He will get one, no question about that, but is that good for our team. The Timberwolves gave garnett max money and we know what happened. Same with the wizards and Arenas, suns and starbury, etc. We haven't been past the 1st round for the past decade even though we had tmac and yao and were up 2-0 in a couple of those series. Even the clippers have made it past the first round in that time period. Here are the only players I think deserve max money: duncan Kobe CP3 LeBron
I think max money should be reserved for the elite of the elite. Like you say, Kobe and Lebron. Maybe Wade and Paul. The list should be very short.
teams should be careful to give max money around. the only players who deserve max money are true franchise players: lebron, james, CP3, and wade. duncan at this stage of his career, no. parker and ginobili play a bigger role than before and the team isn't just built solely around duncan. the 4 guys above: they do EVERYTHING for their team. look at what the hornets are without paul, they lose to some of the worst teams in the league. however, unless yao starts putting up 25-26ppg, 12-13 rpg, 2-3 bpg to end this year and next year, i'll gladly give him the max.
He deserves it. Max contracts are given to slightly above average players as well, and he's still just a tier below the NBA elite in my opinion. The only complaint I'd have with him getting a max contract is if he got injured again.
I would give it to him but not for the full 6 years. I would offer him a lesser package with a max package and preface that the former is to get good players around him and ask him to decide. The decision to offer the max would definitely be an easier if he delivers in the playoffs.
i dun even want yao to stay houston and get the max contract...i want yao and lebron play together in NY 2010, and of cos, both players get max contact...
IMO he doesn't deserve one, but the market will dictate that he'll have one. If he wasn't injury prone I would say absolutely but with the injury concerns he isn't.
If we don't give him a max contract who would? No one. We can give him a fat contract but a MAX is like >20Million No freakin way.
Lakers don't need him but as for a team offering him the Max. It will happen. That's why if your going to offer him less so you can get good players around him you have to do it such a way he feels respected. Like SA did for Tim Duncan.
Basketball wise, no. Business wise, of course. Because of his global appeal, some team will give him the max. It's unfortunate, because I think Yao has peaked, but because he is such a cash cow, the Rockets will never let him go. As talented and hard-working as he is, he's a flawed player. I think he can only be a champion with a perfect group of players around him that compliment HIS game. He's always going to be a high turnover guy, but with the proper supporting cast that provides sufficient spacing, this would be minimized. Unfortunately, this hasn't been done in his entire career so far. Also, how much longer can his big body hold up? I think the stress fracture last year is just the peak of the iceberg. His size, which makes him so special, could ultimately be his downfall. He's been lucky thus far this season, but I think, realistically, 2-3 years is about all he has left.
I think he is earning all of his current contract with his level of play, but to hand a guy 20+ million a year for 6 years during his 30s is rather dangerous. I also don't think it will necessarilty take the max to retain him. I don't know what the bidding will be for a 30-year old center with an injury history. Besides, the guy is interested in winning, and makes enough money outside of his NBA salary to take a pay cut (he might earn a big chunk of what he gives up back if the Rockets are successful and his endorsement value rise even more than its current level).
If Rashard Lewis can get one, Yao will also. I personally would not give him anything more than a 3 year deal. Yao is about to start breaking down any year and he is already in decline. Its always best to get rid of a player one year too early than 3 years too late... see Tmac
HAHAHA.....they have just signed Bynum to a 60mil contract. Even if they wanted Yao they don't have the cap space to sign him to a max deal. Kobe is due to make 25 million in 2011.
