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Rockets won't draft Ming without guarantees (ESPN)

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Major, Jun 3, 2002.

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  1. Major

    Major Member

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    I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet (or perhaps I missed it):

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nbadraft/story?id=1390321


    While the Houston Rockets are optimistic they will get assurances from Chinese sports officials that Yao Ming will play for them next season without interruption, they won't draft him with the top pick without a signed letter putting their fears at ease.

    The Rockets have no issues with Yao playing for China in the Olympics, the World Championships or the Asian Games -- tournaments that traditionally fall in the offseason -- but there is concern that he could be pulled from the team to play in tournaments during the regular season that don't carry as much global weight.

    Multiple sources told ESPN.com that the Rockets are hoping to get a signed letter from three representatives in China -- from the government of sport, the Chinese Basketball Association and Yao's team, the Shanghai Sharks -- that assures Yao will be in uniform for the duration of the NBA's regular season and possibly the playoffs.

    The Rockets would likely trade the top pick if a deal can't be struck with the Chinese. Houston isn't as interested in Duke point guard Jay Williams as the top pick because Steve Francis plays the same position.



    The Rockets want to be able to announce that they will draft Yao with the top pick and that he has agreed to play with Houston and in the NBA in advance of the draft, something that is usually reserved for the top pick in the NFL, not the NBA.

    It would be more beneficial to the Chinese government and the Shanghai Sharks if Yao is selected No. 1, considering they will get 50 percent of his salary based on the Chinese Basketball Association's agreement with Yao.

    Yao's representatives -- John Huizinga, an economics professor from the University of Chicago, and Yao's cousin Erik Zhang -- visited Houston two weeks ago for an informational meeting with the team. Zhang traveled to China to seek out assurances that Yao would get released to play. The two reps are on board to get a deal done before the draft.


    The 7-foot-5 Yao would be the first professional international player to be chosen No. 1, and the Chinese bureaucracy makes this a unique situation.


    Houston helped its cause when the city's mayor, Lee Brown, coincidentally was in Shanghai, China, for a conference May 19 when the Rockets found out they won the lottery. The meeting was set up a year in advance. Shanghai Mayor Chen Liangyu told Brown that he would advise Yao's family that it probably would be good for him to go to the NBA.


    Yao has a busy schedule over the next three months. He'll be playing in exhibition games in China this weekend. He'll play for China in a four-team tournament with Australia, Italy and Yugoslavia from June 30-July 4 in China, and again with the same teams July 5-9.

    The NBA is still hoping Yao will be in New York for the draft June 26.

    China will play in another tournament in Turkey from July 30-Aug. 10 before playing the United States in an exhibition game Aug. 22 in Oakland, Calif. The team will then play in Indianapolis the rest of the month until Sept. 8 at the World Championships. Yao is committed to play for China in the Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea, Sept. 29-Oct. 14.


    That would mean Yao would miss at least the first two weeks of training camp and the first two exhibition games. The regular season is supposed to begin at the end of October or Nov. 1. The Rockets would be willing to get Yao after the Asian Games, but that means practices that would normally be in preparation for exhibition games would turn into more team-oriented drills so Yao could get used to the players and system.


    In the coming years, the Rockets would like Yao in the United States at some points during the offseason so he could work with their strength and position coaches.
     
    #1 Major, Jun 3, 2002
  2. Roc Paint

    Roc Paint Member

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    Breaking news on the Ming front.
    The Rockets are awaiting three letters of agreement from China to let Ming play for the Rockets, without interuptions.
     
    #2 Roc Paint, Jun 3, 2002
  3. wrath_of_khan

    wrath_of_khan Member

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    Why on earth would we do that when, at the very least, we could bluff the Bulls into thinking that we might trade the pick unless they give us something in return?
     
    #3 wrath_of_khan, Jun 3, 2002
  4. Timing

    Timing Member

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    This sounds like an intentional leak to me just like last year's leak to the Chronicle about how much they offered Dream.
     
    #4 Timing, Jun 3, 2002
  5. Bay Rock

    Bay Rock Member

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    This supports the info that has been communicated by Doc, Clutch et al. Ming is the choice and it appears that the #1 would only be traded if we couldn't get assurances that Ming would be available through out the regular season and playoffs.

    Seems like a reasonable request to me.
     
    #5 Bay Rock, Jun 3, 2002
  6. ROCKET!!!

    ROCKET!!! Member

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    Oh no!:eek:

    What's a Chicago GM to do???

    Hahahahaha
     
    #6 ROCKET!!!, Jun 3, 2002
  7. Jeff

    Jeff Clutch Crew

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    I would think the most obvious reasons would be for marketing and contractual negotiations. If this is, indeed, their guy and they aren't turning back, they will want to work out EVERY detail long before the draft to ensure that China won't pull something crazy. In addition, signing David Carr worked out great for the Texans. They were able to do a lot of advance marketing of him and prepare things like jerseys long before the draft.

    If they are convinced and they get the deal they want, they will simply stop listening to offers. I mean, you don't get engaged if you are still going to go out and date other women unless your wife is VERY open minded.
     
    #7 Jeff, Jun 3, 2002
  8. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    This is great news, my faith is restored in the Rockets brain trust.

    DaDakota
     
    #8 DaDakota, Jun 3, 2002
  9. Jerry36

    Jerry36 Member

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    If Rudy & Co. draft ming they need to be kicked to the curb and get a good beat down. It is not good business sense to get a player that will be playing for the whole year and no breaks in between. That's the main reason why the Rocket's are so poor on defense. Rudy keep drafting these finese players that can't play no defense.
     
    #9 Jerry36, Jun 3, 2002
  10. ROXTXIA

    ROXTXIA Member

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    ROCKET!!!, are you saying Krause wants Ming and we're trying to stick the knife in and twist it? Or are you just jacking with us, my brutha?
     
    #10 ROXTXIA, Jun 3, 2002
  11. Possum

    Possum Member

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    Oh yeh well lets just see what you have to say 3 years from now when Ming is b!tch slappin dat whining ass old Shaq into retirement on his way to an MVP/CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON! :p
     
    #11 Possum, Jun 3, 2002
  12. wrath_of_khan

    wrath_of_khan Member

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    Jeff,

    What you're saying makes total sense, but can't they work out every contractual detail without publicly declaring Ming the first pick? That way, they get the best of both worlds -- an iron clad agreement with Ming and some compensation from Chicago for not trading the pick.

    Or do you think that publicly declaring Ming their pick would give the Rox the leverage we need with the Chinese to get the assurances we seek?

    Man, this is weird. Things were so much simpler when a high schooler was the number one pick last year!
     
    #12 wrath_of_khan, Jun 3, 2002
  13. Clutch

    Clutch Administrator
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    I'm surprised they got a hold of that information .... that is your "countdown to 14" though, when the Rockets announce they will take Ming officially. But we'll see if China causes any problems. I don't think the Rockets are as concerned as media outlets make them out to be, but what would a letter mean and would it be something China will abide by throughout Yao's career? I doubt it.
     
    #13 Clutch, Jun 3, 2002
  14. heypartner

    heypartner Member

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    Doesn't surprise me that anything is leaking around here. What compells insiders to say these things? Who believes CD wanted ESPN to know this?? Not meaning you leaking something Clutch....no one has more scooping scrupples than you.
     
    #14 heypartner, Jun 3, 2002
  15. Ottomaton

    Ottomaton Member
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    Actually, I think that for Ming and the Chinese it would have more weight than perhaps for any other athlete or country. I think that the concept of potential shame for not honoring its word would be a powerful incentive on the gov't. If the 'powers that be' change, and a different individual became the decision maker, then, perhaps, it might loose some weight.
     
    #15 Ottomaton, Jun 3, 2002
  16. barbourdg

    barbourdg Member

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    :confused:
     
    #16 barbourdg, Jun 3, 2002
  17. aelliott

    aelliott Member

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    According to reports, it's very important to the Chinese that Yao be selected #1. Trading down to #2 would probably do more damage to the negotiations than it's worth.
     
    #17 aelliott, Jun 3, 2002
  18. Possum

    Possum Member

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    I just figured one bad response deserved another. ;)
     
    #18 Possum, Jun 3, 2002
  19. Clutch

    Clutch Administrator
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    Bingo ... and it's important to the NBA as well that Ming goes #1. If the Rockets do trade out of the #1 pick for whatever reason, my hunch is it will still be worked out so Ming goes #1 to whatever team ultimately gets that spot. Don't think it will matter though as the Rockets taking Ming is a very safe bet (though who knows what will really happen with China here)
     
    #19 Clutch, Jun 3, 2002
  20. saleem

    saleem Member

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    Clutch, what do think will happen if the Rockets don't want Ming and get better trading offers for Jay Williams?
     
    #20 saleem, Jun 3, 2002
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