Yao: If healthy, 2 more years. If not, retirement this summer.

He will be lucky to get back to health. He had a nice career in Houston, why not stop there? He has nothing to prove. Besides, his daughter would much prefer him to be able to walk than play in the NBA again.

 

I think it's better that he retires now. I can understand wanting his daughter to see him in the NBA, but what she will see is a shell of a formerly great player and, eventually, his injury. Unpredictable but inevitable, if it's anything like the leg fracture against the Clippers...I wouldn't want his daughter to see that.

 

Stop treating Yao like an asset from which we need to ring out very bit of value that's left in there.

Yao gave it his best shot, but its time to call it a career.

 

This is the key. He's already tried to "get healthy" several times now to no avail. What make anyone think he's going to do it now? Now that he's another year older?

Look, I don't like talking about the guy like he's a racehorse ready for the glue factory.....but he is D-O-N-E. Like others have said, I'd prefer he be able to walk 10 years from now than trying to squeeze out one more year as a backup.

 

he can still enjoy the fruits of his labor 2 years from now.

if he still has a CHANCE to play in the nba, then he should put everything into that chance, just like he has always done.

there is always time to give up. there is not always time to succeed.

 

Hey, I would never say that if I were the GM, I would say, we would love to have Yao back if healthy.

Then sign him to a low risk contract.

As for the career bit, sure, if that is what he decides.

DD

 

That means 1 more year Les and Morey have to carry him on the roster. Oh well. I wish him luck but am realistic and have been the most realistic one about Tracy and Yao for some time now.

 

Sadly, it just doesn't make sense for the Rockets.

We can't take away minutes from guys like PatPat and Jordan Hill to pay an injury prone guy who will be gone in 2 years.

If we were contenders, then a cheap contract is in order. But as a rebuilding team that is trying to play young guys, it just doesn't make sense.

 

let's make it clearly. ppl tends to make an assumption he would be healthy if he played less minutes. it's wrong. he didn't play a lot last season but where he was? if he can play and doesn't get injury for 2 years, he is healthy and he can play.

if he can stay playing w/o health issue, what's wrong with him to play some minutes?

trust me. he is not going to retire if he stays healthy for 2 years. mark my words. what's the point to retire if he plays and is not injuried for 2 years?

 

i agree. if he stays healthy he will definitely keep playing, until olf age or another injury. one more injury and he is done for good, but he will play until then.

i think he might be saying this just to lower his own value, as a favor for the rockets.

 

i know i'm late to the party and this has probably been stated ad nauseum, but...


two more years at best? no thanks.

thanks for your time and services.

time to call it a career yao; unless someone else wants to pay for you that is.

 

I'd love to have Jordan if he were 27 years old again.

 

Yao sounds like someone slowly coming to accept his fate.

 

Then why not sign him as an assistant coach? Yao playing days are basically over. Even if he managed to get healthy enough, he hasn't played much in the past 2 years.

Everyone has to realized that when he comes back, he will need months of playing time in order to get back into playing shape. I much rather the Rockets find a young center and give those minutes to him. Yao is much better off as the Rockets assistant coach so he can help young big man with their game.

 

Every one that kept saying the Rockets should sign Yao and have him play limited minutes are delusional right now. Yao played very limited last season. Less than 25 mins and no back to back. Yet he only played 5 games and suffered another injury again. Why would you think this season be any different?

Limited minutes, no back to back games and still only 5 games he suffered another stress fracture. There is no point of trying to play him. Its not like the Rockets are going to contend. They are rebuilding. All Yao is going to do is delay the rebuilding process even more. The Rockets didn't go anywhere with Yao when he was in his prime and healthy. Its time to move on from the Yao's era. The Rockets just can't keep holding on to Yao hoping he will miraculously recover and dominate the league.

Even if he manages to play a few games, its not like he would impact the game that much. He may grab a few boards, score a couple of points and block a shot or two but when he goes down again, which seem very likely, the Rockets will be stuck in the same situation all over again.

Its time to move on, give that extra roster spot to a young player waiting to prove himself. I much rather have that extra roster spot for a young player that can actually play and stay on the floor much more than having a player that his minutes will be limited throughout the season and most likely get injured and be sideline the rest of the year.

 

what makes you think we are going to stuck in the same situation all over again? what situation are you talking about? what similarity btw now and past?

if we do somehow end up with yao in next season, yao will be a role player as other role players. his contract will equal what salary should be for a role player. how are we going to stuck in the same situation?

 

I'm of the train of thought that it's not going to hurt us if he comes back and can play some. It's doubtful he'd give us enough of a boost that we'd make the playoffs (unless he comes back and makes us all look stupid for doubting him) and if he gradually gets better and stays healthy then great, we have a 7'6 center. Worst case scenario is he gets injured again and we don't make the playoffs, then get a decent pick next year, no risk.

 

everybody PRAY!!!!!!!

 

I don't understand some of the comments. Bringing Yao back does not equate to making him the cornerstone of the team again. If Yao's health allows and he's affordable why not bring him back? If he can be a back up center and give 10 or 15 mins when you need it what would be the downside? If he can't do something like that for the majority of a season, or if his price is to high,then of course let him go.

 

There wouldn't be a downside, I don't think....the problem is, I don't think he's capable of that. Not his fault. I blame physics.