I would. It'd be worth a shot. Replace an elite center with another. As much as everyone talks about SF's and PF's. This team needs a Center that will hold out for the entire year. I'm hearing a lot of hype about this chineese player. There has to be somthing to it!!! ------------------
I wouldnt those type of players never live up to #1 billing. Of course, it depends on need also. Maybe if I was Chicago Id take a shot....myswell. If I was the Wizards, I think Id take Jason Williams though, if he came out. ------------------ [This message has been edited by JayZ750 (edited March 25, 2001).]
Depends on our center situation next year. If Hakeem can play as he did those four weeks, he could tutor the young man; but Hakeem's always a coumadin waiting to happen, so I don't know. If Houston had the #1 pick, I might take Eddie Griffin (Jason Williams said he won't come out til he's had his 4 years at Duke) or select our Chinese center in question, possibly to deal him...if the Chinese government would stand for whatever deal we made. ------------------
i see yao's situation very similar to nowitzki's. yao ming is good and needs a little seasoning. hell definitely better, then was olowokandi. ------------------
I know it's probably not the wisest pick you could make, but I'd pick Tyson Chandler in a second. I'd probably trade down and get him, but he's the player I'd want out of this draft beyond all others. ------------------ What can change the nature of a man?
Way to many X-Factors: 1. Does Ming have the potential to be stronger, or will he be a Bradley like stick? 2. Eddy Curry. His height, weight, and skills against more equal competition 3. Eddie Griffin: Is he a clubhouse cancer? 4. Workouts. We know too little about Ming and his game, but as we get closer, we'll know more. Other people who can play a role in the #1 pick are Jason Williams (not for us) Jason Richardson, Tyson Chandler. If the Rockets were to get the #1 pick, I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see them trade down a few slots. ------------------ "That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure.
I'd trade the pick and hope to acquire a prospect, multiple 1st rounders (Celts could have 3 1st rounders this year), or both. ------------------
I'd take Williams out of Duke. No questions asked...He's kicking the NCAA's preverbial a*ss. He's ready. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
I'd keep Francis, Mobley, and Williams. Play them all as a small backcourt. The kid is just too good to pass up. He's got so much talent already and so much potential to add on to what he's already got. I wouldn't even try to trade any of the three. I'd play all three. Anderson can go bye bye. The Front Court will resolve itself. Williams is heads and shoulders above the crowd. He's a Shaq in this draft. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
Williams is so good to pass up. That is correct. But Williams may not come out. It'd be good if he did come out, he is ready! But, would you get rid of Francis or Williams? Man, that is a super tough decision. I'd draft Williams to trade him. The draft is too deep to repeat players. ------------------
"If you had the 1st pick, would you get Y. Ming?" Yao is the dude's last name. In China family name go's first. It is not polite to call someone living in China by just their "first" or "middle" name (although it's not call that there) unless you know the person. In some country it is okay to call someone by the person's mother maiden name (i.e. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario) and some it's not okay, it's the same deal. It should be "would you get Yao M.?" or "would you get Yao?"
If I had the 1st pick I wouldn't get Ming because of a lack of physical strength,however we should have chosen him with the 9th pick last year.I don't think it would have been too hard to get him from China,because he is considered to be more talented than Wang Zhi-Zhi. ------------------
f I had the 1st pick I wouldn't get Ming because of a lack of physical strength,however we should have chosen him with the 9th pick last year Uhh...Yao Ming wasn't in the draft last year. He wasn't old enough to automatically be included in the draft, so he would have had to declare in in order to be available. ------------------
I've seen Yao Ming play six times this past year (China league games are televised where I'm currently living). Let me summarize my impressions of him by saying that I wouldn't take him with the first pick. Even if Jason Williams doesn't come out, I still wouldn't take him. I'd definitely trade the pick. Yao is, in fact, skinny. An ESPN article recently talked about how he was just now starting to lift weights. That infers that he'll be able to bulk up in time, but that was also what we heard about Shawn Bradley. With guys that tall, it's much harder to gain weight (esp. the appropriate kind...muscle for example) than somebody whose six feet tall. But his weight isn't why I wouldn't pick him. No, the biggest problem that I've seen with Yao is that he is not aggressive. His "soft" game really reflects his personality in general. He gets pushed around by guys *much* smaller than him (the championship game against Wang ZhiZhi's team, Yao was guarded by a guy who's about 6' 7". Wang never guarded him.) I could go into greater detail if there's interest, but my opinion is that more seasoning or coaching will not make him less soft. The last thing you want to end up with from the first pick is a player that wears the "potential" label but always plays SOFT! Much of the issue can be found in his home culture, which values the group rather than the individual. The culture tends to produce compliance in its citizens and that translates somewhat to sports. So to assert oneself on the basketball court and dominate, you're going against cultural norms. Of course, the people recognize that in sports, it's good to play well, but it's difficult for players to flip a switch during the games and all of a sudden become aggressive. For example, even though Hakeem was very raw when he first arrived in the states, his basic personality was a fiery and aggressive one (he was known for a quick fuse in his early years, as you will recall). So when he learned to play the game, his natural personality coupled with his skills produced the wonder that we all have had a chance to behold. I'm afraid that Yao may not possess that basic, yet vital, ingredient. I'd trade the pick. ------------------
triplebogey, what do you think about Wang Zhi Zhi? Did you see him play and what do you think of his demeanor? Is he aggressive? What is better, his inside or outside game? TIA ------------------
harkm- I did see Wang Zhi Zhi play on TV, probably around 3 or 4 games total. He's pretty close to being his advertised height and doesn't fall under the "stick" physique catagory. That doesn't mean that he's physically strong, though. To answer your question, he's definitely not a center. More like a really tall small forward. Comparisons to Toni Kukoc seem pretty accurate. He's a lefty that has a nice stroke, but he can't pass like Toni can. He doesn't have a power game at all, mainly because he hasn't had to develop one. As for his demeanor, I'd say that "softness" will be an issue with him, too, especially on the defensive end. He won't be covering small forwards, so he's going to have to show that he can defend the post. In China, there's probably one or two legitimate low post scoring threats in the entire league. He's going to be a liability for at least a while. Unlike Yao Ming, though, Wang plays a more finesse game anyway and, as such, wouldn't be expected to bang. Problem for Yao, as I previously said, is that he's a center and he's going to have to bang and be a low post presence. Just my thoughts. Cat5- I'd definitely take him in the first round. Not sure if you were just kidding or that you're actually serious, but I think that if you wouldn't take him in the first ROUND, you just don't understand the scarcity of big men that exists in the league. Look at the number of absolute SCRUB centers that have been taken in the first round: (just to list a few) Ostertag, Todd Fuller, Adonal Foyle...my mind is swirling with the sheer number of duds that have been taken in the first round! He's better than that, for sure. No, he definitely belongs in the first round. ------------------
