It's too bad for Houston that Yao will probably sign the next contract from a pure basketball perspective. He has enough money.
artest/yao/scola for shaq/amare/babasa, every1 happy, the rockets will have 40M to build a round a true max player
Obviously Yao prefer to stay in Houston forever. The houson has earned too much by Yao not only money,but reputation. If the other team can provide him good condition including good offer and good team player for champion,it's better for yao to leave NBA is a game
He's been a great fixture and very important to the team. I dont think he deserves it based on his basketball achievements and injury history, lack of postseason success and age and health going forward though. But he's Yao the Cash Cao. He'll probably get it
he will have to take a cut if he wants us to go anywhere, we just can't afford to get him the people he needs to win without it, i don't think he will mind cutting his salary to win
Yao deserves the max for a couple of reasons. 1) He is one of the very top players at his position. Look at any position and you will see there are at least two or three guys with max deals because they make teams believe they have one of the best options at any given spot. C - Yao, Howard, Shaq PF - Amare, Bosh, KG SF - Melo, James, SG - Bryant, Wade PG - Paul, Williams And there are many other guys with max deals ie: Tmac, Lewis, Johnson 2) We all have heard the "cash cow" theory. People will say that he still shouldnt get the max though, because its impact on the salary cap. My thought on that is, even if you dont think Yao deserves the max, him being on the team allows Les to spend above and beyond the cap and even enter luxury tax territory. Does anyone think Les is going to lose out on millions due to the luxury tax if he didnt have Yao on the team to offset potential losses in the down economy. Whatever happens down the road, Yao needs to do whats best for him. As much as we hope he takes a pay cut or thinks he shouldnt sign a 6 year deal because he is injury prone, it is sill to expect him to do either. Eventually he will stop playing and whenever that is, he should have made every dime he could have possibly made. Imagine right now your boss offers you a guaranteed salary for the next 20 years, even though you know you are retiring in 5. Is anyone turning that down to help the company or because they dont think they deserve it?
You make some very good points, but he's one of the top players at a relatively weak position. And one also has to take into account his history of injuries, and how productive he would be in his 30s. They way he's playing right now, if he's relatively healthy, he's worth the max. But it's unclear if that will be the situation 2 years from now. Frankly, I'd be surprised if Yao is playing at an all-star level by age 32. History for men his size doesn't seem to favor it.
There is no history for men of his size in NBA. Yao is making it for the future 7-6ers. So, please don't be surprised.
