve our rebounding, imagine Francis - Bryant - Odom would be no.1 in backcourt-rebounding.

Compare Ron Harper playing for the clippers, and Ron Harper playing for Phil Jackson:
LAC 93-94: 20,1ppg, 6,1rpg, 4,6apg, 3,2 TOs, .426 FG%, 17,8 attempts per game
CHI 94-95: 1,3 TOs, 6,4 attempts per game