Steve Francis & Grizzlies Greed

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

I was kind of hoping the Celtics would enter the Steve Francis
trade derby, but perhaps the Ursa arctos horribilises are attempting 
to extract too high of a price. As noted by Stephen A. Smith in today's
Philadelphia Inquirer, the Grizzlies called Philly and asked for Larry
Hughes and Tyrone Hill, and for Philly to take on the contracts of
several players. 

Smith mentions, besides Philly, the Grizzlies have 
contacted Houston, Toronto, New Jersey, Miami, Portland, and Detroit in
hopes of making a deal. One problem that the Vancouver types are having
is because Steve Francis is unsigned, a team is trading for his draft
rights,
and he doesn't count against the cap. So for Vancouver to accomodate --
cap wise -- the players they receive for Francis, they have to ship out 
an equal amount of salary - so the club acquiring him, not only has to
assume Francis contract, but a bunch of other players.
Ray