Assuming Yao doesn't opt out this summer and we resign him next year...

How long of a contract do you think we will offer him? More importantly, how long will he be a dominate NBA center?

It obviously depends on how well he comes back from his surgery, but let's assume he comes back just as strong as Big Z did. I was looking at Big Z's career stats today and they were very encouraging. As we all know, he had the same surgery in 2001 that Yao had last year, and in the 02-03 season he came back to post a career best 17.2 ppg and 7.5 reb with an all-star appearance to boot. This was the first time since 97-98 that he played practically a full season as well with 81 games. Since 02-03 up until this last season he's also been very affective. In 07-08 he averaged 14.1 and 9.3 and in 08-09 he averaged 12.9 and 7.5, both in line with his career averages of 13.8 and 7.7. I believe he could have put up similar numbers this season if it wasn't for the acquisition of Shaq.

Thus, Big Z has been a very affective center NBA center past the age of 30 and at 34 he was still producing at a high level. Yao will have just turned 30 by the time the next season starts. Will he maintain his career averages into his mid-thirties as well? My guess is that his numbers take a slight drop with decreased minutes, maybe 17 ppg and 8 reb., and by the time he hits 32 or 33 he will still be an affective center but not the dominate center he once was...

 

didn't realize somebody had Carl Herrera when I made the name.

Also, I thought it was affective, because the root "affect" is correct over "effect" in this case. But you're right, when the "ive" ending is added the word takes on a whole other meaning

 

I completely agree that the contract length and salary structure will be something like this. How long do you think he'll be a dominant center into the said contract length?

 

Actually I was right the first time. It is "affective".

http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-affective-and-effective/