ESPN.com: Rockets: 'Full steam ahead' with No. 1 pick

Rockets: 'Full steam ahead' with No. 1 pick
http://sports.espn.go.com/nbadraft/story?id=1398708

HOUSTON -- The Rockets are looking forward to making Yao Ming the No. 1 pick in Wednesday night's draft despite published reports in Beijing that Chinese sports authorities are reluctant to release Yao to play in the NBA.

"It's full steam ahead," Dennis Lindsey, the Rockets' player personnel director, told ESPN.com on Tuesday. "No one is pushing the panic button."

The Rockets spent three days in China negotiating with the Shanghai Sharks, Yao's team, on his release and came home feeling positive about their chances of making him the top pick.

Erik Zhang, speaking with the China Basketball Association on Yao's behalf, negotiated a settlement with the Sharks for Yao to compensate that team for his departure.

According to reports out of Beijing, Chinese sports authorities want a written promise that Yao will be available for the national team before they allow him to leave for the NBA. The remaining problem was obtaining a release from the CBA, which was still concerned about Yao's availability for international competition.

"We want to make sure that Yao will be available to play with the national team when he is needed in the future," CBA secretary general Xin Lancheng said on the Web site of the state newspaper China Daily.

But the Rockets gave no indication that they would stand in the way of Yao competing for China in international tournaments, with the understanding that Yao would play in the NBA for the full season and the playoffs.

"We don't have any problems at this time," Lindsey told ESPN.com.

A possible conflict would be the Asian Games in October, when the Rockets are in training camp. Yao is expected to play for the Chinese national team at the World Championships at Indianapolis in August.

CBA officials already had announced that Yao would not be in New York on Wednesday when the draft takes place. He'll be training with the national team for a tournament against Yugoslavia, Italy and Australia.

Dawson: yao is draft eligible. it won't end with yao just being selected. if he is selected, the sides can work out final details to make sure he arrives in a timely fashion

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Things looking good!

Chris