Ten reasons why rebuilding won't be as awful as it sounds.

Is there any chance Yao retires if this is true???

 

If Yao's career is over (and that is a unsubstantiated at this point) then aren't their clauses to take his salary off the cap at least?

 

To the above - hooray! Though I love Shane to death, he is overpaid a bit. It is fantastic that we don't have any anchor-style bad contracts right now if we have to rebuild.

2. 2010 free agent bonanza.
-->But we're not going to really be a player there. Detroit knew they weren't either, that's why they're rebuilding this summer.


3. Houston is well regarded among NBA players.
-->But not so much that players flock to us in free agency. They just spend their summers here and/or claim us as their state-income-tax-free residence.


6. Brooks is young.
7. Von Wafer is young (if he re-signs).
8. Landry is young.
-->but are any of them really going to take us somewhere on their own?

 

No, but I believe they will take us somewhere together. Lowry (who's young) and Scola (who's not old) too.

We have as good of a supporting cast as there is right now in the NBA -- and, equally importantly, they all play hard.

We just don't have any stars left.

 

Gortat has solid numbers for his low minutes per game, I really think we could still be a contender with Gortat starting....he would actually get more repounds per game than Yao, he wouldn't score as much but could possibly be in the 10 - 15 ppg range and that isn't horrible. Plus he is more mobile than Yao, and probably a bit better defensively even though he is not as big and could probably do more of the things Adelman likes for his big men to do. I say the season could be saved if we put all of our efforts into signing Gortat, he is a young big man with something to prove because he wants more minutes.

 

Yeah and I still sounds awful.

 

Unlike many others, I don't think the rockets winning revolve around Yao. One thing they have shown is that they have won just as much, if not more without Yao. That being said, Yao is a very good player, but very good is easier to replace than great. You can't replace greatness. Now the rockets need to get rid of the old flatlined players like Shane especially. He does nothing for your team that is retooling. Also, the team might have to throw scola in with battier to get a younger player with upside. It makes no sense to resign artest either. You have to approach this thing with ferocity like orlando and lakers did.

We have been down this road before and came out on the other side and I know when they do it this time, they will do the same. At least this time they will have some good contracts.

 

Artest, at best, as the #1 option at best does NOT make for a contender. I'm optimistic but I don't want to be stuck in mediocrity like the Wizards or someone else who is satisfied with just making the playoffs.

 

We're goosed! We're goosed by God!

 

Agreed. I suggested we S&T Artest for younger talent/future picks. And we move Shane, Scola, Hayes etc as well and keep AB and Landry unless something spectacular comes along in the Yao injury thread.

 

Time to end the T-Mac & Yao era and time to start the Rockets era.

Think about it: Both Morey and Adelman inherited T-Mac and Yao; they had very little flexibility in terms of managing the team. Now Morey has full control to mold this team however he pleases. He is not going to disappoint.

Quite frankly, I'm excited to see what he can do, and I think everyone else should be too.

 

When can we start talking about insurance picking up the rest of Yao's contract? Any chance it might happen in time to make signing FAs more possible this year? Or does he have to outright retire for that to happen?

Yao's classy, plays with heart, and is a great 2 quarter offensive presence. That being said, I'm actually relieved at the prospect of the team being rebuilt without him as the focal point. The game is about speed now, it was never about gambling against the fact that human beings get more brittle the bigger they get.

 

Rebuilding Process

I am not for it but if it is our only option then what will be the process?

- Trade T-mac for future picks and young(er) talent?

- Let Yao walk after his option season?

- Stink for 3 seasons plus?

I just can't even fathom another (let steve franchise mature) saga where we stink it up and get john wall or whoever is in the top part of the lottery next year.

 

Sura Faints mixed with a little Splash

 

They are saying on ESPN that it could be a small % chance that he is lost for the season and even smaller chance he is done for his career.

 

That's good news, but BSPN is...BSPN. Still, I want to believe it so I will...for now.

 

i hope we can get yao to decline his option in 2010, if not oh boy its not gona be pretty. would he retire and save us that awkard moment

 

It's better to bottom out, clear cap space and get some high picks then to win 40 games and take on dumb contracts.

 

Agreed X10....don't get me wrong, I love Yao as a professional both on and off the court and he'll definitely go down as a top five favorite Rocket but if this injury is as bad as they're thinking, I hope that he calls it a career.

On the other hand, I'm REALLY looking forward to Morey and Adelman going into the lab and morphing this team into one that fits Adelman's system.