I just checked in on an online chat session with USA Today's basketball writer, David Dupree. It wasn't long before the Ming/Rockets subject was brought up. I couldn't disagree with Dupree's take any more. We don't need another freakin' point guard. That "take the best player" mentality does not apply to the Rockets in THIS situation. Here's the question posted and his answer that follows. You might note the question was asked from someone in China! Macau, China SAR: Do you think the Rockets will pick Yao Ming or Jay Williams? If they are offered a veteran, do you think that they will trade either of them? David DuPree: If they can get a young veteran starter and another pick lower in the first round,they will have to consider trading the pick. Personally, I would draft Jay Williams. I know they already have Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Moochie Norris, but Williams is too good to pass up. You have to take the best player out there, regardless of his position and worry what you are going to do with him and the rest of your team later.
This guy must be under the impression the rockets are ready to blow up the team. like it or not. . .we have to cater to an extent to Stevie It would be like Lakers trying to get T-Mac. . in Kobe's contract year. Rocket River
more... houston we have a problem!: whattup dd?! i think the rockets will ultimately draft ming but wouldnt drafting williams be really interesting? i mean a backcourt of francis/williams (and they can even move mobley in the offseason) would be lethal quick (although a bit undersized)! why was francis totally hinting they werent going to draft williams ("another PG")? he and jwill can both play either guard position, so i dont think he needs to feel threatened! do you think ming can fit in with the rockets running game? dont you think that what the rockets need most is a big man (PF) who can board, run and score? thanks for answering... David DuPree: Of course they need a big guy who can board or a small forward like Butler or Dunleavy who can score, but I would take Williams and then just sit back,field the offers and see how things shake out.
opinions are like a$$holes...everyones got one...get used to it because between now and the draft, you will hear every "expert" give you a reason why we should or shouldnt take Yao its been 3 days and Im already sick of all these sportswriters (most of who have never even seen Yao play other than the hi lites from the workout) giving their expert opinions oh well...i'll deal with it
I don't think people outside the Rockets fanbase understand what kind of impact Steve's opinion will have on our GM and Rudy. He's our franchise player and he's very picky about who comes in and who gets screwed over. This is both good and bad. Its bad because it limits our options, but good because it creates a lot of loyalty and synergy between teammates. Besides, we already have the best backcourt in basketball, why do we need to make it a little better when we have glaring holes at SF and C? The only way, and I mean ONLY way, we draft Williams is to trade him. Also, why are all these experts convinced Williams has more talent than Ming? Most of them haven't seen Ming play. I trust our scouting (we'll be doing a lot of it on Ming now) to find out who the better player is. If Ming is better or has more talent then we'll draft him, if its too close to call then we'll draft Ming because he fills a positional need, and if Williams is better then we deal. Its either Ming on our team next year or we trade the pick. Under no circumstances do we acquire and keep Williams. If y'all think dealing with the Chinese government is too complex, wait til you see what the implications of moving Steve to SG and having to trade or lessen the role of his best bud Cat will do.
I don't really trust or respect these sportswriters. I'm sorry, all you media guys: Yao Ming's not going to New York. You'll have to find another story to help sell papers in the greater NYC area.
ROXT...to tell you the truth, there hasn't been one story in the last couple of days that suggests anything of the sort...i only know because I read the NY tabloids everyday
i found it funny how that guy asked if ming would fit in with the rocket's running game. when did we get that? dupree doesn't make any sense, why would we want someone who plays the same position as our best player? it seems to me that with something like the number one you don't just waste it and try to work things out.
I've hated USA Today ever since they ran this front page story, literally top front-page story on how first-class passengers on airplanes aren't like they used to be. It was full of Joan Rivers quotes and had a little box about first-class cabin etiquette. Front-page!!!! I was like WTF??? And USA Today calls itself a newspaper? Sorry, that was completely off-topic. Ummm... I like Ming....a lot. Dealing with Ming's handlers scares me. Did I miss anything?
Man you guys are sensitive! I believe all he is saying is draft JW (the best player in his opinion) because he will return the best offer. It’s not that bad of an idea if you don’t believe in Ming. I personally don’t think you should ever pass up a potential franchise center. Kind of like in football you don’t pass on a potential franchise Quarterback. Center is the hardest position to find a franchise player at in the NBA.
Teams are smart enough to know that if the Rockets draft JW they will then have a glut of guards, and they will use that to their advantage in negotiations. ~kountzer~
Well, there is an article in the Daily News today about the Rockets, the #1 pick, and Ming. It's all about how CD is getting lots of calls and how he doesn't see the Rockets trading away the #1 pick. That, in a way, does relate to the Knicks. (Why would the News print that story otherwise, if it didn't have some connection -- however small -- to the Knicks?)
What I meant to say was its not a media barrage in NY about how its a foregone conclusion that Ming will end up in the big apple....by the way, i think that was in monday or tuesdays paper
Look at the bright side Old School...Dupree could be commenting on who we are going to take with the 7th pick instead of the 1st
