Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that guard Steve Francis has elected to pick up the player option on the final year of his current contract. Francis, who signed his original deal with the Rockets on July 20, 2007, averaged 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 10 games (three starts) in his sixth season with Houston. He underwent successful season-ending surgery to repair a torn quadricep tendon in his right knee on Feb. 26, 2008.
