Still reeling from the euphoria/disbelief of our fortune, and wondering how to best use this stroke of luck. Obviously, neither of these two options are absolute, but based on common sense ( ie, no Shaq + Kobe for no. 1 type trades), what would you rather do, keeo the 1st overall, and take Ming, keep the pick, take Jay-Will, and trade Francis or Mobley, trade for a lower pick ( say, 8 or 9) and as established player, or just trade the pick for a star?
This is awesome! I think we shouldn't risk a number one pick for Ming when we don't know if he'll be able to play or play well in the NBA. There are players that would help us (Butler, Woods, Tsiki) that we could still get with a lower pick, so why not trade down and get a good veteran, or even try trading the pick and a big salary (Rice or Taylor) for a proven player.
The Rockets can now negotiate a solid contract with the Red Chinese complete with a $100M (plus or minus) surety bond to be forfeited if Ming Yao does not attend training camps, big man camps and regular and post season games. In return, we can propose setting up training camps for Chinese players at Westside and in China. We can also sign Zhi Zhi Wang as a free agent so that old teammates are reunited. They can call plays in Chinese and have some cultural balance while they become more acclimatized to ours. Everything can be negotiated! If so, draft Ming. PS -- My girlfriend gave me a porelain Buddha and told me that if I rubbed it while chanting "Ohhhhhhminng....Ohhhhminnng" my wish for the No. 1 would come true. (See my post last week).
I say we trade down for a player a picks. I wouldn't mind getting Odom, maybe Magettie and the Clippers pick for the #1. Then they could pick up their PG of the future (Jay Williams) and Chicago could still end up with Ming. Works out well for everyone.
I think this may be a different option to your suggestions but here goes. Deal directly with the Clippers by swapping #1 for their #8, 12 and Odom for Moochie. That leaves us with a shot at Hilario, Bochar, and Stodamire, not to mention a starter in Odom. The Rockets gave up 3 picks in a weaker draft last year to move to # 6. How about it?
I would either keep Ming or trade him for Curry or Chandler.If the Bulls want J-Will in exchange for either of these two guys that's fine with me as well. We need a future 5,we can still get a small forward like Nachbar or if we are lucky to get Tskitishvili with the 15th pick.
You HAVE to plan on taking Ming #1 ... but you HAVE to listen to all offers out there, and I have to admit, that if LAC came calling with Odom, Olowakandi and 8/12 for Norris, Collier, other filler, I'd take it. LAC gets to keep from dealing with salary problems another couple years, can claim they went after the prize. If the draft went down the way John Nash claims today on ESPN's mock draft, we could get 3 of Woods, Tskitishvili, Hilario, Stoudamire, or Marcus. Then take Dixon in 2nd round. Trade KT for Diop. Imagine: Olowakandi/Cato/Hilario Taylor/Griffin/Diop Odom/Rice/Tmo/Woods Mobely/Torres/Tskitishvilli Francis/Dixon Hey, I'd probably do that without the Kandiman. But, the Rockets will probably use this to get someone to take Rice's contract...
Why should we trade KT for Diop and his 25 whopping career NBA points? Puh-leeze. I think the Grizzlies are a potential trading partner. This is by no means perfect, but how 'bout our #1 for Battier and and their #4? We'd land Butler or Dunleavy for sure.
