I have come to the conclusion (as have the Rockets) that we have to take Yao. If we use the pick, he's our only option. Steve is our point gaurd (fact of life, like it or not, We made a promise to him in order to get him here and we are stuck with our decision), so WIlliams is out of the question. If you don't pick one of those two guys, you might as well trade. But, I digress. Back to my topic. There is a good chance that in a few years, the Chinese wil chill a little bit on their player's restrictions. I think they will see what a cash cow sending guys to the NBA can be and be a little more negotiable on letting the players go to camps, summer leagues, etc. My point is. Yao is the best option with the number one pick. he has the potential to be good or even stellar. He will be a great guy to have playing alongside a lightning fast shot blocker like EG. Hell, Shawn Bradley has averaged 3blk in 26min for his career and Yao can move a lot better than him. EG and Yoa will combine for 8-12 a game. Yao will probably become more available in a season or two and he is still very young. On top of it all we happen to have a young PF that has the potential to give Garnett a run for his money. What happens when you have one of the best backout and frontcourt duo's in the league? You establish a dynasty. How can you not take a chance on that? Yao it is. I'm nervous and excited as hell.
Get Yao in here, once the league see what is going on and everything goes well and then next year get a free agent like Duncan, or some other power forward that does not want to play any center mins and bingo dynasty is here. Think of the Spurs team back in the day with David Robinson, Now think of it with Yao and Duncan(or other great Power forward) with a back up of Ming and Griffin. Plus the offensive power of Stevie and Cuttino. Fast breaks like crazy with the great rebounding plus the great passing of Duncan and Ming. The opposing teams would be so tired of trying to get back on defense in time, after missing any shot. Offensive rebounds will be scarce. Stevie now can get out on the break!!!!
What most of the power forwards are complaining about is not having a good defensive center to help them out they are all gone. If we get Ming, we will have that position filled up very nicely, the only other team I can think of right now with a great defensive center is the Lakers and that is probably it, the only other good defensive center is probably Mutombo and J.Oneal, and that is probably it. The rest are really washed up and Mutombo is close to being washed up, if not already. We are not going to win the championship for the next 2 years anyways with or without Ming. We still have to get in the playoffs at least once or twice before the whole team matures enough to know how to win it all. So we are still building, hopefully Ming will be starting to hit some of his prime in 3 years.
Ming will probably a solid shotblocker. But I highly doubt that he will be a defensive force, especially in man-to-man defense. Also, Eddie Griffin will probably be our best inside defender down the road.
I agree we'll still need a bruiser to help Yao with the physical stuff. Shouldn't be too hard to get one if other players start thinking we got something going here.
