What Irritates Me About the Whole NYC/NBA/China Thing

If we can't work a deal with Ming we aren't stuck just negotiating with NY. There will be suitors for the number one pick Jeff, even if it's just for Jay.

Clippers would give up Odom and a lotto pick at least for Jay.

Wizards would give up Kwame plus their lotto for Jay + the 15.

imo, of course.

Our team will be better regardless, but Ming would make the team not just good, but great.

 

Jeff, I posted this in another thread but it applies here as well...

David Stern needs to call up the powers that be in China and say...


"Listen, this is my league and here are the rules. There are no exceptions to the rules. We don't make exceptions for the Michael Jordans, Magic Johnsons and Wilt Chamberlains of the world and we certainly won't be making exceptions for Yao Ming. If you don't like the rules, let us know now and we will never consider any Chinese National player as long as we are under my watch. Let me know your decision by June 26th." Click.

 

I doubt he'd be able to say it with a straight face.

 

I think its being made into a bigger deal than it really is. New york and chicago are posturing. If I'm not mistaken, Houston has the largest asian population of all the nba cities, so why wouldn't that satisfy china? The cost of living and the fact that we are the 4 largest city in the us doesn't make us small or middle market. The Knicks have nothing we want and the bulls aside from Jalen Rose and Curry really have nothing we want or what they would be willing to give up. The Rockets should just draft the guy and go with it.

 

Damn ...Is that how it is? I don't have all the info. so someone please tell me the thread, link, section whatever that has doomed us so...

 

Exactly, NJRocket. But this is Stern we're talking about. Jeff, you sound pretty incensed... something going on we should know about?

 

A little off-topic, but I didn't want to start a new thread. Other than the Shaq and Duncan lottery, how exciting is this? Ithink it's the best lottery to win since the Duncan lottery. Alot of intrigue, for sure. If Ming doesn't look like the answer, I'm sure there are teams that will want Jay. I'm glad we won this lotto and not the last one, in hindsight.

 

there is no possible way that houston has the largest asian population in the NBA. I know for sure NYC has the largest and i am sure LA also has a larger Asian group too.

 

If the Rockets are forced ino a trade with New York, then the key thing to do is get a third team involved. A healthy Marcus Camby and Latrell Sprewell definitly hold some appeal. Keeping Camby, drafting a small forward, and finding a suitor for Latrell Sprewell would be the way to go. Hell, I could see maybe a team like Atlanta being intrested in Sprewell...maybe they'd dangle Ratliffs name out there.

...just a thought

 

ROXRAN,

I think the Shanghai Sharks' organization is basically making the Houston Rockets seem unimportant: Houston? Where's that? The Rockets? That was Wang Zhi Zhi's team, right?

You see, the lottery might not have been fixed on draft lotto day, but it can be fixed between now and the actual draft.

It makes me mad too because it smacks of collusion even though Stern and whomever can wave away such talk like a fart in the wind: "We've never had this situation before, when it's all said and done, the Chinese don't even have to let him play in the States. It's a very tricky situation." Etc.

 

I'll say this as far as the Knicks go...I listen to WFAN pretty much all day (Mike and the maddog) and though he can be condescending at times, Mike Francessa is very knowledgable about the inner-ongoings of the NY sports organizations.

Now, believe it or not, the draft hasn't really been much of a discussion topic over the last 2 days (it would certainly be differnt had the Knicks won the lotto, but they didnt). Most of the talk focusses on the Nets and Yankees these days. Anyway, anytime the draft or the Knicks' options come up, he basically says that the Knicks arent going to be able to trade up with the Rockets and that his sources are telling him that they are more interested at this point in trading up high enough to draft Wagner.

Take it for what its worth, but being that I listen to them very frequently, I figured I'd dispell some of the "Knicks think they have Ming" notions.

 

This is not a crucial point by any stretch, but I'll make it nonetheless. China cares nothing for the Asian population of Yao's future NBA city. The only concern is the number of Chinese and nature of the Chinese community. It matters little to China how many Vietnamese or Koreans or Japanese live in Houston, LA, NY, SF, or Chicago. Yao would have about as much in common with those other cultures as he would with Irish or Italians or Germans.

 

Excellent point and I agree.

Do you think this is the reason or does it have more to do with publicity and him being in a larger media market. Houston has a substantial Chinese population--I would think more than the Washing DC area or Chicago--but I would think those places would be more of interest for the Chinese government than Houston for other reasons (larger international media centers).

I will say Houston should be a reasonably desirable place for him to be for the Chinese government. Maybe not on the map with NY area, Chic, Bay Area, or DC for their purposes--but should be one of the better of the next choices (maybe along with Seattle, Phx, Boston, Phily and Tor with possibly Atl, Detr, Mia, or Denv following that list) when media attention and/or Chinese sub-population is factored in) and NO WHERE near as bad as many other possible ones (Memphis, Sac, Portland, Utah, Orl, Clev, Milw, Ind, NO).

 

Jeff,

I really think this a whole lot of posturing by the Chinese government who lacks leverage in the longrun.

Let me explain.

The Chinese government aren't fools. They know they need Yao in the NBA as quickly as possible, so they can reap all the global marketing and media exposure benefits.

Someone said they are taking Mavs center Wang Zhi Zhi for a loop too, but there's a huge difference we have to take into account. Wang Zhi Zhi was a very late first round pick, without any of the hype of Ming. In fact, Zhi Zhi was a shock to even be taken then by the TNT draft crew, for whatever that's worth.

Thus, the Chinese government has a lot less to lose in stringing Wang Zhi Zhi around like they are, instead of Yao.

If I were the Rockets, unless I get literally "wowed" like a KG, Duncan offer, which is highly unlikely, I take Ming and because I know it's in China's best interest to have Yao simply playing in the NBA as quickly as possible I wouldn't be afraid of calling their bluff.

Finally, besides that, we are a playoff caliber team when healthy without Yao, the risk is a lot less for us if we want to take him.

Championships are won by taking risks. Yao Ming is a risk but a very worthwhile one in my opinion.

 

Desert Scar,

My personal opinion is that Houston will wind up being an acceptable city for Yao to play in. Houston seems to have a combination of things that, if I were making the decision, would make it very attractive. The Chinese population, while not the largest in the country, is significant enough to have an identity and to support Yao. The Rockets don't suck like the Warriors do. China will do as much research as is required. In the end, if they're smart, they'll realize that NY is NOT a good place for a 21 year old foreigner to try and break into the league. The media scrutiny alone would be tough to handle, especially if he struggles. In which case, it would likely mean strict handling of media access and appearances. If that happens, it negates whatever benefit would come from being in a large media market. What good is it if you're trying to avoid the media? Houston, on the other hand, will not present the problems that NY, while still offering him a large enough fan base to identify with. As for the Rockets organization and how China perceives it, however, that remains to be seen. I don't think the city will be the determining facter in the end.

Although I can understand why you'd want to say that, I think this is the absolute worst way to deal/negotiate with China. It's a very western point of view, which comes across as way too confrontational for the Asian mind. If Stern forces China to lose face by giving this type of ultimatum, it is likely that they will indeed "cut off their nose to spite their face"...hold Yao back. It's a facet of the culture that is very difficult for us Americans to grasp. I wish I could explain it more clearly, but even after living in China, it's hard to figure sometimes.

 

Remember, the #1 pick is OURS!! Not Mings! We may not get a good deal with NY, but we can do better with others. Either trade it off to someone else or select a different player. Another team before NY will pickup Ming.

 

I'm sure the Rockets would have any conditions for Yao ironed out before they take him in the draft. My question is this: if the PRC starts acting wacky and adding new things in once we draft Yao, would we be in a position to get some compensation from the NBA (draft pick, cap relief etc) if he did not play a certain amount because of PRC driven limitations?