Rockets won't draft Ming without guarantees (ESPN)

This is starting to smell like one of those deals in which the purchasing party, i.e. the Rockets, thinks there's more to gain by playing nice and establishing long-term relationships of good will (with China, the CBA, the Sharks, and Yao) than by extracting the best price, which presumably they'd get by playing head games and fielding offers down to the last minute.

Of course, this is also what you might do if you were fully prepared in your head to trade the pick if an offer came along that was too good to refuse. But it does forego one game the Rockets could have played: It lets every team interested in Williams know that they don't have to trade for the #1 pick to get him. That is a definite cost of this pre-draft Yao lovefest.

 

Here's my question, what does China and/or Ming do if we don't get the assurances we want and we say that we're going to look intensely at what offers we can get involving the #1 pick (which would most likely include teams that want J-Will)? Would Ming pull out of the draft (or can he even do that now)? I almost hope that Ming pulls out from a safety standpoint. We have no risk of missing out on the next great big man (since we won't be able to pick him cuz he won't be in the draft) and we can trade the pick to the highest bidder because most teams are convinced that J-Will is the best player in the draft. The Bulls, for one, would be more concerned about losing their man and a Clips or Nugs trade would be more enticing since there's nobody worthy of #1 that fills a position we need.

 

I feel like this year's draft is different than anyother...I mean the mind games really shouldnt be played. Your not dealing with just a basketball player.

But now our boys in the front office are on the International Political scene, they must show themselves trustworthy, diplomatic, and even honest....This just as much a political move as it is a basketball move.

 

This is my concern. Arguably, it takes the Rox out of the catbird seat and puts the Bulls in it. They become the team that holds the cards in the draft, not us. If I try real hard, maybe I can add another cliche here...

 

adding Ming and Odom to an already talented team, is unbelieveable.....
Go Rockets!!

 

Roc Paint how do you propose we get Odom,

 

You will see young grasshopper.

 

Just curious how post before senior member?


Well whatever they do to get Odom i hope it doesnt cost too much

 

If the Rockets could get Odom AND Ming and not lose Mobley my god. Of course I'm assuming you're pulling our chain! By the way Sofine81, I think 50 posts get you to be a senior member. I think that's still the same number.

 

Do you think Odom can be had below market value, I mean the Clips really dont need our number 15, they are already young, maybe we can give them a couple of Vets?

I dont know Im probably talking out my butt

 

I have to admit I was about to get a little piqued when I read this:

The NBA is still hoping Yao will be in New York

I was thinking, "What?" when I noticed the rest of the sentence:

"... for the draft June 26."

I hope so too. I really hope we get a chance to work him out and Lowe to work him over before then, but whatever.

 

I hope the Rockets dont go after Odom unless he is offered really cheap. I think Butler or Dunleavy would be better choices if the asking price is not ot high. IMO Denver or Memphis should be the target for a trade if we get Ming. How about #15, KT and maybe our trade exception (we can trade the exception rite?) or whatever player we fleece from Chicago for not trading the #1 pick , for #4 or #5. Then draft which ever one (Butler or Dunleavy) is left.

 

How about #15, KT for Battier and #32. Memphis could easily replace Battier with Butler or Dunleavy. Can you tell I really don't want Odom.

 

#15 and KT doesn't have as much value as you put on them. I'd love to get a Battier to go with Ming as our offseason moves, but it won't happen with just #15 and KT. First off, the Grizz are already doing good at their forward positions so KT is not that valuable to them and the #15 will get them a solid player but no one near Battier's value.

A lineup of Francis, Cat, Battier, MoT/EG, and Cato/Ming would be great and I'd be content to let that develop for 3 or 4 years but its highly unattainable with what we have.

 

It could've been a pragmatic deal to bilk fat Jerry into some "considerations" but playing mind games and trying to screw other people isn't looking at all the matters at hand. The Rockets don't have the greatest of bargaining chips. If they should overextend themselves, like them trading down and still getting Ming, they'd have to face other consequences. Like explaining the decrease in salary the Chinese government gets because Ming was drafted third. Creating a bad first impression would bite them in the ass later on. China would love the possibility of Ming playing for the Knicks. And they could wait 5 years if the Rockets should falter in their diplomacy and bootlicking...

I like the assurances the Rockets are asking for. It shows their end of the commitment, and a general interest in their hero. Besides, if it doesn't work out, the fans who are sold on Ming can't blame Rockets management.

Ming is not a necessarily going to be on the same NBA team for his whole career. Better off starting on a good relationship with China if Rudy and CD have made their choice in Ming.

Apparently they did their homework on Chinese protocol and respect.

 

And,once again,the good ol' Chronicle has no mention of this story. What are they down to? Two,maybe three,Rocket items per week? With all the intrigue,rumors and scenarios associated with this year's #1 pick(that the hometown team owns),you'd think they'd at least put in a daily string to sell a few papers! What a joke of a sports department.

 

I think thia could also be the Rox's setting the stage to look like they have done everything in there power to bring Ming and they can get no cooperation from the Chinese Gov't so now they are gonna look at trade possibilities. Because if the Rox's just trade the top pick alot of the energy that has been created by winning the lottery wil vanish but this way they are able to lay the blame of looking for a trade which is what I think they really want to do at somebodies elses doorstep(Chinese Gov't for ot cooperating). This way they can come to us fans and say hey we wanted Ming here but they wouldn't work with and it would be a injustice to waste an opportunity to improve are team by bringing in a player that we have no control over. And if any of you think the Chinese Gov't is just gonna sign Ming over you are sadly mistaken this is more then just about basketball this is politics. I think the Rox's are getting there ducks in a row o when they do make a trade it will be because they had no choice due to the unavailability of Ming from the Chinese Gov't. Hurry up and make the trade Rox's cause Ming is not gonna bring us Championship.

 

We'd better find a way to get a decent small forward, 'cause Rice and T-Mo ain't gonna cut it.

Maybe KT + #15 can get us the #8 so we can get Q-Woods, or Nickoloz Tzcbwzvbnm or whatever his name is.

Caron Butler will probably go top 5, so I won't hold my breath on him. 'T'would be nice though.

And Eddie? Better hit those weights, kid. You're gonna be a 4/5 now.

 

I'm surprised no one has commented on this. While it is dissapointing that he wouldn't be there for the first few weeks, the fact that his arriving late would mean more rudimentary skill and team oriented drills for the rest of the players (something I'm positive they'll sorely need and not get enough of otherwise, especially with so many players returning from injury, including Francis now) is a huge plus in my book.

Are team schedules out yet? They really just need to get some easy first few games and play at least .500 ball the first few weeks. And, of course, having the season opener on TBS/TNT will be nice! I hope it isn't against LA. COuld you imagine opening against Shaq with Yao in his first NBA game!

 

YAO!

That's like giving the Bulls the first pick in the draft.



Do you guys really thing Ming has Tmac/Shaq/Kobe/Webber elite type talent? Whoooo. I'm not sure. I see him (for now) as becoming more dangerous for what he can do when the defense is broken down, rather than he being the breaker of defenses.

Oh wait a minute. You've got Francis. Hmmm...this could work out.