With all the talk about Yao Ming getting a max contract in October, it got me thinking, "What if Yao doesn't take the max contract? What if he is willing to play for less money to help the Rockets organization?". Any player willing to play for less than what he's worth (or percieved to be worth) has got to be out of his mind, right? But Yao isn't your everyday NBA player. Yao doesn't play basketball to collect a paycheck. Money doesn't drive him. He plays basketball because he's good at it and takes pride in winning. He plays hard to win in China so his province or country can be proud. Yao also respects great people in history, he has shown that in his interviews and in his books. I think he really wants a place in history, that's hard to put a price tag on but not impossible. I'm not suggesting Yao work for peanuts, it would be insane for him to take a minimum contract, even the fans wouldn't want that. If he were to take anywhere from 20-50 million less though, that would give the Rockets organization a lot more room to work with. That would also make him a hero to the club and get him closer to legendary status without even adding to his stats or championship tally for the rest of his career. The money he loses out on would also be easily made up in future endorsements (provided he doesn't suck the rest of his career), it would be great for marketing purposes. Yao hasn't reached the pinnacle of his marketibility just yet. That would be an ideal situation for the Rockets. It's not that farfetched as Payton and Malone have both done it. If it were to happen again, I wouldn't be surprised if Yao were the one to do it.
The only way I see him not accepting the max is if he doesnt think he is worth it.... If he felt he wasnt playing good enough to deserve the max, I coul dsee him being honest enough about it to say so....but I HIGHLY doubt that scenario ever occurs. His advisors would never allow that to occur.
It doesn't really matter anyway, the Rockets are going to be over the cap for next few years or so with or without Yao taking the max.
I just realized that we owe Mr. Taylor 19 million dollars over the next two years...no wonder we can't trade him.
I heard once that Michael Jordan was not the best payed player on the Bulls. For the one or two stars whose marketing value is extremely high, it can make economic sense to go under the max because it improves the prospects of the team. If it meant the Rockets winning titles, I am pretty sure it would pay off for him to play for the minimum, although going to that extreme may come over as "cheating". Also, voluntary wage restraint would increase his say in Rockets affairs, which may be important for him.
that's who i thought of actually when i saw this thread. not because of contracts. but just because there used to be an IMAX movie called "Michael Jordan to the Max." But c'mon... I'm thinking Yao Ming is a rational economic actor. I just don't see it happening in this society.
MJ was serverly underpaid but the Bulls made it up to him near the end of his career. I dont see Yao taking a pay cut at this stage in his career. No one knows what the future holds for him or what bad luck might await him. If he was near the end of his career and still chasing a championship I could see this scenario unfold. Would you turn down an extra 15 - 20 million? J
There are no realistic scenarios in which Yao taking less would be able to help the team land another impact player. The Rockets are simply that screwed with the cap. The most probable scenario in which the Rockets get another star player comes from drafting a solid player with lots of potential. Sign at least one quality young FA with value. Then, a year or two from now, package them with an expiring contract and some #1s for an disgruntled star.
Many of his existing endorsements are also long term contracts and are presumably no more vulnerable to bad luck (or bad play) than his salary. If his wage was less than 1/3 of his total "locked in" earnings, then it may well be the rational thing to do. However, not everything in life is done on rational grounds.
ummm... im pretty sure China wants the Max. man that is screwed up that a country takes half your salary. so Yao.. pays 50% of his salary + endorsements to China I dont know how this breaks down but some money goes to his old team and some money to China pays 40% (or whatever the top tax bracket is) to the US man no wonder Yao needs to work so hard just to get by. =P J
^China only gets a small % nothing near half.. These are the guys that want to "get paid" and that is what will drive the price
I most certainly would not, but I'm not Yao. We're talking about a guy who turned down several million dollars because one shoe felt better than the other.
I believe the 50% salary cut Chinese govement takes is only for his rookie contract. There is nothing about his future contracts. Still, I can't believe you guys are proposing something this idiotic! Yao singled handledly put Rockets back the the map, from the Francis/Mobley lottery days. He already made Les's franchise $90M more valuable last year alone. If Les/CD would offer a MLE to Yao, can you spell "Carlos Boozer"? Not that Yao is in the same class as Boozer. But Les/CD would be in the same stupidity of Gund/Paxson.
If the guy's going to wear the shoes for his games, they better damn well be comfortable. His NBA salary is a different matter. What does he gain by not getting the max? The answer is absolutely nothing. The team doesn't gain cap space to surround him with better talent. He gets less money that he can spend. Yao would be an idiot to not go to the Rox management and say, "Give me max or I am gone."
In a society like this, if you take an insignificant contract, people around you will treat you as insginificant. Don't do it, Yao.
I guarantee that Les Alexander is far richer than Yao. Why isn't that guy taking it for the good of the team by pumping up team salary another $5-10 million above the cap.
