1. because by the time he's a free agent Shaq will be what? 36? Kobe may not be there. It's actually highly likely he won't be there. Phil Jackson may very well be retired. Payton and Malone will either be gone or too old to contribute much anyway. They'll be lottery bound next year if Kobe, Payton, Malone and Phil Jackson all leave and there is a very strong possibility that they may. 2. that may be true, but it's also true that Yao is already the number 2 money maker in the NBA in endorsements (behind Lebron James who is in an even smaller market.) If Yao starts winning championships he's going to get unfathomable amounts of money in endorsements regardless of where he plays. 3. who says by next season he won't be getting 17-20 shots a game here? There is no gauruntee that our team will remain as is for next season and alot of people doubt it will. Furthermore, who says Yao concerns himself with shot attempts per game? He seems so selfless. I think he's concerned alot more with winning than how many times he shoots the ball. 4. most people here would agree with the better front office, but i honestly think that it's an unfair statement at this point. They're still riding high off of Jerry West's work and until they have to rebuild we won't know if the Lakers have a better front office or not. As far as owners go, Jerry Buss spends more money but he also makes more money. So screw it, I'm even saying he may not be a better owner, just simply an owner with more revenue at his disposal. 5. better coaching? have you been paying attention to all this talk of phil jacksons contract expiring? he may not be there. that said, you have no idea who their coach will be or what their system will be next year. 6. talented teammates is yet to be proven either. malone, payton and bryant are all free agents at the end of this year and god knows what their roster will look like by the time Yao is a free agent. It may be more talented, it might not be. Same with the whole vision thing. Your crystal ball is obviously working better than mine. 7. i already addressed this in number 2. 8. may be true assuming the team is still talented, but i'd hope most home games here would be sellouts once the rockets start contending for a championship. 9. that may be true, but what absolutely is true is that they would want Yao to be in the best possible situation. That may very well be here in Houston. We'll see in time. 10. As to others peoples comments thereafter that Yao would go to the line far more and get called for fouls less, NOW THAT'S A VALID POINT!
WORD. I love Yao but I hate the Lakers more--I CANNOT root for Yao if he's wearing a Lakers jersey. A Knicks jersey, on the other hand...
actually, most laker fans are so full of themselves. they actually think that they get the worse end of officiating night in night out, what a joke!
Bottom line. One of Yao's strongest values is LOYALTY. He is loyal to his country, China, and he will be loyal to his first NBA team, the Houston Rockets. Yao has no reason to leave here. He is not looking for fame and endorsements in Los Angeles. In fact he would rather be LESS well known! After 4 years in Houston he will be very comfortable with the city, his teammates and will have loyalty here. Yao Ming will be a Houston Rocket for life.
You may have hit the nail on the head! Our culture doesn't stress loyality 1/3 as much as his. Yao's personal money will keep his ego satisfied so he can remain a Rocket for life!
You know, if Yao leaves for the Lakers (or any team), I'll boo him like a redheaded stepchild. I'll hope his team gets blown up and hits the lottery on a regular basis - just like I always did with Karla Malone. The Rockets will survive with or without Yao. The team didn't crater when Elvin Hayes left or when Moses Malone left and, despite four lottery seasons, we haven't cratered after Olajuwon. So, Yao can do whatever he likes. I love the guy and hope like crazy he remains a Rocket, but if he decides to opt for LA, he becomes public enemy #1 to any real Rockets fan.
" think we'll be fine facing Grizzs in the first round. Against the Rockets will be a hard fought series." ^^^I liked this line the best.
I'm sorry, I know I should let the thread die, but I just have to ask a question. Why are we speculating something that at worst hasn't happened yet and at best will NEVER happen?
Although I like to see Yao stay in Houston if everything works out, why so upset if a player choose to leave? Remember NBA is just a business. Even legend like Dream, he played his entire life, college and NBA, for Houston, but when he turned old and his value faded, the organization dumped him and traded him to Toronto. Should Rox organization be blamed for what they did to Dream? No, because it just a business and Rox should seek their better interest. Why players can't make the same choice for themselves? Shaq changed club before, Duncan not once, twice said he considered leaving SA when they were consistently defeated by Lakers. Kobe wants to opt out this season. Mailman left Utah for his championship dream. It is just so common that franchise trade players and players choose their boss. And I believe if Yao will ever choose to leave H-town by that time, which I highly doubt will ever happen, I believe he definitely has a legit reason to make such difficult decision.
oh...MFW...in your analysis of how much he would be making after taxes and CBA...you also forgot to factor in the no state income tax factor. Doesn't Cali have state income tax? and also..ivanyy if you have to ask why a die hard Rockets fan would boo a great player that chooses to leave a city that supports him and a organization that has already said they would do everything possible to build around him...than you dont understand what it means to be a diehard fan. and fwiw....Hakeem was only traded because he was asking for more than the Rockets were willing to give him...and he wasnt willing to back down onthe amount. I guarantee you they didnt want to get rid of him....Guaranteed!.
Dream was at the end of his career and clearly had nothing left. Malone is also at the end of his career. Duncan may have CONSIDERED leaving, but he didn't. Shaq is probably the best example and he STILL gets booed in Orlando for leaving. Steve Francis was killed every time the Rockets played in Vancouver for asking to be traded and he never even played a game with them. Even Malone got RIPPED by Utah fans for his decision to leave. What do you expect from fans of the team? You think we are going to be glad that our star player left us for another team? What? Are we supposed to cheer him on to championships? You must be joking! For those of you who don't care where Yao plays, just that he plays and is successful, I'm sure it is difficult to understand loyalty to a team, but for people like me who have been fans of the same team since before Olajuwon made it to America and before Yao was even BORN, there is not a chance in hell that I support a guy that leaves our team to play for another. If he gets traded, that's one thing. But, if he up and leaves because he WANTS to be somewhere else, good riddance. I would absolutely HATE to see Yao leave. I love watching him play and, to be honest, I seriously doubt he will leave. That just seems completely out of character for someone like him. But, I'm not going to cheer him on if he bails on MY team. For me and most other Rockets fans, it is Rockets first, players second. Period.
