VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Vancouver Grizzlies plan to trade Steve Francis, the second pick in the 1999 NBA draft, to Houston in a 10-player deal, according to broadcast reports.
ESPN, KRIV-TV of Houston and several broadcast outlets in Vancouver reported Thursday night that the trade, which would be one of the largest in league history, would be announced today after it is approved by the league.Vancouver picked Francis second in June's NBA draft behind Eldon Brand of Duke, who was taken by Chicago.
But the Grizzlies were unable to persuade him to move to Canada, away from his family and the grandmother who raised him since his mother died of cancer in 1995.
Television reports said the Grizzlies would send Francis, Tony Massenburg, Lee Mayberry, Makhtar Ndiaye, Rodrick Rhodes and Michael Smith to the Rockets.
Vancouver general manager Stu Jackson said he had no idea what Francis had planned to say today at a news conference Francis called Wednesday.
There have been suggestions the 22-year-old might announce he would sit out the year and re-enter the draft next season. There also were reports the news conference was called to announce a shoe contract.
Peter Land, a spokesman for a public relations company representing Francis, would only say the announcement would be "basketball related." Francis averaged 17 points last season at Maryland, shooting 52.3 per cent from the field. He also averaged 2.8 steals.
Massenburg is a 6-foot-9 forward who had to play center most of the year after Bryant Reeves showed up at camp out of shape, then suffered a season-ending knee injury. Massenburg averaged 11.2 points and six rebounds.
Mayberry, a 6-1 guard, played in only nine games due to a foot injury.
The 6-8 Smith played in 48 games last year, averaging 7.3 rebounds and 4.8 points. Ndiaye, another 6-8 forward, spent most of the year on Vancouver's practice roster, while Rhodes, a 6-6 guard, came from Houston in exchange for Sam Mack.