So this is what it's come to? HeyPartner is now the voice of reason? I've got to strongly agree with everything HeyPartner is saying. Everyone needs to realize that the Chinese Government wants Yao Ming to play in the NBA. Otherwise why would they have allowed him to enter the draft? They do have other objectives though. They want to use Yao Ming to improve their national basketball program. This is all posturing on their part to assure that the team that drafts Yao agrees to things like holding clinics in China. I'm sure that the Rockets will gladly agree to conduct clinics in China and to make Yao's transition to the NBA as smooth as possible. If the Chinese government screws around with Yao's availability, then they both hurt his development and they kill any chance they have of creating a market for future Chinese players in the NBA. They want him to be successful. They need him to be successful. That's why they prefered that he go to a large market team with a large Chinese population. That was just one more thing that would help . Also, the Chinese government will see that the Rockets give Yao a very good chance to be successful, but to also progress at his own pace. As far as Wang,it's a completely different case (as HP has pointed out). Wang is obligated to the Red Army. All of Dallas' dealings are with the them. In Yao's case, he's obligated to the Shanghai Sharks and to FIBA. Wang has special clause written into his contract that Dallas agreed to. We do not have to agree to this type of clause. If the Rockets want Yao Ming, they'll have all of this worked out and agreed to prior to the draft. Over the next month, we'll hear all kind of wild rumors and theories from other teams that hope for Ming to drop or for the Rockets to lower their asking price. Don't believe it. If you don't think Yao is going to be a player or that we can do better in a trade, then fine. But, don't bypass Yao Ming just because you are afraid of what the Chinese government might do. It's in their best interest for him to play in the NBA and be as successful as possible. If we select him, then he needs us as much as we need him. So, everyone calm down and please don't make me agree with HeyPartner again.
BTW if we do draft Yao you will see me do one hell of a crawfish and become one of Yao's biggest fans. Just letting you know in advance in case it happens.
Interesting thread. here's a couple articles I found for better perspective that seem sort of relevant. They don't tell that much, but it still helps in the quest for a more informed opinion. I agree there's a lot of emotion talking in this thread, and on both sides in some cases. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200204/20/eng20020420_94420.shtml http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200204/30/eng20020430_94993.shtml
Welcome to the board heech. Solid posts, man. But we need to know... are you or will you be a Rockets fan, because that's all that matters. Great responses in this thread guys. Heypee has allowed me to rest my head more easily tonight. This thread has cleared up some of the confusion I had with the whole Wang/Yao comparisons in terms of contracts. Great thread. Now let's hope all this is right and we really do have nothing to worry about.
I don't know where you're getting your info on Wang from but you're way off. Wang has Never been to a Mavs training camp, and has Never since he's been in the NBA participated in any summer league program with the Mavs. You say that the Rockets can just refuse to sign him if the Chinese Gov. acts up, well what since does that make. If they refuse to sign him then the Rockets basically wasted the top pick in this years draft. Either way the Rockets lose. The #1 pick MUST be in camp. If there is even a possability that the player won't be in camp why draft him? Pick someone you know will be in camp. it makes no sense to draft a player that the Rockets will refuse to sign. Did you happen to read the second last paragraph in that article you posted? In case you didn't here they are again ... 5/02/2002--Dallas Morning News "Wang's a second-round pick," Nelson said. "He's our 10th guy. Can you imagine the No. 1 pick missing training camp? Or to maybe not even come for half a year, or go back in the middle of the year? That's a big difference."
TexasG, Wang has missed only 1 camp since he signed a contract. Wang was selected in 1999, but did not sign an NBA contract until April 4, 2001. <b>Where is all this evidence you have.</b> Show me one article that says that the Chinese Govt is intervening more than the Bayi Rockets. Do you realize Wang signed his contract <b>two days</b> after the <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A24082-2001Apr1¬Found=true">U.S., Chinese Warplanes Collide Over S. China Sea</a></b>. The govt did not hold Wang hostage at that time one aota, but they held our pilots hostage, didn't they. Read the attached article, below as well. The Bayi Rockets (the Army) were mainly responsible for withholding him. (As an aside, Kirilenko was drafted in 1999 as well, but had his first season this year, so he missed the same amount.) The Wang contract was not a standard Uniform Player Contract. It had to be reviewed by the NBA attorney's. Dallas did not have to sign that, and they still (to this day) would have drafting rights to Wang. I read everything I posted TexasG, not to win an argument with you, but to let others decide about the question in the Title of the thread, and to ask for help finding all these alleged media stories saying Wang's career is over??? <b>Nellie is clearly saying that he would never have signed the special contract with Wang if he was a No. 1 pick.</b> How hard is it to understand that I'm saying that the team who selects Yao does not lose drafting rights if they choose not to accept CBA demands that limit Yao's playing time. If Les wants to take a more hardline stance than Cuban, he can tell Stern that if the CBA wants to profit like capitalists from Yao, they have to agree to our playing schedule, or Ming never plays in the NBA. The drafting team can withhold him from the CBA profiting on him, as much as the CBA can f!ck with us. <b>Here's another Wang article that just mentions the Bayi Rockets wanted compensation</b> Now TexasG, Show me some evidence about this "Communist Regime" holding Wang hostage beyond it being just about money and fair compensation similar to what Pau Gasol's team got and Tsiki's team is entitled to.
Hi, here comes another Chinese basketball fan. I live in New Jersey right now. I have been excited these days and I think I root for Rocket already, of course, only if Ming will play in Houston. I didn’t have many chances to watch Ming’s play in USA, I read a lot of news from online Chinese newspaper. Some posters would like see the comparison between Ming and Wang Zhizhi, I’ll say Ming is younger, taller than Zhizhi. He plays great defense in China league, he carries the team by his own while Zhizhi has much better support around him. That's one reason Wang is not as aggressive as Ming. One problem for Ming during his rookie year is he might often be in foul trouble. Ming played water-polo for a while (1 or 2 years?) when he was a kid, so he has strong legs and good agility at his size. I believe Ming once logged 20 blocks in an Asia Junior Championship game (I’m not sure but I think I read it about two year ago), when interviewed, he told a reporter, “I’d rather have 30 blocks than 30 points, that will scare my opponents to death”. Basketball fans in China have a lot of complains on Chinese sport authority already, they said Zhizhi should have been allowed to play in USA (NCAA or NBA) earlier. They feel like Zhizhi was basically on the same level as (or even better than) Norwiski back in 98. While Dirk flourishes in Maverick, Zhizhi almost idled and fell behind. So I think Ming will get green light this time. I believe Ming’s cousin will persuade Chinese sports authority that if Houston picks Ming, it would be the best place for Ming because Rocket has a great coach in Rudy T, an all-star point guard in Steve Francis and the young nucleus (Mobley, Griffin etc). The problem to get Ming, I think, would be his obligation to play for Chinese National team. He will have to play Olympic, World Championship, and Asian Championship during off season. Dirk Norwiski, Peja etc also play these games. But he also need play Asian Games (every 4 years, most recent coming is this Sep.), Chinese National Games (every 4 years, most recent coming is in 2005). The busy schedule might conflict with NBA summer league and training camp, or even worse. Ming may also get exhausted by these off-season games and become injury-prone. I think that’s the biggest risk. Finally, I hope everything will be worked out for Ming, after the end of Asian Game (mid-October?), Ming should have no problem to join the NBA. I will hear the announcement: “Here comes the Center, Yao Ming, 7 inch 5, from China…”
Hi, here comes another Chinese basketball fan. I live in New Jersey right now. I have been excited these days and I think I root for Rocket already, of course, only if Ming will play in Houston. I didn’t have many chances to watch Ming’s play in USA, I read a lot of news from online Chinese newspaper. Some posters would like see the comparison between Ming and Wang Zhizhi, I’ll say Ming is younger, taller than Zhizhi. He plays great defense in China league, he carries the team by his own while Zhizhi has much better support around him. That's one reason Wang is not as aggressive as Ming. One problem for Ming during his rookie year is he might often be in foul trouble. Ming played water-polo for a while (1 or 2 years?) when he was a kid, so he has strong legs and good agility at his size. I believe Ming once logged 20 blocks in an Asia Junior Championship game (I’m not sure but I think I read it about two year ago), when interviewed, he told a reporter, “I’d rather have 30 blocks than 30 points, that will scare my opponents to death”. Basketball fans in China have a lot of complains on Chinese sport authority already, they said Zhizhi should have been allowed to play in USA (NCAA or NBA) earlier. They feel like Zhizhi was basically on the same level as (or even better than) Norwiski back in 98. While Dirk flourishes in Maverick, Zhizhi almost idled and fell behind. So I think Ming will get green light this time. I believe Ming’s cousin will persuade Chinese sports authority that if Houston picks Ming, it would be the best place for Ming because Rocket has a great coach in Rudy T, an all-star point guard in Steve Francis and the young nucleus (Mobley, Griffin etc). The problem to get Ming, I think, would be his obligation to play for Chinese National team. He will have to play Olympic, World Championship, and Asian Championship during off season. Dirk Norwiski, Peja etc also play these games. But he also need play Asian Games (every 4 years, most recent coming is this Sep.), Chinese National Games (every 4 years, most recent coming is in 2005). The busy schedule might conflict with NBA summer league and training camp, or even worse. Ming may also get exhausted by these off-season games and become injury-prone. I think that’s the biggest risk. Finally, I hope everything will be worked out for Ming, after the end of Asian Game (mid-October?), Ming should have no problem to join the NBA. I will hear the announcement: “Here comes the Center, Yao Ming, 7 feet 5, from China…”
If that's your point (and if the Rockets management agrees with you), then I agree, trade the pick. It's already very obvious he's not going to be in training camp this year. I think the rest of the posters on this board (and presumably the Rockets management) don't see that one point as a deal-breaker by any stretch of the imagination. PS. To the guy who asked , I'll most definitely be a Rockets fan if they draft Yao Ming. That's not a threat.. just honesty! I live by Sacramento for god's sake, so I already have a team to root for. But if the Rockets draft Yao...
My main concern with Ming is this... What if he comes to the US and doesn't play that well in his first year? Will the Chinese government want him over here getting pushed around by Shaq, and dunked on by Vince Carter? Say there is a trade and NY takes him. If he plays just okay, he will get booed...nightly. Do you think the chinese government will allow him to stay if he proves to a be only an average NBA player? Personally I think Ming will be a solid NBA player, after some time to adjust. If the Chinese government expexts him to dominate like he does in China, I am worried they will call him back when he doesn't.
