Is that the true weight that Yao Ming has stated? Is he really 285lbs? Or is that like Olajuwons 7'0"? If he is a legit 285, that just makes him more enticing. Here is the best/worst case scenerios that I think could happen IF HE IS A LEGIT 285: (Taken into account that he is allowed to come over and play) Best: He gets drafted and goes on a diet to bulk up. Olajuwon retires and comes home to join the Rocks as a "big man specialist" and helps teach Yao the finer points of playing center. Yao blossoms into a 7'5" 340lbs behemoth in 4 years and helps push Shaq into retirement. Has a hell of a drop step and killer mid-range jumper. Turns into sort of like a "Biggie Size" Patrick Ewing without the nostrils. Worst: He gets drafted. Comes to the Rockets and gets put on a diet to bulk up. Olajuwon moves to the boonies and its up to CD to teach him the moves necessary to play the big man game. But Yao doesn't take and in 3 years just moves up past the 300 pound point. But he has a decent jumper and his height helps him account for 2.5 blocks and about 10 rebounds per while scoring 12 points. Sort of like an Asian Arvydas Subonis. Either case isn't bad, eh? I remember Shawn Bradley being like 190lbs out of college and whats he now? 215? 220? How you gonna hold your own against the big boys? If this guy is a legit 285, the worst he can do is 300 after all the Big Macs. Thats enough for me right there. His height and weight can at least make the Rockets presence inside formidable without the 25pts and 15rebs that we got use to with Olajuwon. Lets not think that is the sort of player we are going to get here. If he is a legit 285, I will take him over Kelvin "Potential wasted" Cato anytime anywhere. Sabonis almost led the Blazers past Shaq and the Lakers just doing 12pts/10rebs/2blks. Hell, when Yao is in his 3rd year, there may be 4 or 5 big men who are just as good as Ming and maybe not even that. The more I think about it. The more I agree with Will. Take Ming.
While I agree that Ming does seem like the obvious choice, I disagree with your description of the worst case scenario. Seems to me the worst case is that Yao has serious injury problems due to his height and not having a real offseason from playing overseas in the Chinese championships, etc. If this were to happen, it is very possible the Rockets would get NO productive years out of Yao.
Umm, Bradley's 260 now. You're getting him confused with Manute Bol. He was 220. I know Bradley looks skinny, but he's 7'6. Think about it: Webber's 255, and he's 8 inches shorter. There's no way Bradley is 220.
regarding bradley.. currently, nba.com has him at 265lbs, while espn says 275lbs 1993 Usenet draft scouting report listed him at 230 out of college.. http://www.ibiblio.org/craig/draft/1993_draft/scout/c.html
