I think all you Houston fans are going to enjoy this one. The Chinese media have managed to track down Wang Zhizhi in LA, and several phone interviews have found their way into today's papers. Here's the short summary: - Wang Zhizhi is *not* thinking about defecting. He's in constant contact with the Chinese basketball authorities, and they're in complete agreement with what he's doing. - And what he's doing, is planning to stay in the US for summer league play, even while the Chinese national team works through its current schedule. (Hopefully this proves to some of you how much latitude Chinese players will have to achieve a successful NBA career, and how unlikely it is Yao Ming will be called back randomly.) - Wang Zhizhi will rejoin the Chinese national team in August, when they come to play in the World Basketball Championships (Indianapolis... and an exhibition game Aug. 22 in Oakland, which I will most definitely be attending.) - Wang is more than a little miffed at the Dallas Morning News report for its allegations. - He says Dallas doesn't know where he is, and hasn't been able to get in touch with him... because "legally I am a free agent." As a free agent, he can work with any team he chooses. And this is the good part... at this point, he's expecting to work with either the Clippers or the Warriors (out of his own mouth) during the summer. He really wants to work on his defense and rebounding, so he can take on a more important role next season. - Reading between the lines, I think this means Wang Zhizhi has no plans to return to a Dallas team that hasn't worked to develop him, and traded for Raef LaFrentz (who arguably would play ahead of him). So, there you go. Silence the alarms, all is well yet again on this front.
I agree with Wang he should go play for a different team, i mean he wasnt getting much playing time in Dallas so theres no point in staying there.
Wang is definitely an unrestricted FA. Is he interested in the Clipps? I am wondering how this impacts what Sterling will offer Kandi.
This is definitely a slap in Cuban's face... And it also is a positive sign for the Rockets to see the Chinese government showing some flexibility. Now if we can just get this GM for the sharks to quit being a pain in the a$$.
Hmm.... can the Rockets sign Wang? This would be very interesting if Rockets draft Ming and get Wang.
Actually, yeah... Wang might make a pretty good 3, actually. Defensively he'd get eaten up though... so maybe Wang as a 3 on offense, and a 4 on defense, with Griffin the reverse of that? Wang'll probably sign for a very low exception. He just wants to go somewhere where he's going to play.
Wow! Finally a guy who knows his leverage!! Its nice to see a player that wants to improve his play instead of his checkbook!
sign Wang as a backup to Ming, dump Collier and relegate Cato to Shanghai..... Wang will be a nice player in the league. He will develop a little more inside game and end up being a 10/5 guy coming off the bench....better than Collier and Cato...
Wang on the clippers is interesting Take out Kandi .. . enter Wang All of the suddent Brand has the blocks to himself and Wang is busting 3s Rocket RIver
Hell, maybe Cuban started the rumor about Wang being "missing" just to make the Rockets' job more difficult. Even if he doesn't end up with Ming, I'm guessing he'll do whatever he can to ensure that the Rockets don't succeed. 1. They are in our division. 2. They are also in Texas. Cuban probably wants to be Jerry Jones Part II. I'm sure he'd like nothing more than the Mavericks being the Cowboys of the NBA.
OK, maybe not you, but your conspiracy theory. Of course, I may be wrong...I don't remember if he was in the Knicks will get Yao Ming camp.
I am not into conspiracy so much as believing that any owner would do and say something that would help his team. I do believe that Cuban would not want Ming in Houston, that diverts attention away from him (something he obviously craves) and he has to be worried about having a player of Ming's caliber in his division, especially at the pivotal center spot, which is where Dallas is the weakest. Having a shot blocking center allows your small players to guard the perimeter more tightly and if they get beat, Ming can block up the drives before they get to the basket. I personally think Ming will be a very big star in the NBA, and that Cuban does not want him in Houston, and would STOOP to saying things that would make it difficult for Houston. In fact if the tables were turned, I would hope Rudy and CD would do the same. DaDakota
