This much is true: Steve Francis would love to be back in Houston. Through channels, he has let that be known. Despite comments he has made since he was sent to Orlando in the Tracy McGrady deal, Francis' biggest issue about Jeff Van Gundy is that Van Gundy was the coach who traded him.

Van Gundy, to the doubts of roughly 300 media members over on Westheimer, would be happy to coach Francis again. He would probably want to wring his neck at times, but Van Gundy genuinely liked the guy and believes Francis played well and hard for him.

That right there is more than enough to germinate a trade rumor, but this one had been picking up steam already.

The Nuggets and Knicks, the teams most interested in making deals by Thursday's deadline, have been mentioned most as possible landing spots for Francis, but there is always an addendum that tacks on Houston.

It's not going to happen. It can't. It won't.

If you put Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady off limits ? and they are ? and gave Orlando its choice of everyone and anyone on the Rockets' roster to add up to Francis' $14 million-plus, you cannot come up with a deal the Magic would take.

They want to move Francis, but they can find younger options than David Wesley and Juwan Howard, shorter contracts than Rafer Alston's and Stromile Swift's, and better options than any the Rockets could come up with.