From ESPN the mag...

I found this artical in "ESPN the Magazine", page 112 June 10th issue, this afternoon about what the rockets should do with their pick. Mostly it just has a few examples of what they think might happen.

Please forgive any errors in spelling, im trying to type this from the magazine as fast as possible

MAXIMIZING MING
The Rockets have the top pick in the draft- and plenty of options
by Sam Smith

THE ROCKETS, WHO drew more fans than only the lame-duck Hornets this season, won the top pick in the June draft in the annual lottery. Talk about you Texas bias. Who said these things aren't fixed? (Just kidding.)

Now, the hard part: deciding whether to take China's Yao Ming or deal the pick. Draft Duke's Jay (Don't Call Me Jason) Williams at No. 1? Not when you have Steve Francis.

The argument for taking Yao is that no team needs an attendance boost more than the Rockets, and who else in ths draft is going to bring in fans but Ming, the most talked-about player since Shaq? Ming's no Daddy, but people will want to find out for themselves. The consensus is the 7'5'' Yao needs at least two seasons to develop, which fits the Rockets perfectly. They have one more season in the Compaq Center, then they'll be in their new arena for 2003-04, which should keep fans interested that season. But they'll need to put a competitve team on the floor in '04-05, Yao's third season which should fit the big guy's timetable.

The argument for dealing the pick is that while Ming's no sure thing, there is market for him. (The Knicks have already contacted the Rockets, but Houston has no intrest in NewYork's pick--No.7--or players.) There may be an even bigger market for Williams. And remember, the Rockets owe the Grizzlies thier top pick next year becasue of the Francis deal, so there's incentive to avoid the lottery again.

Here are a few scenarios that might alter the Rockets' thinking.

CLIB JOB The Clippers want Williams, since they don't intend to re-sign Jeff McInnis. They're more than willing to part with talented but troubled Lamar Odom in a sign and-trade. LA, which has more than enough youg talent, could also ship the Nos. 8 and 12 picks to the Rockets, who would take a center like Stanford's Curtis Borchaedt or Western Kentucky's Chris Marcus.

West Wind New Grizzlies president Jerry West is ready to deal Stromile Swift, and would also part with Lorenzen Wright and a No. 1 pick for a chance to draft Yao. For their part, the Rockets would get a promising young power foward, the fourth overall pick to take Mike Dunleacy--whom they love--and a serviceable center.

Golden Future Francis is pushing for Marylands's Chris Wilcox. The Warriors want Williams and might be persuaded to hand over the third overall pick (which becomes Wilcox) and their No. 1 in 2003. With a little luck, the Rockets could wind up with Kobe clone LeBron James this time next year.

NO DICE The nuggets don't believe they can re-sign Antonio McDyess, so they need an attraction like Yao to build around. The deal: Dice and the No.5 for the No.1 pick, Kelvin Cato (whom the Rockets want to jettison) and Glen Rice (a salary dump.)

GORDED The Bulls (second overall pick) are ravenous for Williams, so the Rockets can use the top pick as leverage, threatening to trade it to a team that will take the Duke PG unless the Bulls make a deal. Houson gets a player like Marcus Fizer, can ship out Cato and his $6M salary--and can still end up with Yao at No.1 The Rockets get a draw and salary cap relief, and give Jerry Krause a sever case of agita.

I kinda like the Bulls one, we scare them into thinking we are going to trade Williams to another team, then they give up some players and take one of our contracts. We get the second pick and still pick up Ming.

Also if your interested, the magazine also has a article on Tskitishvili on the next page, 113, and a article on Horry on page, 50.