Yao was the best choice. The team was in dire need of a center after Kelvin Cao proved himself to be a career back-up. I do remember however, that I wanted to see the Rockets trade the #15 pick and either Kenny Thomas or Eddie Griffin to move up and take Stoudemire. There were even some mock drafts that had Amare slipping down to the 15th pick that year. Looking back I'm glad they took Yao and was pro-Yao after the Rockets won the lottery (man this board exploded, both the chatroom and the BBS). Amare is good player in his own right, but I'd still take Yao over him everyday and twice on Sunday.
Yao is the best! He is showing his dominance right after his toe surgeying. He is getting better and better every day! You gays can just see it!
Wearing a jersey with 'Yao' on top of it is not 'cool'. CCTV broadcast lots of games after Wang ZZ and Yao was drafted by NBA. That is one of big money and getting bigger every year. If Rox make final or conference final, Yao get his MVP, the China market will explode. Some YOH told me this
Just imagine this..... Rockets entering the 2006 Lottery with 2 players locked up for next several years eating up all the Cap Space. One with chronic back problems with uncertain future. One with microfracture surgery operated knee with uncertain future.
I dont know about that man.. so Charles Barkley, Malone, Stockton... are all losers and Matt Bullard is a winner (no offense to Matt, he was a good role player)
Quote from Stephon "best PG" Marbury: "We're all losers -- whoever doesn't win the championship" im. He does not want to be alone, more losers, less critics on him
IIRC, he left on a free agent contract. Did I miss something? EDIT: Nevermind. I found it. He was going to leave on a free agent contract until we SnT'd him.
It was a sign-and-trade deal, per Hakeem's request. He was a free agent, but we dealt him for a first round pick (which ended up being Nachbar the following season). http://www.clutchfans.net/news/761/the_dream_ends/ http://www.clutchfans.net/news/760/pick_rockets_receive_in_hakeem_deal_is_from_raptors/ http://www.clutchfans.net/news/759/hakeem_speaks_out_on_deal/ http://www.clutchfans.net/feature.cfm?FeatureID=135