Ming Yao seems to be the only "real deal" center available to the Rockets. Awwwww! The #1 pick is way too high for Marcus or Borchardt and there are no other top ranked centers out there for trade that would match his potential, size, etc. etc. We won the #1! Yeeeeeehawwwww! Well, back to business. Now we need to figure out how to get a quality SF. There's Dunleavy, Woods, Nikki T., Nachbar, Jeffries I and II and Grizzard. How can we trade up -- without losing Ming -- to get Dunleavy or Woods or do you think we should stand pat gambling Nikki T. or Nachbar will be around at #15? (I know, I know. I left out Butler, but he's destined to be a very good SG somewhere.) Ahhhhhh. We are in such goooood shape!
I really must ask, is the center position dead? There is shaq and then... uhhh,.... wait.. uhh.... If we get yao ming, its like getting a 7 foot 5 inch small forward anyway....
I don't understand your "center position dead" question. The Lakers will not trade Shaq. Period. Are there any other first class centers for trade? Kandi has as many question marks as Ming. Brad Miller, Dampier, etc. are not in Ming's class. So, assuming we can make a deal with the Red Chinese government, Ming is our center of the future. I'm also hoping we can use Ming to entice FA Zhi Zhi Wang, giving us two thirds of the Great Wall. That is why I say the center position is no longer a question mark, unless you think Cato is the answer and that SF is the larger problem.
I don't see why we couldn't trade up to grab a stud SF. With a top SF this team would be a dynasty! The 15 and a combination of KT and Moochie might work for the likes of Miami, Phoenix or the Clippers. That way we could grab Nickolaz or Butler. Wosrst case scenerio, we stand pat and pick up Nachbar. Just say no to Jeffires! Imagine a front court of Yao, EG and Tsika! It has it all. Speed, scoring, blocked shots, height, passing and court sense.
Gawd I hope we don't take Yao Ming! It would be a titanic mistake. Way too many unknowns attached to him. What if the Chinese Govt gets pms and yanks his overrated butt back to the PRC? No way I waste #1 on someone who no one knows where his skill level really is. I know that it is impossible to accurtaly gage any player's skill level in the NBA before he has actually played in the NBA, but at least with college players you have a lil bit of an idea. Why would you draft someone who has you have no idea about? (i.e. Shawn Bradley being gone 2 years doing missionary work, Kandi Man playin at a pathetic school like Pacfic, Derrick Chevious hehe) Can anyone seriously see this dude being anything but a joke against the likes of Shaq and Duncan? Rockets should trade #1 for a legit starter and their top 10 pick, let someone else be the laughin stock when Ming flops. The Rockets need someone that can step in and elevate this team, not someone who needs to be taught on how to say "clutch city" in english.
Not that my opinion is the law, but I think it will be you Vincent Vega, and all the other people bashing Ming saying he'll be the next Bradley, who will be the laughingstock. With time i think Ming will become a very good player in this league. Also Ming can speak english if you thin that makes him a better player and ofcourse scouts, GMs and coaches knows something about his skillevel, they've seen him play. They have studied him carefully. He has yet to play at the highest level but they know just about as much about him as they know of college players. I can't say for sure that Ming won't flop and you can't possibly know that he will.
I am not saying lets trade for a center. What I am saying is that we dont necessarly need to fill every position to have a great teaM. You're just trying to fill up spots at certain position. We dont need to have an outstanding center.
