Steve Francis is a Grizzly

[realmofotalk]

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) - Steve Francis never wanted to play for the last-place Grizzlies when the Vancouver franchise made him their first round draft pick in 1999.

Chances are he won't be much happier in his return to the Grizzly franchise either.

Now an NBA journeyman, the aging former all-star Francis was traded on Wednesday by Houston to Memphis where the former Vancouver franchise moved when it left western Canada.

The last-place Memphis Grizzlies (9-19) acquired Francis, a second-round draft pick in 2009 and cash considerations from the Rockets, who received a conditional second-round pick in 2011.

Francis was drafted second overall out of college by Vancouver but never played a game there saying he wanted to play in a bigger NBA market. Vancouver traded him to Houston in a three-team, 11 player deal in August 1999.

He never wanted to be the franchise cornerstone for the Grizzlies. Now he's the last player on the roster for them, and the franchise is still in last place. Karma's a ***** ain't it?

[Kingdom]

Too bad Michael Dickerson retired, he clearly would have been awesome to throw in this deal.

[realmofotalk]

Too bad the Grizzlies had to move from Vancouver. The fan reaction there would have been priceless.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_fvMqSd7lk]YouTube - Steve Francis barks at Grizzlies, fans - '99 Vancouver debut[/ame]

Francis sucks! Francis sucks!

[Kingdom]

Big Country Big Country Big Country!

[Kingdom]

Douuuuuggggg West!
Chris Jackssssssonnnnnn!
Shareef Abdur-Rahimmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

With your powers combined, you can form a Vancouver legacy!

[realmofotalk]

Don't forget about the mystique of albino head coach Brian Winters.

[Foster]

The Vancouver experiment was a failure, but I think if there was some talent in the organization from the start, it could have worked.

But Bryan "Big Country" Reeves as a star....well we shall leave it at that.

[realmofotalk]

Finally, a clip of Steve Francis pouting over getting picked by Vancouver resurfaces. This is classic.

[Kingdom]

Douuuuuggggg West!
Chris Jackssssssonnnnnn!
Shareef Abdur-Rahimmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

With your powers combined, you can form a Vancouver legacy!

Strooooooomile Swift