When should've Les cut ties with our top players that would've resulted in better-than-mediocrity on the court? I'm very, very interested in the championship team the Rockets failed to put together due to Les' Chinese connection. Really, I'm quite curious to see where we screwed up. That championship caliber superstar that sentimentality pissed away for us.
Yao seems to be the type of guy that would do the Rox a favor and not sign a contract until he's healthy enough to play (if ever). Frees up cap space in the interim, and when he's ready to return, sign a short-term deal until he proves he's worth it. Not saying that will happen, because I personally think he's done. But knowing his heart, he's going to try his damndest to come back and won't tie up our cap space until he knows he can play again.
You're asking him to tell you with certainty of opportunities missed when none of us where privy to that sort of information.
I've really always felt that Yao saw basketball as an obligation more than a true love, and these injuries make it easy to give up, even for someone so loyal to teammates and fans. He's been through so much already, and he's obviously discouraged by it. He already has all the money he'll ever need, as well as a new daughter to spend time with. I think the best decision for him and his family is to limp off into the sunset. He'll be 31 before he sees the court again, will have played a total of 5 games in 30 months, and will be joining a team that has reshaped itself to get by without him anyway. Why force himself through several more seasons playing for a small NBA salary (that is siphoned by China), spending time away from family, and potentially hurting himself in a way that could effect his everyday mobility for the rest of his life? Why?
This is just wrong. You know if the big fella could take the court right now he would. Heck, he was the one pestering coach to play. I think the exact opposite of what you said is the case. Yao loves basketball and it kills him to see this team struggle. I really believe he wishes he could be out on the court, not just for his teammates, but for himself as well. Seeing as how his previous rehab took forever, and it couldn't have been easy, I don't blame him for one instant if he chooses not to endure that more than he has to. Avoiding chronic pain and permanent damage over some championship rings is always the way to go.
You would not pass up a center or anything. You would plan like Yao never plays again, and if he does, it's a huge bonus.
His statements that were reported after the injury do not sound like he is giving up...and while I see what you are saying because he would beat himself up and you could see his work ethic and all, I think he loves the game, it's not just a "job" to him.
So you commit a roster spot and a contract to someone whom you plan on never playing for you? I get the emotion...but you see it's just emotion, right? I'm not trying to belittle you for that....I'd have been saying the same thing about Craig Biggio, for instance...or Cris Dishman. Hell, it's only been recently that I've been able to criticize Vernon for walking out on the Rox.
I didn't say he doesn't or never did love the game. I said I felt that he sees it as more of an obligation than a true love. And it's no surprise that he would want to get back on the court as soon as possible. He's a very loyal, respectful, and accountable person with a normal conscious. I would feel the same exact way if I had been taking home $17+ million dollars for not playing a single minute the season before, and wanted to prove that I wouldn't do it again (which is what appears to be happening). I'm just saying...the guy is 7'6" and since he was a very young boy he's been expected to play basketball, play it well, and carry the burden of a country's hopes on his shoulders. That's the definition of an obligation...and a huge one at that. Again, it doesn't mean he doesn't also love the game.
Les needs to hire Yao Ming as marketing representative to China at a nice salary. The Rockets thereby maintain his ties to the Rockets while he rehabilitates. If that never happens, Les retains his ties to the Chinese market. If Yao does heal to the point he can be a real NBA player again, we sign him to a new contract. That way, we get the best of both worlds without surrendering a roster spot nor lose any salary money in case a hard cap comes about. My first choice to replace Yao would be Marc Gasol, but that is a pipe dream. The same holds true for Cousins, and I'm glad in his case. I'd rather go after a young, tall, athletic center but there are many options there unless we gamble on one of several choices -- Kyrylo Fesenko, DeAndre Jordan, B.J. Mullens, Johan Petro, Hassan Whiteside or Solomon Alabi. All are projects, with limitations, but they are attainable and have upside. BTW, of those named I lean toward Mullens.
Umm... he obviously is privy to that sort of information. Didn't you read his post? He knows Les personally enough to know Les cares more about China than wins.
No - I don't know if you read my previous posts. You take a gamble. You look at the risk/reward ratio. The risk that he never plays again is high, but if he does and gets back to anywhere near his past playing ability, the reward could be high as well. You could actually get a top 3 player at his position, even if he only ever plays again and is able to pour in like 13/8. Name three current centers who average something really better than that and have a bigger impact. If you look at players like Terrence Williams, the risk that they never achieve their potential is high, too...but even if he reaches his full potential, the ceiling is way lower than in Yao's case - maybe top 20 at his position...and a player like Williams is much less unique on the court and you can find similar players much more easily. So if I have to compare giving a roster spot to one or the other, I will go for the potentially higher reward. But you don't plan for Yao to play...you don't build around it. It's like...if you have $ 10,000 a month, you don't take it all to the casino. You make sure that you have all your expenses covered etc....but a fraction of the amount, you might as well risk and take to the casino. What I am saying is you plan all the minutes and have all positions filled...but you might as well use one roster spot and some money for the gamble on Yao. It's a better gamble than one on Terrence Williams (just as an example), for a variety of reasons, see above.
who know's what the right thing to do is...Yao is a big piece of the NBA's international marketing so to lose him is a big blow...I would imagine that we take a wait and see attitude as there is upside but its too early to tell... IMHO, I don't think he's done...
Its sad to think Ive have seen Yao play in a Rockets uni for the last time. I am ready to move on though and wish him all the best.
It seems like there is some sort of fear that if we don't resign Yao and he does manage to play again, he will sign somewhere else. There is no precedent for that fear. Generally, players who go away from the game (unsigned) for a year resign with the same team. I'm thinking of Michael Jordan...not that Yao is Jordan but I think the level of loyalty is similar. Let's just relax and let this play out. No need to panic.
Screw that. While I appreciate Yao's efforts as a Rocket, his career is done. I want nothing to do with a player that is 30, has played over 57 games just 4 times in now 9 seasons and now spends more time on IR than in actual NBA games. I don't want him for the vet minumum or any amount. It's time for Yao to hang up the Rockets jersey, whether willingly or forcefully and it's past time for the Rockets to move on.
The Francis-Mobley era outlived it's playoff potential by a good margin. The Yao-TMac was done a few seasons ago, even before Les kept repeating the following mantra, "We are going to keep building around TMac and Yao." You simply have to know when to fold the tent and move on. Neither Les or McNair seem to have that down.
