Steve Francis traded to Memphis (UPDATE 2)

Steve Francis will wind up with the Grizzlies, after all. Not the Vancouver Grizzlies -- the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Houston Rockets announced Wednesday they've dealt the injured former superstar to Memphis along with a 2009 second-round pick and cash. The Rockets get a conditional 2011 second-round pick.

The second-round pick going to Memphis was originally acquired from the Grizzlies in a 2008 draft night deal. Francis has not played for the Rockets this season after having surgery on a torn quadriceps tendon back in February. You may recall how Francis balked at playing for the Vancouver Grizzlies after he was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in 1999. His rights were traded to Houston in a three-team, 11-player deal.

More later as details become available.

UPDATED: Francis is in the final year of a two-year deal that pays him $2.6 million this season. That money would come off Memphis' books in July. For Francis, he gets a chance to get some minutes, test his knee, and decide if he can continue his career. For the Grizzlies, the deal was mostly about reaquiring their 2009 second-round pick, which went to Houston as part of separate deals in which Houston got Donte Green and Joey Dorsey.

UPDATED Dec. 25, 12:23 p.m.: The cash involved in the deal is a nice holiday gift for Memphis. Houston pays Francis' contract plus a little more, a person familiar with the deal said. The maximum cash allowed to change hands in a trade is $3 million, so it sounds like Memphis got a little less than that.

Steve Francis traded to Memphis (UPDATE)

it takes a special kind of player to be a scoring point guard AND experience success at the pro level. marbury, francis, and iverson all came out within a few years of one another, and although iverson took it farther than any of the others, the three of them haven't enjoyed a single championship and are often cancerous to team play. they all had all the talent in the world, but one player just can't do EVERYTHING, no matter how much marbury or francis wants to, and they just won't allow anyone to help.

Steve Francis traded to Memphis (UPDATE)

Somebody tell me how this benefits the Rockets...they give up a player (I know he has not played), cash and a 2nd round pick next year for a conditional second round pick in 2 years? What if Francis can't play? What pick do the Rockets get then, anything? If not, you paid someone to take a player you could have just released.

expat67 Reputation: 68 Level: Pro Since: Sep 1, 2006	Posted on: December 24, 2008 1:51 pm Score: 54 Steve Francis traded to Memphis (UPDATE) LOL, the spoiled brat gets his due. Enjoy Stevie "Franchise" Memphis. [ Reply to Comment ]
Doctor Monkey Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 8, 2006	Posted on: December 24, 2008 2:20 pm Score: 95 Whatever happened too..... Didn't this guy used to be good once? [ Reply to Comment ]
RocketAstroFan Reputation: 85 Level: All-Star Since: Feb 21, 2007	Posted on: December 24, 2008 2:40 pm Score: 67 Steve "Franchise"... Wow! This dude is as overrated as a player, as anybody has seen in ages. He never took the next step to become a superstar that he thought he was. His work ethic sucks ASS! Good luck Stevie... your stay in Memphis and the NBA is going to be short. [ Reply to Comment ]
titans51pitch Reputation: 91 Level: All-Star Since: Nov 20, 2006	Posted on: December 24, 2008 3:13 pm Score: 91 Marbury/Francis could contend for a title. Marbury and Francis should team up and contend for a title... however, the title they would contend for is the Utah high school girls state championship. [ Reply to Comment ]
boothe Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 8, 2006	Posted on: December 24, 2008 3:35 pm Score: 95 Steve Francis traded to Memphis (UPDATE) Wow, I didnt even know he was still on a NBA roster! [ Reply to Comment ]
aldavis222 Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: Dec 21, 2006	Posted on: December 24, 2008 3:57 pm Score: 72 Steve Francis traded to Memphis (UPDATE) it takes a special kind of player to be a scoring point guard AND experience success at the pro level. marbury, francis, and iverson all came out within a few years of one another, and although iverson took it farther than any of the others, the three of them haven't enjoyed a single championship and are often cancerous to team play. they all had all the talent in the world, but one player just can't do EVERYTHING, no matter how much marbury or francis wants to, and they just won't allow anyone to help. [ Reply to Comment ]
canes0026 Reputation: 83 Level: All-Star Since: Aug 29, 2008	Posted on: December 24, 2008 4:59 pm Score: 83 Steve Francis traded to Memphis (UPDATE) What was the point of this trade? The Rockets traded a player, cash and a 2nd round pick for a future 2nd round pick. Does that make any sense to anybody? [ Reply to Comment ]
LordGalaban Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 17, 2006	Posted on: December 24, 2008 5:25 pm Score: 92 Steve Francis traded to Memphis (UPDATE) all about cap room for the rockets they drop frances contract and the cap hit that comes with it [ Reply to Comment ]
balrog01 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: May 17, 2008	Posted on: December 24, 2008 7:20 pm Score: 94 Steve Francis traded to Memphis (UPDATE) Somebody tell me how this benefits the Rockets...they give up a player (I know he has not played), cash and a 2nd round pick next year for a conditional second round pick in 2 years? What if Francis can't play? What pick do the Rockets get then, anything? If not, you paid someone to take a player you could have just released. [ Reply to Comment ]
CalGrad1991 Reputation: 83 Level: All-Star Since: Nov 9, 2008	Posted on: December 24, 2008 7:21 pm Score: 60 Steve Francis traded to Memphis (UPDATE) Juts think what a backcourt Memphis could have if they traded for Starbury. They would be the All Useless Team. [ Reply to Comment ]

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