I've been a Rockets fan since the early 70's. In fact, I think I saw the very first Rocket exhibition game which to my recollection was played at the AstroHall against the Sixers. Mebbe one of you historians can check that out... In my time I've rooted on Elvin Hayes and Moses Malone and Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon-- all great players.... and all traded by the Rockets. Is Yao such a cash-cow that he will not be traded? Personally I don't get too attached to any one player since it is a team game... or at least is supposed to be! I love Yao and all that he represents, but he's gotta go sometime even if he just slips off into retirement.
According to half the people on this board yao is the best player in the league, and the only reason he can't win is because of the team around him.
I'm pretty sure Hakeem in his prime was untouchable as far as trades go. If Yao somehow is still playing ball in his mid 30's he will not be untouchable.
This. Obviously, Yao is not Hakeem in terms of being an absolute basketball stud, but Hakeem could never reach the level of marketability that Yao has. Just because of this, I think Yao won't be traded by this organization unless he walks due to his own accord, or he requests a trade.
Jesus, the thread title is "Is Yao the first untradeable asset", and the actual question is "will Yao ever get traded", these are totally different questions, and I voted for the thread title.
He is not the greatest player in the NBA. He is one of them. Yao is untradeable because of talent and market value. Market value in the sense of bringing profits to the team.
Don't call me Jesus and don't have a conniption fit, okay? The thread was titled that way to encourage discussion. Maybe Les Alexander wrote down in his diary that Yao is untradeable.... It's more about a perception since Yao has no label on him.
In all seriousness, I believe we should trade Yao when his contract is about to expire BECAUSE he won't last after the age of 33. Get something while you can.
giddy, trading Elvin and Moses were acts of idiocy by the Rockets. Ralph was a shell of his former self, due to injury. Dream was at the end of his career and was asking for a lot of money (although I think we should have kept him, somehow). I don't think those are good examples of trading a star, but rather bad examples in the case of Hayes and Malone. Sampson was finished. Hakeem should have retired a Rocket.
he was almost traded while in his prime: http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1137516/3/index.htm And to think that if either the Heat or the Los Angeles Clippers had bitten on Houston's trade offerings for the disenchanted Olajuwon last summer—the Rockets wanted Seikaly, Harold Miner and Grant Long from Miami or Danny Manning and Stanley Roberts from L.A.—Olajuwon would now be only a memory in Houston, rather than a recurring Dream.
The poll threw me off, due to its contrast from the thread title, so silly me voted "For sure!" because I didn't read and was just basically answering the title. But to the question will Yao ever be traded? I wouldn't say never. I will say it is possible, but not probable.
Do you really believe Yao cant be traded,NBA is business and all players just asset.When you at work,your boss can say anything he wants,but if he needs to fire you somehow,he will do it for sure.I am still very sad about how DREAM left Houston.
