Francis Traded To Rockets
The Houston Rockets and Vancouver Grizzlies have agreed on a 10-player trade that will give the Rockets the rights to Maryland guard Steve Francis, the Grizzlies' first-round pick in the 1999 NBA draft, a television station reported Thursday.
KRIV-TV of Houston reported Thursday night that the trade, which would be one of the largest in league history, will be announced Friday after it is approved by the league.
Besides Francis, the No. 2 overall pick behind Elton Brand of Duke in June's NBA draft, the Grizzlies also would send Tony Massenburg, Lee Mayberry, Makhtar Ndiaye, Rodrick Rhodes and Michael Smith to the Rockets.
The Rockets would give up Antoine Carr, Michael Dickerson, Othella Harrington and Brent Price and a future first-round draft pick, the station said.
Rockets spokesman Tim Frank declined comment, which is Houston team policy.
Ndiaye is being traded for salary cap purposes, the station said.
The Grizzlies had been shopping Francis to several teams. The player, who averaged 17 points a game last season at the University of Maryland, has said he would not play for the Grizzlies.
Before playing for the Terrapins, Francis played one year for San Jacinto Junior College in Pasadena, Texas, a Houston suburb.
Reports had persisted that the Grizzlies and Detroit Pistons were near a deal, but that Houston was a likely destination for Francis if negotiations soured.
Earlier, the Grizzlies also talked to the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors about the 6-foot-3 Francis.
©1999 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed