Is there any word yet on Yao's contract status after this season? In reading the B Roy thread it got me hoping that we dont really think Yao will ever be more that a potenial injury threat for the rest of his career and give him some contract he'll never live up to.. I like where this team is heading (youth, athleticism, etc..) and Yao I feel is simply looks more and more out of place on a team thats plays to all of his weaknesses currently
We should offer him something within reason that won't break the bank and hope that he takes it. If he doesn't except that then I'm not sure he will be a Rocket after this season. I really hope we can resign him though.
And surely we, together with other teams (Clippers, Warriors, etc) with youth and athleticism, are heading to the promise land,i.e., the lottery.
I say we approach it the same way we did Lowry and Scola. Let Yao see what the market is then decide if its worth matching. From what I saw early this year, Yao progressed well. Illgauskas recovered... haven't given up on him yet.
Yao Ming should and will be treated with respect as he has earned, is his due, and is Rox likely direction.
both of those teams aren't nearly as deep as we and unlike those teams as well, we actually possess chemistry i believe
Why don't we just lock this thread because the long term might not happen..... http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=197574
why is this upsetting? why delay this any further? dont waste any more time or money to watch this guy on the bench. look im a yao fan (and always have been) but it would have been an absolutely horrible business decision to bring this guy back long term..
Scola and Lowry were restricted free agents. We could always match any contract another team signed them to. Yao will be an unrestricted free agent and if he accepts another teams offer, there's nothing we can do. If Yao doesn't retire and the Rockets really want to keep him, they can't use the same tactics they did with Scola, Lowry, and Landry.
I think he's done in Houston. Maybe he would sign for the vet minimum, but it doesn't make any sense for us to be hanging championship hopes on him anymore. I hope he does persevere and make ANOTHER come back. I'd like to see him win a championship, but its not going to be with Rockets. I wouldn't mind seeing him play as a role player on another team, 15 minutes a game with the Thunder or maybe the Heat.
