It's a mistake to think drafting of Yao depends on how the talks with the Chinese go. Once we draft him there will be only two options for them: Yao plays for us on our terms, or he stays in China. The Chinese want him in the NBA, so they will let him go even if not all of their demands are met. For example, they may agree he plays for China in the Olympics only, and not in the Asian games, or every single "friendly" they have with Laos or Sri Lanka. Or agree to the $350K that NBA allows for foreign club compensation. (That's probably more than the gross for the year for the Sharks). Or agree that Maurice Taylor meets the definition of a "player" for the purposes of satisfying their demand for one, regardless of how much that would stretch this definition. If they don't play, I hope the kid will have enough sense to defect. In any way it's a mistake to make drafting him dependent on working out the politics. That only gives the Chinese the sense that if their demands are not met the Rockets will give up and another team will be more willing to play ball with them. We'll have a lot more leverage after the draft.
Huh??? Absolutely not!!! We haven't had the first pick in the draft since we drafted Hakeem. It's rare and it's valuable. You don't waste it by picking the guy and HOPING things work out!! There are tons of good players available to pick from or to trade for...players that could make a real contribution next year. Ming may or may not ever be available to play in the NBA, depending on China's position. If he is available, we know it will be limited...for instance, we know he won't be able to attend training camp (something that would be of real value to the development of Ming into the NBA). I'm not so enamored by this guy to think, "hey...let's just take him! so what that he might never play and we'd waste an entire year and a chance at a #1 pick or the value thereof!!" He may be good...but he's not good enough to risk an entire offseason of rebuilding on given the uncertainty. Again...I don't think we accept defections from the Republic of China because we have diplomatic relations with them...there's something funky about that...unfortunately i don't know enough international law.
ARE YOU FRIGGIN INSANE? If I was Mo and the Rockets told me I was being traded to China I would tell them where to go. Why the hell would Mo wanna live in a foreign country where the goverment tells you when and where to pee...... YAO MING WILL BE A POLITICAL HEADCASE
