First, let me say very clearly that I'm a Rockets fan first. Those that have been here long enough know that to be true. So before some of you react to this as a YOF thread, stop it. -------------------------------- One thing that has not been discussed is what Yao wants -- or what we think Yao wants. This season is a turning point in Yao's career for many reasons. Each of them impact Yao's mindset as to what he wants for the remaining years of his career. 1. Yao led a Tmac-less team to the 2nd round and in different stretches took his game to another level. In doing so, he earned the respect of fans that once doubted his toughness. But in doing so, he understands that a significant gap exists between the Rockets and the truly elite teams. 2. The book on Yao is out. Worse yet, coaches are not just reading, they are game planning based on it. Yes, I'm talking about fronting. Yao has seen it in bits and piece in years past, and more so this year. Now, these playoffs have demonstrated that you can take Yao out of most games if you front. The Rockets are not good enough passers, and Yao's not quick enough to consisently hold his position. In short, too many things have to go right, but too seldom do, to get Yao the number of touches to make him effective and/or dominiant. 3. Yao suffered another foot injury. He is nothing if not incredibly smart and must know his time at the peak of his game is limited. 4. With the trade of Rafer, injury to Tmac, changes in our style of play ... plus the foot injury and the fronting --- this team will continue to be reshaped into Adelman's offense at Sacto. If he stays, Yao will be seeing more time in the high post. -------- With this in mind, what is going on in Yao's head as he elevates his immobilized foot and considers his future? He's my guess. What's yours? Yao is fiercely loyal and his default is to stay with the Rockets. But the guy is competitive and wants to win it all. I think he would stay if the things listed below happen. 1. the Rockets parlay Tmac's expiring contract for players that will make life easier for him. - I think this season has been hugely frustrating for Yao. He can't get the ball consistently enough. Some of it is his fault, but he can't help but think of all the times that Brooks has flat out missed him. - I'm talking about getting a PG that can hit Yao when he is open. I'm talking about a guy that can create his own shot when the play goes to crap, and we have 7 seconds left on the shot clock. I'm talking about a legitimate 2 way big man that can spell Yao and function in Adelman's offeYanse. - We can't get all of these things with Tmac's contract, but we need to add pieces like this. Yao's a smart guy, I think he has confidence that Morey can get this done. 2. the Rockets show we are willing to get into luxury tax land to get a player to make Yao's life easier. Repeat of point 1, in a diferent way, but it's key. This season has been a huge challenge for Yao, and probably filled with frustration. I think Yao would take less than Max if the rockets spend elsewhere to complete the team. 3. Yao heals and feels pretty healthy. If so, he will feel like he can carry a signifcant load and stay here. If not, he may realize that he is better off going to a more complete team, where he can get the ball reliably and be more effective overall, without the incredible effort it takes here. ------- I believe Yao's interests line up with the best course for the Rockets, which is to reload for next year. 1. It's been thoroughly discussed. We're not going to get anywhere just letting Tmac's contract expire, and I think folks are delusional to think we can add an elite player via FA. 2. If you blow this whole thing up, you're looking at a rebuild process that is uncertain at best. You dump the Yao fanbase and cash cow, hope for good draft picks, accumulate young talent. All this while the Lakers aren't going anywhere, and if anything, are going to get better with Bynum's improvement. All this while Portland becomes an elite team. All this while Lebron gets better and will remain in his prime for the next 7 years. In short, this is not a viable option for the Rockets, either on the court or as a business decision. 3. So Yao, Morey and Les have a sit down and agree: Yao agrees not to demand the max; Morey and Les agree to deal Tmac this offseason and spend MLE, so that we can reload for another run immediately. It's our best chance.
I knid agree. few mils more or less is not important to Yao now. Yao can make few extra millions just from the marketing each year easily. on other hand, having few rings is a lot more important for yao and rox. if yao can cut off few mils from his contract,like 3 or 4, that will help this team a lot. this is really a win-win for both side.
Would Yao last longer and be possibly just as valuable in the same role that Bill Walton played when he was with the Celtics?
Yao has hinted that if Rockets can't put together a team to compete for a championship by 2010, he will look elsewhere for that opportunity. He is loyal to the Rockets, but he will not let that take precedent over a shot at the title. Assuming we had a healthy McGrady (don't laugh), we would be challenging the Lakers and the Cavs this year. However, it is not the case, and for we can expect, Tmac would never be the same player again. If we really want to keep Yao, we will need to move some pieces to significantly upgrade our team, not just adding another role player or two. Otherwise, as much as I'm a Yao Ming fan, I wouldn't mind letting him walk, as long as we can get another franchise player in return. Of course, not all max-contract players are created equal. I highly doubt the Rockets front office will let that happen unless Yao demands it. The obligatory "In Morey I Trust."
Yao wants a happy ending! Seriously, very good post. It will be very interesting to watch Morey this summer; but I worry that people are way too optimistic about what they can get for T-Mac's expiring contract. One way of looking at the landscape you paint (Lakers, Blazers, Cavs, all improving) is to say now is definitely the time to blow it up because we have no legitimate window to win a title now. That may be the pragmatic view. But I doubt they let Yao go without really giving every effort to make him happy and make another run with him. (The extra international cash has to be a primary incentive, right? Trumping basketball?) The creepy question is if he can get through a long season (WCF?) without sustaining one of these stress fractures. Every year, the foot is older.
I think your post answers your own questions. He wants a good passer. He wants players who can take advantage of being open. For what he brings to the table, i dont think his 15 mil needs any chopping like you guys say. Lets first handle the blank check of 23 mil before any chopping is done or even thought of.
My understanding is that Yao has a player option for 2010/2011 yes? My purely speculative guess is that he'll rehab and play out his last contracted year next season (hopefully with Ron) and see what happens. If he goes down again, then for his own health he will have to re-evaluate if his body is able to stand a whole NBA season. Early retirement from the NBA is not out of the question imo. He could go back to China, have an easier schedule and play games for the NT. Ironically, all this talk on the board about blowing the team up could be dependent on Yao not exercising his player option (whether it is to retire from the NBA or go to another team), as a 2010 free agent plan requires both McGrady and Yao's contracts to be off the books. If he exercises his option his trade value as an expiring contract will be shot down as well, as it won't have value to teams with 2010 plans. He still has trade value as a player, but I don't think it's as high as what posters here are expecting - for the same reasons you want to get rid of him, why would another team want him? If rockets want to trade him, their best hope is to find a team that wants him purely for financial/marketing purposes.
I only read the thing in bold in OP's statement, and I can't agree more. Too many things need to go right for Yao to dominate a game. And that's only on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively he is always too slow to rotate, won't ever be able to guard the pick and roll or contest a shooter. This is why I think we're going to beat the Lakers. Even Adelman said that the team played well when Yao was on the bench and had foul trouble. The Lakers gave us their best hit in the first half of game 2, but when we played hard nosed small ball, they had no answer. Take Duncan and Gasol away from their teams, and their teams become significantly worse. But take Yao out, and the team isnt worse. In fact we become BETTER on the defensive end and rebounding the ball. Yao Ming isn't the be all end all like REAL franchise big men. We have won without him and we are going to beat the Lakers without him.
A backup center would be great.How can a 7'6" giant with history of foot problems play with no back center? Duh...! Even when Mutumbo was in, he played minimal minutes. Many teams have more than one 7 footers in their center rotation. The Rockets has a bunch of undersized guards, decent SFs, really good PFs and one center with no backups. Think about it. No wonder Yao foot's fractured.
you just dont get it, dont you? people here in Houston do NOT want Yao to stay, they want to hit the reset button and rebuild. who cares about what Yao wants now... reading all those threads started with a hypocritical line " I love Yao, BUT..." really pisses me off, come on, self claimed true rox fans, just cut the bxxlcrap and gather around to make a formal petition to the management asking for a trade to send Yao away, please... comments like " we will have to be stuck with Yao until he retires as rocket, because Les will never let his money cow go..." are simply insulting to the big fella who played his heart out whenever he's on the court. I agree Yao has his limitations due to his size but saying all his value to this orgnazition is purely money wise is just blind or stupid. if you don't have the basketball knowledge or if your IQ is as low as some low life piece of shyt like "shortfuse3", just stfu and wait and see how many othere teams would like to join the bid for Yao if the rockets really put him on the table this off season... Yao's season is over but the rockets' is NOT. worst case scenario we still got 2 more games to play and show we are fighters. i want our guys fight to the end, go Ron, go Shane, go Rockets!!!!
Trade Tmac for Baron Davis and Camby/Kaman either or Im fine with...back up center and point guard done...clippers get the cap relief they want
Loyalty is overrated considering the ugly reaction from so many rocket fans. With all the contributions Yao has made to this organization, they took no time to throw him under the bus. What a shame!
I don't know what Yao wants,but I do know what I want right now,a chocolate souffle. LOL,/jk Totally agree with the OP,we cannot afford to rebuild and wait for the growth of this team,dealing T-Mac before his contract really expires and get a YOUNG TALENT or something,whatever that could do us good. Yao,my prayer goes to him for his rehabilitation on his left foot.
I don't really care what Yao wants; what I want is for the Rockets to win a championship, and I no longer think that's possible with him as their centerpiece. He's brittle and lacks the nasty streak that every big man needs in order to compensate for their lack of athleticism. He's slower than a pregnant moose, his hands are soft, and his style of play, while dignified, is boring. Enough. It's over. I wish Yao the best (and Tracy too), but it's time to part ways with both of them. Let me be clear, I think Yao is a first class guy, a true gentleman, but I'm tired of losing.
Battier and Artest probably have 2 more good years left in them Landry, Hayes, Lowry, and Brooks are all young. Scola probably has 3-4 good years left thats a great core to have. All we're missing is a star who can create his own shot. Even then we don't NEED a star. just another good role player who can cut and move w/o the ball.
I agree with all that you have said except for the last sentence. Granted his value is not as high as a lot of people think but it's by no means only for financial/marketing purposes. His latest foot injury will undoubtedly lower it though, I admit. If Yao rehabs and comes back strong then I think his value would be at least the equal of Big Z.
