FORD: The Rockets are in for a tortured negotiation over Yao. You think Allen Iverson has a posse? Yao's got more handlers than Krause has chins. The Shanghai Sharks have already started their posturing (see next item) and we still have six weeks to go. The reason the Rockets are so high on Yao is obvious. The Sharks are demanding that Houston sends one of its players over to China as compensation. Even the biggest Yao cynics have got to love a Yao "The Great Wall of China" for Kelvin "The Great Jack Squat" Cato trade. Seriously, Rudy T and the rest of the Rockets love his game. But if things get too nasty, there are a number of teams that want Jay Williams and will pay handsomely for him. Here, in my opinion, is the best deal they could get for the No. 1 pick. Antonio McDyess and the No. 5 pick for Mo Taylor, Eddie Griffin, Jason Collier and the No. 1: The Nuggets are very nervous that McDyess bolts next year. He's sick of losing and now that his best friend, Nick Van Exel, is gone there isn't a huge incentive to stay. McDyess would give the Rockets an All-Star four who would be awesome in the open court with Steve Francis. With the No. 5 pick, expect the Nuggets to draft a small forward like Caron Butler or Mike Dunleavy. Giving up Griffin would be painful, but the addition of McDyess would make the Rockets serious contenders now. McDyess's re-signing with the Rockets would be a no brainer next summer. The Nuggets are desperate for a point guard and could draft Jay Williams with the No. 1 pick. Griffin would give them a young, tall athlete who can swing between the small and power forward. The downside for the Nuggets is taking on the remaining six years of Taylor's huge deal. Taylor would cut into their cap space, but with Juwan Howard coming off the books next summer, the team would still have enough cap space to make a run at a top-tier free agent. -----My take on this whole article is what I've felt all along....Ming is not Rudys style...He's complicated and hes full of talent. While at 7 foot 5 the Great wall of China is going to have a devestating hook shot (Much like Kareem Abdul Jabbar) but clearly, I would rather have a talent like Dunleavy or Butler to mesh with Francis. Rocket to the moon rockin mr. moon!
Let's see... We give up our future 4(Griff),current 4(Mo),and #1(Ming--possibly our best bet as our future center),for McD and #5(SF). While McD and a SF would be nice,why would we give up a chance to have Mo and Griff(+KT),a good long term bet at center(much better than Cato) and a SF (at #15 or another trade or FA) plus the guards and Cato(in reserve)? If we did that deal,we'd have McD,the guards,the SF,Cato and pretty much only KT as frontline backup. Where's the depth and where's the chance to upgrade the center position? TRADE REJECTED!!!
