This is an interesting tid bit of information. Francis is on the verge of doing what only 3 other players in the history of the NBA have done. Averaging at least 15 pts, 5 reb, & 5 assists per game in their first 3 years. The other 3 are Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, & Grant Hill. Not bad company to keep. The majority of the artcle pertains to possible trade speculations, which should be picking up in the next week or two. http://chicagosports.com/bulls/content/column/0,2007,173763,00.html Deals may be on tap January 28, 2002 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - E-mail this story - - - - - - - - - - - - - - There hasn't been much trade discussion about these two All-Stars and two other players on the verge of stardom. But with the NBA trading deadline less than a month away, these surprise players may be involved in serious talks: Dallas' Michael Finley, the Clippers' Lamar Odom and Milwaukee's Glenn Robinson and Tim Thomas. None of their teams now appear to be looking to move them, but it may make sense to make a bold move in the next few weeks. Finley was an All-Star the last two years, but the Mavericks have gone 12-1 since he has been injured. He's projecting a return in the next week, but how much scoring does Dallas need? Coach Don Nelson likes defensive-minded Adrian Griffin, who has been substituting for Finley. The Mavericks need some front-court help if they want to go anywhere in the postseason. And what do you know? Utah's Karl Malone continues to talk about being traded. "Everybody wanted to downplay it and say it was merely rumors," said Malone, whom the Bulls will see in Utah on Wednesday. "I don't look at it like that. Things like [trade talk] don't just come out of the sky. I think people put those seeds out there just to see what the interest is." Malone praises the Mavericks for having "unbelievable players" and adds: "You never know what other teams think about your game. If they consider you that missing piece, that's a compliment." Perhaps the Jazz would take Utahan Shawn Bradley to make the deal? Just asking. Then there are the Clippers, who aren't known much for paying players. They'll have to ante up soon with Elton Brand, maybe sooner with Michael Olowokandi and then Quentin Richardson and then Darius Miles and then … Odom, still one of the league's most versatile players, is averaging a career-low 13.1 points and is injured again, but Los Angeles continues to do well without him. The Clippers say he's not available, but who knows? The Bulls would have picked him No. 1 over Brand in 1999 if he hadn't behaved strangely before the draft, and Miami coach Pat Riley worked feverishly to trade for him in that draft. "We're not trying to trade any of our players, and I know that for a fact," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "That's not to say we're not going to listen. Patience has to be the key word." The word is the Clippers are losing patience with Odom. Losing patience also will come quickly for Milwaukee coach George Karl if the Bucks stumble. Losing at home Saturday in double overtime to the Knicks exposed the Bucks as coming up short. Karl played much of the game with his undersized lineup of shooters and undersized power forward Anthony Mason that enabled the small Knicks to stay in the game. It's becoming clearer the Bucks cannot afford the luxury of Thomas as just a reserve. They might be able to get a big man with Robinson or Thomas, who play the same position, as bait, and they certainly have enough offense. Portland's Dale Davis, perhaps, maybe with Bonzi Wells thrown in? Just asking, again. "We've said that as we study our roster, there's probably a situation where we want to make a big trade sometime," Karl said. "But we said that a year and a half or two years ago. We're improving, and that helps our ability to make a trade." It may be that time. Developmental league: Doug Collins has been terrific as Washington's coach. He's one of the top candidates for coach of the year because the Wizards are better than .500. But Collins says he hasn't done a very good job with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Kwame Brown. Brown has been one of the least productive top overall picks in NBA history, along with Pervis Ellison in 1989, Kent Benson in 1977 and LaRue Martin in 1972. Brown, overlooked with the return of Michael Jordan, is averaging three points and 2.8 rebounds in about 11 minutes per game, which would rank him statistically as the worst top pick of all. He has disappeared from the rotation and even has developed acne. "That's always a sign of stress," Collins said. "I remember when I was 18 and things bothered me, stressed me out, my face broke out too. On draft night his skin was so smooth and he wore that big smile. I expected too much of him, and in doing so I demanded things of him he wasn't ready to do. I wish I'd made him feel more comfortable and relaxed. "Now he seems to have retreated and lost that zest. I told Kwame when we were in Chicago that if it's any consolation, Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry aren't ready either." None of the four high school players drafted in the top eight picks, including Cleveland's DaSagana Diop, is in his team's regular rotation or having any impact. Long odds: In Seattle on Saturday, the Bulls will see perhaps the league's longest shot, 6-foot-9-inch Art Long, who has emerged as the starting center for a surprisingly good Sonics team. The Sonics are facing retaining star youngster Rashard Lewis, who has said he'll test the free-agent market this summer, but new general manager Rick Sund has come up with a surprise in Long. Long left Cincinnati in 1995 and played in Europe and the CBA. Given a chance, he has given the Sonics an edge, leading the NBA in fouls per minute. And it's no surprise. He was involved in the famous "Blazing Saddles" incident at Cincinnati when he and teammate Danny Fortson were accused of cursing a mounted police officer, which led to an altercation. Police said Long punched the officer's horse four times. Long denied the charge and later was acquitted. It didn't prevent him from being nicknamed "Longo" around campus after the character Mongo, who punched a horse in the movie "Blazing Saddles." Long also has convictions for assaulting his girlfriend and selling mar1juana. "Everybody makes mistakes," Long said. "Me coming from the inner city, I got caught in situations at a young age. I learned from my mistakes. And that's why I'm here today." MVP picks: The lobbying for most valuable player continues. Orlando coach Doc Rivers likes New Jersey's Jason Kidd. "Before the season, we all said it will be an interesting case study on what's more important to a team, a point guard who runs the show, runs the team, gets everyone involved or a point guard who gets his own," Rivers said. "That argument has been around for a long time: Kevin Johnson or John Stockton? I think it has been answered here. I think Kidd right now is the most valuable player. Houston's Steve Francis weighed in for Boston's Paul Pierce, saying, "That dude is playing the best basketball, better than anybody in the NBA right now." But some might consider Francis. The Rockets are 1-18 when he has been injured, he is the only player leading his team in scoring, rebounding and assists, and he is about to become one of four players all time to average at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in his first three seasons. The others are Oscar Roberston, Magic Johnson and Grant Hill. Hair apparent: Nelson bagged up all of Dirk Nowitzki's hair from his impromptu buzz cut last week and is selling it to raise money for breast cancer research. Nowitzki signed 45 bags, which sold for $50 to $250 per bag. "It's gross," Nowitzki said. "I wouldn't spend money on this." Nelson's wife, Joy, recently had breast cancer surgery. This and that: Cleveland coach John Lucas on center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who has returned from multiple foot operations but, with seven screws still in his left foot, much slower, unable to jump much and less effective: "He's not 'Z.' He's X and Y." … Patrick Ewing is out indefinitely with a strained Achilles' tendon but says he's enjoying Orlando. "From the coaching staff to the players, I can honestly say everyone gets along, and that's refreshing," Ewing said. "It wasn't like that in New York, where all the time you'd hear about this player not liking that player. It has been gratifying for me when Tracy [McGrady] listens to something I say because he could easily just tell me to shut up."
