His trade was big news, making the cover of Sports Illustrated and ESPN Magazine. He was supposed to elevate the Rockets to contender status. He got the huge contract he felt he deserved and went on to have his worst year since the '80s.

Barkley scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds a game last year. The Rockets became his team after Hakeem Olajuwon continued to struggle after two knee surgeries. Barkley rebuked his teammates and played harder than anyone else, knowing that he is running out of chances to win a championship.

Meanwhile, Pippen scored 14.5 points per game, a drop of 4.6 points from the previous season. He whined the entire year about his role in the offense, even after Coach Rudy Tomjanovich met with him and tried to accommodate him.

Who didn't play like a winner last year when the Rockets lost Game One of their playoff series against the Lakers? Pippen blamed Barkley for fouling Shaquille O'Neal prematurely. It was Pippen who dribbled the ball off his foot with eight seconds left. Earlier in the year, Pippen publicly wondered why the Rockets had traded for him if they were going to misuse him.

Pippen is a cancer, unwilling to consider anyone but himself as he continues on his mission to prove that Jordan didn't make him. Everything he does shows one thing more and more clearly, however: Jordan made him.

Pippen went from a point forward in Chicago, the primary ball-handler, to someone who supposedly wore down in Houston from all the ballhandling. It's amazing what a difference a year makes.

The Rockets traded for point guard Francis, the No. 2 pick in the draft, to ease Scottie's load. If the trade doesn't occur, Anderson, one of the top free agents who could realistically have changed teams, will start at shooting guard and give Pippen some rest also.