-Rockets working out kinks with Yao -06/05/2002- Talking with Tim Brando, Rockets GM Carroll Dawson addresses the franchise's efforts to work out a deal with Yao Ming and the Chinese government and why the center would be a great fit in Houston. http://mfile.akamai.com/3310/rm/sportnws.download.akamai.com/3310/i/media/audio/2/20020605/8852.ram
Unless Mr. Dawson was lying his a** off, then the Rockets have no questions about Ming's basketball ability. They said they've been scouting Yao since he was 17 years old. The only question is one of availability (ironic because they have the #1 pick), but CD indicated he thought things were going well in terms of being able to reach an agreement. C - Yao Ming PF - Eddie Griffin SF - Kenny Thomas SG - Cuttino Mobley PG - Steve Francis
True, the 'questions marks' now are the SF and PF positions. The starters will be two of the following players. Am I missing any? Kenny Thomas Terrence Morris Maurice Taylor Eddie Griffin Glen Rice Walt Williams #15 pick
No, but unless you think the Rocks are going to offer Walt a contract you have added one too many. Walt becomes a unrestricted FA on July 1 and has no contract with Houston.
That's just as well, he was the current player I could think of as a 'viable' option. If the Bulls end up trading E-Rob, Walt Williams might be an attractive, relatively low cost option for a backup swingman for Chicago. Anyway, even without Walt Williams, the Rockets will have six 'viable' options to choose from to fill SF and PF.
Depending on the matchup, Kenny can play small forward ... and pretty well. That is correct. Also having shotblockers to back him up inceases the number of small forwards he can adequately play against. I never could understand why the so called KT at small forward experiment was judged a failure last year. Can someone explain this?
Carroll Dawson, Says Ming is not an unknown at all to them. They've seen him many times. Carroll several. Met him in person. Joe Ash, twice was sent to China. Aside from the tape. There seems no doubt that they know more about Ming than they did Griffin. You get the impression that they always had Ming as #1 on the board. Carroll had the opportunity to totally dis the Knicks, and he didn't. sigh He said the #1 has rarely been traded if ever, mentioning Webber after the draft, but had the opportunity to mention how Red Auerbach flipped the #1 into the #3 (McHale) plus Parish for Joe Barry Carroll. Oh well. I don't see any McHale's and Parish's in this league.
hpscc - Sorry to be picky...if the Rockets sign Walt, he can not be traded until around December 15th. Remember, Walt is a FA and can sign to play where ever he wants for whatever he wants above the vet minimum. And unless the Rocks get Odom or Lewis or ??? Artest??...I like making a pitch to the Bulls for ERobb. I was disappointed the Rocks never spoke with him last summer.
Dammit HP -- I was just about to post my transcription of the interview! I just want to reiterate: CD and crew have been watching him since he was 17. Joe Ash "kind of toured with" Yao's team for a bit. (CD's words) Quote: "He's familiar athletically and talentwise it's not a question ..." These guys are paid to do this. They're not judging Yao based on 30 second clips over the Internet. I've been on board since Day One, and I'm on board more than ever.
I don't recall that ever being said by Rudy or Feigen. What I recall is that Griffin got tired out, and stop playing as much. Walt came back and started, then went down, and Tmo started getting starts at SF and Langhi got a few. Griffin started just a short stint.
Rockets lineup to start the season wil be: PG: Francis SG: Mobley SF: Rice PF: Taylor C: Cato Ming, Griffen, Nachbar(rockets will pick him), and Norris will come off the bench to start the year. Why would they throw Ming out to start the year when everyone says he is not ready and is going to miss 2 weeks of training camp.
He'll start because he'll be the #1 pick and it's not a large stretch for Ming to beat out Cato in a couple of practices - I'm assuming Ming won't arrive in Houston October 31!
Could be, but I just feel like it's going to take him a little time to get into a flow with the Rockets offense. Then again how hard is it going to be for him to learn to stand by the 3 pt. line and watch Francis and Mobley do their thing.
