Yao: If healthy, 2 more years. If not, retirement this summer.

I know the odds are extremely great that we'll just end up suffering from heartburn and acid indigestion while dealing with yet another attempt by the big guy to return to the hardwood, with the winner being whoever cranks out Tums, but I'm not opposed to it under those circumstances. I have a caveat, however. Should Yao manage to play at all for the Rockets, he better not drag his arse over to the National Team and suit up. Not after everything that's happened. If he does, I'm done with him. I'm a huge fan of Yao, but enough is enough. It would be inexcusable. Absolutely inexcusable.

 

He has to question the chances of another leg even if that ankle does heal. I know I do.

 

Look, Yao is only 30 years old. He should retire for a couple of years. Work with the organization in some capacity. Continue rehabbing and staying in shape. Spend time with his family. Then come back when and if he is ready. I'm sure he and the Rockets could work something like that out.

 

Can't we just give him a farewell game like we did with Barkley and call it a day?

 

...or play Yao 20 seconds a game. I bet he still couldn't finish the season.

 

Yao, GO TO BOSTON!!!!

 

That's not exactly true. Literally had major injuries in the 70's 80's and in 1990 when he tried yet another comeback.

From his wiki entry:

"His ankle problems became so severe years later that he had both his ankles surgically fused. His saga of injury and failed rehabs was connected to the use of pain killers by the doctor who was assigned to his case. Walton has said repeatedly in his broadcasts that he is just as much to blame for taking the medication as the doctor was for giving it to him. ... In a June 8, 2010 interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Walton admitted to contemplating suicide for a time due to the constant pain resulting from injuries sustained during his NBA career.[13] His injuries, along with his 1978–1979 year-long protest, gave him an unpleasant, if not odd, record. Walton holds the record for the most games missed during an NBA playing career, when taking into account the number of years he was officially listed as a player on a team roster."

EDIT: why would they fuse his ankles together?

 

Yao: If healthy, retirement this summer. If not, retirement this summer, then 2 more years of rehab.

 

I love the guy, but he's done. He was done the moment he limped off the court in Game 3 against the lakers.

Why spend all that time rehabbing so you can play 5 meaningless minutes a game for a couple of weeks only to suffer another season ending injury? Life is too short.

Yao needs to go enjoy life without (playing) basketball. Go enjoy the fruits of your labor, man. How many people have the chance to do that at his age?

 

Not exactly the same situation, but 1985/86 Bill Walton provides something similar: Walton played very well that year, with a TS% over .600, 15 pts, 13 rebounds 3.4 assists 3 blks per 36 minutes, but only averaged 20 mpg. If a player can play well, but only in limited minutes, that's what you do with him.


http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/waltobi01.html


Sabonis, also, played his last couple of NBA seasons that way: very good level of play but in limited minutes.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sabonar01.html

 

And I called it right then. Seriously, I respect the guy, I really do, but I'll consider him a curse if he comes back. Let the madness end!

 

He also had the luxury of playing with, IMO, the greatest team in the history of the NBA. Yao wouldn't exactly be playing with 4 Hall of Famers in their prime like Walton did that year.

 

i don't know what bother you so much to spend all of your time on yao again. morey stopped talking about yao long time ago. the team is clearly moving to the different direction. even he is back with rox, he won't be our foundation anymore. as a fan, we should move on. like i said before, if he is back with us and healthy, it would be icing on the cake. no one should worry that his signing may hurt rox financially like his past contract. everyone should realize morey is still our GM. he knows what he is doing when talking about money, way better than anyone on this board.

 

Yep, the team has moved on, but they can add him on the cheap, he is now a low risk potentially high reward type of move.

DD

 

agree. i believe morey knows more and better about risk management.

 

he could play for free and it won't help us. We will still be below average. move the heck on.

 

... and had both his ankles fused a decade later... and considered killing himself due to the chronic pain in his ankles.

I hope Yao talks to Walton.

 

That's why I said Walton's situation was not the same. However, I don't think the distinction is all that relevant. If a guy can give you 20 good minutes, but no more, you play him the 20 whether he's subbing in for Robert Parish or for Chuck Hayes. The importan question is whether you are better off giving these 20 minutes to him or to someone else.

Look at the other example: Sabonis. The last couple of Blazers team he played limited minutes on weren't bad, but they were certainly no 85/86 Celtics. Both teams won 50 games and lost in the 1st round.


One more example: Dikembe Mutombo as a Rocket. He was still rebouding and blocking shots at a high level during most of his time here, though he couldn't really last long playing starters minutes (he tended to wear down when he had to start in Yao's absence).

Anyway, it hinges on Yao's recovery. If he can't get healthy, it's all moot. But if he does get well enough to give it a go at some point and doesn't cost much money to get him, why not give him a go? What are you gonna do with the money and roster spot you don't use on Yao? Sign David Andersen?

 

I don't know who you use the roster spot on. But I would not use it on a guy who:

1. is coming off his second ankle injury;

2. was hurt playing limited minutes last season in his 5th game;

3. is 7'5" or taller and over 30 years old.

I can't stress enough how much I'd avoid #3.

 

I think Yao didn't say that it has to be the rockets if he come back next season.

He should sigh with the heat or thunder. They need him, and he needs to play for a contender.