1. If the Rockets do not make any major trades 2. Yao resigns and gets back to his efficient and effective self by mid season with no injuries at 25 plus minutes a game 3. Rockets sign Dalembert 4. Remaining roster has no significant injuries and no drop in performance from this past season Regardless of who we draft I think the Rockets would be contenders by next season’s end. Much like Memphis has had a great run in the play-offs so far I think the Rockets could be better. With a healthy Yao Ming along with Samuel Dalembert and Chuck Hayes the Center spot would go from a liability to a strength. By Mid-Season our line-up could be: C – Yao Ming, Samuel Dalembert, Chuck Hayes PF – Luis Scola, Patrick Patterson, Jordan Hill SF – Chase Budinger, Terrence Williams SG – Kevin Martin, Courtney Lee PG – Kyle Lowry, Goran Dracic That line-up would be very very strong providing Yao is healthy and close to his former self by mid-season. That line-up does not include Hasheem Thabeet or any draft picks. That line-up IMO could play with Memphis, Dallas, New Orleans, OKC and maybe LAL. That line-up is stacked with offensive and defensive players and opposing teams would find the paint a very unfriendly place to try and get a bucket. I would be especially happy if Pat could overtake Scola in the starting line-up since his outside game and defense would compliment Yao perfectly.
The chances of Yao returning to form and staying healthy is about 1%. It's like asking how good the Rockets could be if LeBron James demanded a trade to Houston.
No not at all. There is zero chance LeBron will be dealt to Houston. I believe Houston and Yao will agree on a new contract and we will see if Yao can stay healthy. I think the chance is as good as 50 / 50.
50/50 that Yao returns, stays healthy, and returns to his old form? I'd give that more of a 5-10% chance.
Adding Dalembert does NOT make us contenders. No way, No how. with Martin and Budinger giving away points on the other end it WILL NOT HAPPEN.
50/50 chance Yao stays healthy...............................HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. Yao wasn't healthy last year, wasn't healthy the year before, and wasn't healthy the year before that. Get the picture?
With Dalembert and a healthy Yao be mid-season. The Rockets were a terrific team this season after the trade deadline. With Yao, Chuck, Dalembert and Pat in the post, I'm really not that worried about Bud and Martin on the defensive end. With a healthy Yao and Dalembert added to this team I think we are every bit as good as Memphis and can play with anyone.
Actually he was healthy the year before that for the whole season. He did not break his foot until the play-offs.
Man, I gotta say, I'd LOVE to see Yao back healthy, but I'm very dubious about it ever happening. I'd also be crazy pissed if we didn't resign him, then he came back healthy for someone else. IF we had a healthy Yao, we instantly become a better than average team, as it stands, I can't see it happening.
Yao himself (If he stays healthy) can bring up ATLEAST another 5-6 wins. Add everything else, and we're legitimate Conference Finals contenders.
Yea, he was ACTUALLY HEALTHY for the whole REGULAR season WOOHOO. Then he decides to go down during the most crucial part of the teams season. Sorry but I and most others Rockets fans are sick of relying on Yao's body to holdup when its obvious that he is never going to be able to get back to form. The Yao Ming we once knew is 100% done and anyone who thinks otherwise is just fooling themselves. I personally hope we don't waste a roster spot or $ on an aging and unreliable center who has hardly played basketball in over 2 years.
Sorry he let you down. No one is saying rely on Yao completely. I hope we sign Dalembert, keep Chuck and get a Center in the draft we can groom into the next starting center for the team. Even with Dalembert (and no Yao) I think we can be just as good or better than Memphis. I would definitely resign Yao at the vet minimum if he was willing and then anything we get from him is icing on the cake and does not impede improving our roster. BTW, if Yao does come back and have a healthy year it would not be the first time a center with his condition was able to do it. Bill Walton was key contributor for Boston's championship in 86 after years of missed games due to feet issues. Big Z has had many good years since his surgery.
I don't think the Rockets can sit back and depend on Yao getting healthy and taking over the team. I don't think DM has any plans of putting all of his eggs in the Yao Ming basket. However, I do think they would like to resign Yao and see if he can get healthy. 1. Signing Dalembert ensures we are not dependent on Yao for a center today. 2. Drafting a Center such as Kanter or Biyombo is trying to ensure we have a quality center for tomorrow. If Yao can get healthy enough to be our starting Center by mid-season then we are even better and can challenge anyone going into the play-offs. If Yao does not get healthy then we would still have Dalembert and Chuck and still be a play-off team IMO.
Not very good the current way they are constructed. Maybe on down the line they get better? They have no real assets anyone wants. So they are gonna stay pretty mediocre for a while. Deandre Jordan would be a start. Morey has no juice to give me any confidence in his ability lately to get even a Deandre Jordan frankly.
Not sure you read the question. And besides what team would want Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin, Courtney Lee, Patrick Patterson, Luis Scola or Chuck Hayes. Sheeesh.... what was I thinking
I don't think he read it either. I didn't respond initially because I couldn't get past the idea of Yao returning to normal -- he's disappointed me too many times. If everything happens as you say, I think we'd be a possible second round team -- depending on the new coach. We'd be relying on Yao/Dalembert to cover Martin and Budinger's terrible defense, which I think would be exploited in the playoffs. Memphis is a lot better than people are giving them credit for. They could get even better next year when Gay comes back if they're able to keep everyone.
