[SI.com] Rockets Considering Extending Yao If Price/Length Right

I would argue that it's indeed a Moneyball decision, for this reason: As long as Yao is on the roster, he generates much more income for the team than they spend on his salary. Les' recent stated willingness to pay the luxury tax for the right player(s) would likely evaporate if his cash chow disappears.

So even if the decision whether or not to retain a hobbled Yao might seem NOT to be a basketball decision, it definitely factors into running the team in a successful manner. Yao's usefulness to the Rockets from here on out might end up being more financial than on-court. But to me, that makes extending him a no-brainer.

 

$5M a year for the Rockets is not much. But the profit for Les? Take a wild guess.

 

Mannix just on 610

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Josh and Rich. Good afternoon.

Live from Hooters. Nice life.

Rockets playing well right now. Good December. Yao not part of it but big topic. Season over but career....might not be finish.

Houston has not dismissed bringing him back. Theyre inclined to do it. Impression I got is wait and see game. They'll see how recovery goes into April-May. He is so valuable to franchise over last 7-8 years. Theyre willing to make some concessions to keep him there. Daryl hasnt ruled out giving him an extension before end of year. All bets off in FA, he can do anything. Rockets have invested alot nursing him back to health. Spent $$$ on medical equipment for Yao. Team is inclined...if Yao wants to give it one more shot, they want to be the ones.

When you say Rockets are considering giving him a contract extension before this season ends, before he is healthy, first question has to be asked is what is the price tag?

Considerably lower. Didnt discuss numbers. I would imagine incentive based deal for Yao. I wouldnt imagine Houston...regardless of their affection for him, giving him money to sit on the sidelines. They want to be the team to bring him back to health, not another team. They wont hand him 6-7 mil per season. Much lower. A ton of incentives.

So something that wouldnt affect salary cap.

No. 7-10 recovery process. Deep into next season. They wont do anything that will risk cap space next year. It could be considerable. They're looking to rebuild retool with or without Yao. What happens with a lockout? Rules prohibit contact with players. Incumbent on Yao and agent to make sure he gets proper medical treatment. Yao being on his own, outside team supervision, that might not be up to par of what they could offer.

So sounds of it, they wanna hold onto Yao so no one else can have him. Fair?

They still believe in him. Biggest need is gaping hole in the middle. Yao was the linchpin. They put a lot of eggs into him and being the sleeper team. They're hopeful he can overcome this latest injury and keep rolling. Of course changes will be there. Shocked if Battier is back and Aaron Brooks might price himself out of the HOuston market.

It would be nice but I have to think we are dreaming about a Yao Ming comeback. When they reconstructed his foot, part of the reason was to prevent stress fractures reoccuring. Stress fracture in ankle and medical people believe the game is now follow the bouncing stress facture. Im not optimistic.

Thats fair. Theyre preparing as if he wont be there next season. Key is and point is they'll give him the chance. They want to give him that opportunity. Make no mistake. they cant count on him. THey need to bring in another superstar player. Dead issue on Carmelo front. Wont be surprised to see them be aggresive on trade front to bring in a franchise guy.

If Im a fan today, that sounds as if they dont wanna lose him because of his financial impact.

Not sure. They need a C. There are no Cs out there. Yao is a rare breed. Massive IF but if healthy one of the 3-4 pure centers in the league. No disrespect to Miller but he isnt the guy or answer. If Yao has the potential to be back, if they got that info, they will do everything possible to get him back.

I certainly agree on Miller comment but Jordan Hill is potentially a guy. Not saying Franchise C but he could man the middle in coming years given the right pieces around him. You said Carmelo a dead issue. Rockets have made it known they would not require contract extension beyond this year, is that a factor?

One time or another, I heard Carmelo was open to Houston. Before Yao injury, he was interested in signing long term. Carmelo is interested in that 65 million. He wants that paycheck with this CBA. I think...getting Carmelo, if they had a chance later on, they would insist on him signing an extension. Assets they would have to give up, compared to Nets which will be massive, they'll have to throw Brooks, Battier, another player, multiple picks. Thats far too much to give up given that he might not re-sign. They'll want assurances.

Where do they find this Yao piece?

On SI. Should be up soon.

You're the man. Thanks

Thanks guys.

 

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../21/yao.ming.rockets/index.html#ixzz18mgZ9siA

 

I dont care how much money he brings him. I care more about how many rings he brings in.

 

BINGO!!..............so when its all said and done who cares.....money makes the world go round...

 

no not even then

 

210 seemed light to me too.

Let's say 250. Yao is still 60 pounds heavier than that guy. That's why I think the analogy to Hill, Walton and Iglauskus fails...at least according to the discussions we've heard/read from orthopedic surgeons.

 

are we able to put incentives into the contracts? For example, give him a $3MM/2 yr contract and say that if he's able to play x amount of minutes or y amount of games, he get $z added to his contract.

 

So getting rid of him bring in rings?

I like how you, and many others here, seem to make it an either/or case. As if resigning Yao for a small contract somehow would prevent us from winning something.

 

He's done nothing but hurt our chemistry and be a liability on defense and on the boards.

 

Leave C-Bud out of this.

 

Call me sentimental, but I support this move.

If anyone has the heart and drive to make it back from this kind of bad luck, it is Yao. He has been the face of this franchise, brought Houston back into recognition, and has become an icon.

I'm not comparing the two, but who wouldn't have been willing to pay Hakeem the MLE to finish his career in Houston?

 

Just one simple question, would the lakers,celtics,or spurs do something like this? Would those franchises that have basically won all the rings in the last 20+ years extend a guy missing seasons at a time for the right price?

 

the celtics would have done it for bird even with the back spasms and laying on the floor between on-court stints

the lakers would have done it for magic - even with aids - the stigma from players was the problem

the spurs - well who gives a damn - timmy is the big fundamental and doesn't register worldwide like the others mentioned

 

are we seriously comparing Yao Ming to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson?

 

absolutely - in their notariety within the game and their association with their respective teams.

with their on the court impacts? well given that we are comparing end of career hanging on to players for little more than their popularity, i still think it fair.

 

No one cares about the rockets outside of houston with money buying power. They can't sell beers to china during a broadcast to help with concessions. Yao is great for alexanders personel wealth which has nothing to do with the rockets to me. Les got his foot in the door first with china, but now china is open to everyone else because they use capitalism just like everyone else when it benefits them. It would beone thing if the rockets were alwaystaking the 25% during a trade and getting the higher priced player and paying the lux tax, but they don't. They get the short end and stay economically low in regards to those deals. Yao is more important to the nba than he is the rockets. If the rockets could reap all the rewards of yao like the mariners did of ichiro, then thats another ballgame. Where has all this loyalty gotten us in the last 8 years? The 3rd best team in texas and 0 divison titles,0 conference titles. Its not all his fault, but some of it is.

 

You're too old and been around too long to make dumb analogies like this. I'm sorry, the celtics didn't keep parrish around and he could still play. Mchale had a bad foot and they could have signed him at the right price too. What happeded to worthy,byron scott, hell even shaq? The traded shaq and he had great years left. He signed a discount deal with the heat the first year he got there. If shaq had missed as many games as yao has, they wouldn't have even thought about extendeing him.

 

but you are mentioning players that are either modified role players or bridge burners cough shaq cough (as great as mchale and parrish were, they weren't as identified with the franchise as bird - in the sense that if you thinks celtics who is the first person that comes to mind. and really, that is what we are talking about. while houston natives associate hakeem first, i would say a poll of the world would turn up yao as the most associated player with the rockets)
i mentioned players that were superstars and role models to their respective franchises

trust me when i say that i've been down to get rid of yao for the last several years -- even before we traded francis -- but yao has been a role model, and a worldwide ambassador for the rockets.