http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2009-05-20/06394388843.shtml In a conference with media on 5/19, when asked who is untouchable on the Rockets roster, Les said Yao without hesitation. Mod please feel free to merge, delete it.
As I've been saying all along, the only way Yao leaves the Houston Rockets is if he retires or decides to sign elsewhere. Les is going to do all in his power to see that Yao is a career Rocket. I hope this puts to rest the vast majority of the trade Yao talk.
I'm not surprised at all. The NBA is a great place for fans and owners alike but at the end of the day its still a business & moving Yao would be a bad business decision.
Also reported in the article, when asked about Tmac's situation, Les said he hasn't talked with Morey about it. (much reserved)
it's a given. yao is a career rocket, regardless of what happens. he brings alot of exposure to the rockets internationally.
1. It's Sina, so I don't believe it. 2. If Les wants to keep Yao that will be for economic reasons, not for his on court contribution. In other words, Yao is no good. 3. I don't have exact number to prove "substantively" or "quantitatively" that Yao brings economic benefit for Les or Rockets team, so No. 2 is not valid. In conclusion, I don't believe it.
Just to play along, it wasn't sina reporting it, it was a local Houston Chinese paper reporting using Sina as the platform. But yeah, doubters are always going to doubt and traders always want to trade.
Yao, the top overall draft pick in 2002, has one year left on his contract. Team owner Leslie Alexander said Yao is the only “untouchable” player on the roster and Morey said he’s ready to negotiate a contract extension. “Yao is obviously the cornerstone of the franchise,” Morey said. “He had an unbelievable year until the big disappointment at the end. But he put in a full year, a very productive year. From Yahoo Sports...
I agree. Your most expensive player, the 20MIL guy, the guy who screwed the team in an unprecedented way by having an opinion type surgery to stop a trade and you haven't discussed. That is about as much of a sign that you do not want him as can be. If Les had any intention of keeping him he would have said something more like " he is rehabbing and we will see".
he's been injured every year. what else do you think is the primary motivation behind making yao a career rocket? there's only one.
Believe It!! Yao will stay a Rocket for a while, he's the best Center in the NBA, but importantly, do you see those chinese ads at Toyota Center, or even shoe endorsements for several Rockets players. I hope all the Rockets are untouchable because they can do it again.
come on, Chinese meia on Yao topic has proven to be quite accurate over last couple years, much better than rumors from NY post, ny daily news, espn, chicago tribune etc.
hopefully if he's traded, it can be done during the offseason. we don't want distractions going into next season.
