Funny how so many newspaper columnists around the country seem to be jumping on the "trade the 1st pick away" bandwagon. I've never seen so many "benevolent" people pop up so quickly. They just don't want the Rockets to "blow it" they write. Yao Ming is "too much of a risk" I've read. "Go with a safer choice" another wrote. "The Orlando Magic traded their 1st overall pick before, so the precedent has been set" another do-gooder wrote. Funny how so many people seem so against the Rockets picking Ming after the lottery was won by Houston. Funny how this WAS NOT the sentiments by many BEFORE the lottery! Before the lottery, it seemed pretty certain that either Golden St. or Chicago would be picking first. Cities w/ a larger Asian population than Houston and thus seemingly a "better fit" for Ming. I really don't think all this "trade talk" concerning Ming would be as intense if either Chicago, New York, or even Golden St. had won the lottery. BUT middle-market, southern-city Houston "messed it all up" AND now it's a big issue?! Well folks, I think you had just better get used to the idea of the Rockets taking Ming! Thank you for your concerns though, we really appreciate you guys looking out for us down here! Thanks a bunch folks, BUT it's time for the Rockets to gamble big! Shoot for the stars I say! Come what may, let's just plain go for broke and take a chance on 'ol Ming!!!
this is an article i read earlier: The negotiations are not easy," Li said. "There must be nine signatures on his NBA contract. The signatures will belong to Yao Ming, his parents, the Shanghai Sharks, his Chinese agent, his NBA agent, the city of Shanghai, the Chinese National General Management, the Chinese Basketball Association, and his NBA team. These are our rules." Of course, a city with a large Chinese population also would help. There also is the request for joint training sessions between the Shanghai Sharks and Yao's NBA team, an exhibition game by Yao's NBA team in China and a reciprocal player agreement between the teams. Further, there is the matter of recalling Yao at any time for duty with the national team. So how exactly was winning the lottery a good thing? The answer is a trade, like the Magic did in 1993 with No. 1 overall pick Chris Webber.
I've read that article too! All I can say is "don't believe the hype!" All those entities claiming they can grant access to Ming is hogwash! There is ONLY ONE entity the Rockets need to be concerned with: the Chinese Government! The Shangai Sharks, The Chinese Basketball League, etc. will have NO SAY whatsoever if the Chinese Government gives their approval! And I believe THEY WILL because they want Ming to be the 1st EVER foreign player picked first overall in the draft. It's a "big honor thing" in their eyes and if they grant approval, those other entities will be powerless to stop it! It's a communist country entirely controlled by the government! So those others can seem to be in control, but they really aren't; Ming will be a Rocket if the Chinese Government deems it so and no one can say otherwise. What would those other entities do? Sue? File a complaint? Communism is a b###h, huh?
Nine signatures? Yao Ming - "Yes, Houston is fine and they had the Dream" - Check. Yao's parents - His 6'7"father and 6'3" mother have been waiting for this. And it's not like they need the money, Ming's father makes the equivalent of 80,000USD/year. Check. Yao's Chinese agent - Cousin Erik Zhang? Check. His NBA agent - Bill Duffy can't wait until the pay checks roll in and the countdown to Bird Rights and Max contracts begin. Check. The City of Shanghai - See Jeff's thread about the meeting between Lee Brown and the Mayor of Shanghai. Check. His NBA team - Is this an issue? Check. And then there were three. The Shanghai Sharks - can't be paid more than 350k by any NBA team, are looking for coaching help and clinics. The players to China thing was debunked as a myth. The Chinese Basketball Association - Along with the NBA and whomever selects Yao, has vested interest in Yao Ming's success. Except for monetary reimbursement, they want the same things as the Sharks - c'mon Mr. Mean, go put on a rebounding clinic. Hey, the Kings and Twolves play in Japan, what's wrong with a quick goodwill exhibition thru Japan, China, Taiwan and Australia? The Chinese National General Management - Hey, who are these guys and what do they know about bball? Well, whatever they need to know can be quickly learned from the ChBA, the Sharks, and Yao. OK, this is probably the toughest, but it won't be a deal breaker. Now for the matter of the National Team, I am going to start my own thread because they play so few games.
