Rockets go to wire on Yao decision Letter of clearance remains pending By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle NBA DRAFT • When: 6:30 tonight. • Where: New York. • TV: TNT. • First pick: Rockets. The meetings in the Rockets' Westside Tennis Club offices went late into the night on Tuesday. That is not unusual the night before the NBA draft. Almost everything else, however, about the draft-eve talk, was unique. The Rockets' lottery acquisition of the No. 1 pick could have made the last preparations for tonight's draft simple, especially after they decided they wanted to use the pick on Chinese center Yao Ming. But with negotiations that would lead to a letter of clearance for Yao to play in the NBA next season dragging on, the Rockets were forced to consider questions they did not expect to face this late in June, including some that few NBA teams have ever had to ask. The what-if exercises Tuesday could be moot. A Western Conference general manager who has been in contact with the Rockets said Tuesday he was "convinced" they would select Yao no matter how the negotiations in China progressed. But Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said Monday the team always considers its options. "You try to get ready for everything that can happen," Dawson said. The Rockets hoped things could be cleared up before dawn with an agreement between the China Basketball Association and Yao's representatives. That would be the last step before the formality of the letter of clearance from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which would make Yao eligible to play next season in the NBA. If there was any consolation to the Rockets' plight, it might have been that they had company. There were signs throughout the day that several teams -- especially the Bulls, who hold the second pick -- were concerned about what would happen to their draft plans if the Rockets do not take Yao. The four teams that immediately follow the Rockets in the draft -- the Bulls, Warriors, Grizzlies and Nuggets -- covet Jay Williams, who said in his pre-draft interviews in New York, "There's a lot of paperwork trouble in China." If the NBA does not receive that letter by draft time, the Rockets could still take Yao. But the Trail Blazers selected Arvydas Sabonis in 1986 and waited until 1995 to get him in a uniform. The Rockets, however, have been given so many assurances the CBA and the Shanghai Sharks consider the time right for Yao to jump to the NBA, they could pick Yao and believe the deal would eventually be completed. The Chinese league and team could get their share of Yao's income only if he does play in the NBA. The CBA wants Yao to receive NBA training and experiences to better prepare him for international competition. But CBA secretary general and executive vice president Xin Lancheng has expressed concern about Yao's continued commitment to the Chinese national team. He has met with Yao in Beijing to discuss his playing internationally for China but has sought additional assurances from the center plus documentation on the agreement with the Sharks. Though the absence of Mavericks forward Wang Zhizhi from Chinese national team workouts has complicated the talks, the CBA would not have come this far if it was not somewhat agreeable to having Yao play in the NBA. Still, if the deal isn't done before the first pick is made, it could get more difficult after the Rockets' leverage is gone. The Rockets could choose to take Williams and work a trade with the teams that need a point guard. But it is difficult to get as much in a trade after the draft as on draft night. The Rockets saw that firsthand when they acquired Steve Francis from the Grizzlies, who already had Mike Bibby and were looking to make a deal throughout that summer. The Rockets could trade the pick to a team that wants Williams and move down. They have worked out Chris Wilcox, Caron Butler, Nene Hilario, Drew Gooden and Jared Jeffries, all players who will be long gone before the Rockets use their second first-round pick, the 15th selection overall. The Clippers have the eighth and 12th picks and a need for a point guard. The Grizzlies have the fourth pick and could sweeten the deal by forgiving the Rockets' debt. The Rockets owe the Grizzlies their first-round pick (or another team's pick if it is in the lottery) by next season. The Bulls and Warriors might not be able or willing to move players to entice the Rockets to give up the first pick, but they could make deals that would allow the Rockets to move up with the second first-round pick. That selection could be more difficult to predict than the first. The Rockets are likely to pursue a true small forward, especially if they choose Yao with their first pick.
