serious question: what would you do with the pick?

NO IDEA? I'm pretty sure that Rockets management have some idea if Ming will be here next year. Judging by Doc's post, I think they're pretty certain Ming will be here next season.

 

Yao can play through the season and the play-offs, this agreement was already reached by both sides. I am pretty sure China just want to know that Yao would be available for national duty during the off-season, which is no big deal.

Yao's agent has already made a statement earlier today saying that he is certain Rockets will draft Yao Ming, unless something seriously dramatic happens between now and draft.

Relax, we'll just need to wait till tomorrow.

-G'day-

 

<i>I hope it works out but it would be really really screwed up if the Rockets picked up a player at number one that couldn't play in the NBA next year.
</i>

Yeah, almost as screwed up as the Spurs waiting 2 years for David Robinson or Dallas using a lottery pick on Notwitzki without assurances that he'd play the next season.

 

The D Rob thing was a bit different. The Spurs knew exactly when they were going to have David's services and decided that it was still worth waiting for him. There was never a question of whether or not he was going to play

Dallas didn't use a lotto pick on Dirk. Milwaukee drafted him 9th (a bit different than 1st overall), and then traded him to Dallas along with Pat Garrity for Tractor Traylor(granted he was picked 6th that year). Obviously, given the fact that Milw traded Dirk and Garrity for Traylor, they didn't think Dirk would change the future of their ballclub. Dirk wasn't looked upon the same way Yao is being looked upon when he was drafted. Not even close.

 

<i>The D Rob thing was a bit different. The Spurs knew exactly when they were going to have David's services and decided that it was still worth waiting for him. There was never a question of whether or not he was going to play </i>

The statement that I was replying to said "but it would be really really screwed up if the Rockets picked up a player at number one that couldn't play in the NBA next year. " It says nothing about knowing when the player would play. David Robinson is didn't play for two years, so he he fits the statement exactly.

Do you really believe that Yao will never play in the NBA? What gives you that idea? Why would the Chinese screw themselves like that? They've got everything to gain by Yao playing in the NBA, what motivation do they have for preventing that?


<i>
Dallas didn't use a lotto pick on Dirk. Milwaukee drafted him 9th (a bit different than 1st overall), and then traded him to Dallas along with Pat Garrity for Tractor Traylor(granted he was picked 6th that year). Obviously, given the fact that Milw traded Dirk and Garrity for Traylor, they didn't think Dirk would change the future of their ballclub. Dirk wasn't looked upon the same way Yao is being looked upon when he was drafted. Not even close
</i>

Dallas had a prearranged deal with Milwauke. Nowitzki was selected with a lotto pick. Dallas dealt a lotto pick to get Nowitzki.
At the time, everybody thought Nowitzki would go back to Europe for another season. Nelson wanted Nowitzki badly. If he would have had to use #6 on him, then he would have. They wanted him, they took him regardless of whether or not they had to wait on him. Same as we'll do with Yao.

 

The Chinese has already guaranteed the Rockets that Yao Ming will play through the NBA season and play-offs without interruption from his nation team duties, atleast until the year 2006-7.

-G'day-

 

Using Logic and Intelligence 1. The best player in the Draft?
2. What do we need ?
3. Good potential and Talent?
4. Can we get him ?
ANSWER = YES= Yao Ming.

 

<i>I know everybody on this board is saying that him and Francis will earn Houston another championship sometime but I'm not convinced that we can't find comparable talent w/ somebody else.</i>

Ok, who can we get that fills as many of our needs and is realistic to acquire?

 

I am still 50/50 on drafting Ming. There's no doubt about his potential, but the main question is does he HAVE to return to China every off-season? If there was some way to keep him here (when the national team was not involved in games), I think having him in the U.S. to develop his game would be worth it. If not, then you must wonder how he'll ever improve.

 

Some people seem convinced that the Chinese government is going to be yanking Ming out of the league every ten minutes. Can someone in the know tell us how many games the other two Chinese players have had to miss? I think Wang ZhiZhi had to miss some, but I can't remember for sure.

I would also point out that Rudy and CD know what they have worked out with the Chinese gov't, we don't. I'm sure they are weighing that in their decision.

The Rockets were in the lottery this year because of injuries. Healthy, we will be a 50 win team (or close to it). This is like found money. We can afford to take a little risk.