Vancouver AGGRESSIVELY shopping Francis

[W <titans@ihug.com.au>]

Vancouver Shopping Francis According to the Sun-Sentinel Steve Francis
to the Heat
                    Rumors Continue to Swirl. The Vancouver Grizzlies,
fearful their decision to draft Steve
                    Francis will backfire, are aggressively pursuing
trades and have talked with the Heat.
                    Personnel executives from several NBA teams
confirmed the Grizzlies have aggressively
                    approached the Heat about Francis, the second
overall pick in the June NBA Draft.
                    Francis, one of two top-10 draft picks who remain
unsigned, apparently still does not
                    want to play for Vancouver. The Grizzlies are afraid
if they sign the University of
                    Maryland guard, he will be miserable and
unproductive in Vancouver. Those close to the
                    Heat, however, say the Grizzlies are more interested
in a deal than the Heat is. Jeff Fried,
                    Francis'agent, said he is not aware of the Heat
pursuing a trade for Francis. Miami coach
                    Pat Riley insists he won't trade P.J. Brown, but
rumors persist that the Heat might deal
                    Brown to Vancouver for Francis.

Warwick