Yao Ming a free agent next summer?

JoeBarelyCares · 05-12-2001, 09:56 AM

Chris Monter states on his draft news website (May 4, 2001), that Yao Ming will be 21 next year, and as such, would not have to declare for the draft. Does this mean that no team can draft him, and he will be a free agent?

Imagine the ramifications for the Rockets. If they cleared a little more cap space this summer, they could sign both Webber to a long term deal and Hakeem to a one year contract. Next summer, when Hakeem and Walt Williams (and Carlos Rogers, if he is still around) come off the cap, then sign Yao Ming to a multi-year deal at 9-10 million per year.

Is this possible?

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Band Geek Mobster · 05-12-2001, 11:14 AM

Teams can still draft his rights. Being 21, just means that he's automatically entered into the draft and doesn't have to declare.

At least that how I think it works...

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aelliott · 05-12-2001, 11:16 PM

Ming will automatically be eligible for the NBA draft next year. Only if he goes undrafted (no way that happens) would he become a free agent.

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Heath · 05-13-2001, 08:38 AM

When do you think he will go next year if it is known at the time of the draft that he would not be allowed out of his contract to play the first season and perhaps even the second was not certain. (I don't know how long his contract is but you would think that he would come over after a year or so. Perhaps the club that draft him could pay compensation to get him out of his contract? Wasn't this what happened with Mavs/Zhi Zhi?)

Imagine next years draft to be standard in quality - not as good as this year, but way better than the class that had Mike Miller

as Rookie of the year.

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NIKEstrad · 05-13-2001, 02:06 PM

Ming can not be drafted. It's that simple. He's under 22 so he must declare for the draft, and according to his team/reps. he's not. We can't draft him under any circumstances nor can anyone else this year. Next year, since he's 22 anyone can draft his rights, whether he'll be able to play that year or not.

Forget about him becoming a free agent. What are the odds that a team wouldn't go ahead and use a 2nd round pick on a 7'6'' guy who's played basketball all his life, and has even the slimmest chance of playing? That team would keep his rights to play in the NBA forever. Odds are, even if you'd have to wait a couple years, he'd go top 5.

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"That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure.

verse · 05-13-2001, 02:53 PM

did you just say sign ming for 9-10 million per???

how bout if we see if he can play first???

JoeBarelyCares · 05-13-2001, 03:26 PM

The context of Montor's article implied that there was some advantage for Yao not declaring this year. "However, next year, he will be 21 and would not have to declare for the draft."

What is the advantage, if he automatically goes into the draft, anyway? He merely saves having to mutter the two words, "I declare." It's not like he is going to lose his college eligibility. If he does not have to go through the draft process, could he sign mid-year with any team after he turned 21?

As to the contract size, if he was a free-agent, you would think someone would pay him the max slot for players with less than 6 years experience (9-10 mil).

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NIKEstrad · 05-13-2001, 03:48 PM

It simply means he's entered into the draft automatically, whereas this year, he has to send in his stuff to be eligible.

It goes by the year he turns 21 or 22, not the specific date. He will never be a free agent until his rookie contract is done.

He thinks he's not prepared for the NBA, which is why he's not declaring. Personally, if I were in his situation, the favorite for the #1 pick, it doesn't make much sense. He could just as easily declare this year, get drafted and play another year, or more in China if he wanted.

Part of it is that China doesn't want to let him go.

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"That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure.

enbehay · 05-14-2001, 01:48 AM

Why not draft Ming with our #22 pick? True, he would take up cap space -- but not a whole lot. That would make him a bargain for the year he is supposed to come out (#1). That's what Dallas did with WangD, and that turned out well.

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