http://sports.espn.go.com/nbadraft/story?id=1394267 Thursday, June 13 Rockets head home satisfied with Yao visit -Associated Press- HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets officials left China early Thursday confident they can work out a deal to draft 7-foot-5 center Yao Ming with the first overall pick. General manager Carroll Dawson and coach Rudy Tomjanovich visited with Yao after attending a three-hour workout by the Chinese national team. "It couldn't have gone much better,'' Dawson said from Beijing. "They allowed us to watch the national team work out and it was a full scale three-hour workout. They did five-on-five and we saw a lot of scrimmaging. "It was a great work atmosphere. We got to see him as we had not seen before.'' Dawson said he and Tomjanovich visited with Yao after the workout for 15-to-20 minutes. "Yao had very insightful questions,'' Dawson said. "The first thing he did was ask about some of our players. He wanted to know how Mo Taylor was recovering from his injuries and he knew about Kenny Thomas and Glen Rice. "It couldn't have gone better, basketball-wise.'' Rockets attorney Michael Goldberg said he gained perspective in working out a deal, although he said no contracts had been signed. "Now that we've met face to face, which is very important here, the discussions over the telephone will be much easier,'' Goldberg said. "We've met with the commissioner of the China Basketball Association and I can tell you that the discussions with him were in a very positive tone.'' Earlier, Erik Zhang, Yao's agent, told Houston television station KRIV that Yao would be willing to pay the Shanghai Sharks and the Chinese Basketball Association if they allow him to enter the NBA draft. "We feel Yao needs to compensate the club properly for their loss and for the CBA's loss,'' Yao's agent, Erik Zhang, told KRIV on Wednesday. "Yao is China's Shaquille O'Neal.'' Zhang said Yao's offer of compensation is independent of talks involving the Rockets and Chinese basketball officials. The NBA does not allow its teams to pay other basketball federations more than $350,000 to transfer a player from one team to another. Zhang said the exact amount of the offer has not been determined, but he said Yao would not give up his allegiance to the Chinese National Team. That allegiance is at the center of the negotiations because the Rockets want assurances Yao can play in the NBA without interruption. The Chinese want assurances they will be able to bring Yao with them when they play in world competitions, according to KRIV. "We believe it's an honor for Yao Ming to play for the Chinese National Team,'' Zhang said. The Rockets have been in China since last weekend to meet with Chinese representatives who will decide if Yao will be allowed to play in the United States.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200206/13/eng20020613_97748.shtml Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, June 13, 2002 Rockets Watch Yao Ming's Training after Talk with CBA A delegation from the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association watched Chinese star center Yao Ming training with his national team after "impressive" meeting with Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) officials Wednesday afternoon. "Rudy (Tomjanovich) talked with Yao Ming about ideas of playing basketball and Yao asked a few questions about Houston and the players," the Rockets team executive Michael Goldberg said Wednesday. Profile: Yao Ming Birthdate: 9/12/80 NBA Position: Center Team: Shanghai Sharks Education: Shanghai Sports College Ht: 7-5 Wt: 295 Hometown: Shanghai, China The Rockets delegation, consisted of Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson, coach Rudy Tomjanovich, spokesman Nelson Luis and Goldberg, was in China for meetings with CBA and the Shanghai Sharks to discuss selecting the 2.26-meter (7.5 feet) Chinese center with their first pick of the NBA draft in New York on June 26. "CBA Commissioner Xin Lancheng and I both agreed that in terms of the discussions we should sustain it confidential for now," said Goldberg, referring to the meeting with CBA secretary general Xin Lancheng. "But we were very happy with the discussions." "The meeting (with CBA) was very impressive," he added. "It's a good start to build up our relationship." The Rockets delegation will fly to the United States tomorrow and continued their homework with the CBA. "The next step will be to have further discussions with the Commissioner and the coach of the Chinese national team, trying to make sure that we both feel good about the situation," said Goldberg, "That is the next step, over the next few days." "We'll be back if needed," he added. The American guests arrived in Shanghai and had meetings with the Sharks general manager Li Yaomin and club president Bai Li before flying here on Wednesday. "With the Sharks, we spent time working to avoid obstacles (for Yao to play in NBA) and we were very happy with our discussion." said Goldberg on Tuesday. "They did not see any obstacles themselves." Yao was released to take part in the NBA draft after leading the Shanghai Sharks to their first ever CBA league title in April and the Rockets showed great interest in the 22-year-old big boy. Yao, who is now training with the Chinese national team in their preparations for the man's basketball world championship in September, will need approvals from his club, Shanghai Sports Administration Bureau, the CBA and the State Sports General Administration to play in the NBA.
I don't like the sound of this at all. Why didn't Yao mention Steve Francis at all? Can you imagine any draft pick not mentioning knowing Francis? Of course he knows about Francis, but he chooses to slight Stevie Franchise. He only mentioned the forwards. Does he have a problem with playing with Steve and not being the franchise? Sounds like they are not going to get along to me, which means Cuttino won't want to play with him even more. We need to trade the pick, now more than ever!
Come on, heyp. Everyone knows we're trading Steve for Jay Williams (#2). Maybe I can start some BS on the BBS.
actually, i was watching one of the local sports newscast and they mentioned that Yao asked about Steve & Cuttino as well as Mo......it was really quick and I think it came out of Rudy or CD's mouth...
