Steve Francis says that three things have changed him: Becoming a first-time father, settling in with the Magic franchise and longing to reach the playoffs again.

Without prompting, Francis told me, "I want to stay in Orlando. I want to help this franchise win."

Francis didn't always feel that way. He resisted the trade to Orlando at first, deeply wounded after feeling he had become the face of the Rockets. But now he's buying a home here.

Francis still hears trade rumors, and maybe they accelerated the maturing process.