Chron: Rockets get Yao's release in writing

Finally !!!


Rockets get Yao's release in writing

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

The Rockets moved a major step closer to signing Chinese center Yao Ming when Yao's release from the Shanghai Sharks moved from a promise to a contract, Rockets general counsel Michael Goldberg said after returning from China on Wednesday.

Goldberg said he delivered Yao's release from Shanghai to officials of the China Basketball Association in Beijing and was told there were no negotiations left before the CBA would forward the release, making Yao available to play for the Rockets next season.

"I see no obstacles. I have no concerns," Goldberg said. "We got the release (from the Sharks) in writing. Before a federation can give a release, the team that has a player's rights has to give its release. The CBA could not do anything. That's what we went there for. That's what we got.

"Things went great. The primary purpose was to obtain a release from the Shanghai Sharks. We got the release. That was the big step. That allowed the CBA to begin the process of providing us with the official release. Commissioner Xin (Lancheng, the executive vice president and secretary general of the CBA) promised to move on this quickly."

The release from the Sharks and expected release from the CBA differ from the agreements reached in previous meetings and the letter received on the eve of the draft because they would make the pledges offered in June official.

"That was the day that gave us confidence we could work it out," Goldberg said. "This was the trip to work it out."

Goldberg said the Rockets made no commitments to participate in exhibition games or clinics in China, or to work with Chinese players or coaches in Houston. He said the team still intends to participate in a variety of clinics or games but that such commitments could be made only by the NBA.

The Rockets did pay the Sharks $350,000, the maximum allowed under NBA rules, to gain Yao's release.

"That's what they were expecting," Goldberg said. "They understood that a lot of the things they wanted were not things we could commit to under NBA rules. Once they understood we were limited with what we could do on a formal basis, things went very well."

The Sharks will receive a portion of Yao's income. He can earn as much as $3,858,240 from the Rockets next season and $15,690,219 over four years.

Because Yao's salary is dictated by the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, negotiations can move quickly after the CBA sends its release. Goldberg said Yao could be signed "as early as next week." The deal is likely to be completed based on Yao's availability in the United States this month.

Yao, 21, led the Sharks to the CBA championship last season, averaging 32.4 points and 19 rebounds. He made 72.1 percent of his shots and 75.9 percent of his free throws. Yao, 7-5 and 297 pounds, was a member of the 2000 China Olympic team at age 19, averaging 10.5 points and six rebounds while making 63.9 percent of his shots.

The Chinese national team will arrive in Vancouver Aug. 14 for an exhibition game against the Canadian national team Aug. 16. It will train in Denver from Aug. 17 until arriving in Oakland on Aug. 21 for an exhibition against the United States World Championships team the next day. The Chinese team will train in Denver from Aug. 22 until arriving in Indianapolis Aug. 27 for the World Championships.

"They committed to us before the draft that they would release him and that there were no real obstacles," Goldberg said. "We went to get that signed up, and we did."

 

Be careful, don't get your hopes up so high early on the season. I think Yao will have good and bad games as he learns the system and plays against the best players in the world. Hopefully the good games will outweigh the bad.


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