We tend to forget that the NBA is a business. Without fans, there is no way to generate revenue for the team. Jersey sales, sponsorships, licensing of products, etc. all generate revenue and end result means more money for the owner(s). More fans, more money... Simple as that. It's not rocket science. Hence the reason teams want superstars to draw in the fans. How do one expect to pay the superstars to come to their city and play? I can tell you this... They won't play for free. It's going to cost money. Lots of it. How do you get the money? Fans... Lots of it.
Daryl isn't going to just resign Yao because of his popularity around the world. Yao will only be resigned if he can somehow overcome his health issues and actually produce on the field for the team on a consistent basis. I guarantee if this team dropped Yao Ming and got the pieces to win a championship the sales from that alone would make up for Yao.
Those question should be asked in 2010, but honestly i wish he opt out, I respect Yao ming and he is great player, he is one of the hardest working guys in the NBA, by the time he gets back he will be 29, and his legs will not life him more than 2 or 3 years the most, and i think it would be better if we get good center or good PF, and then we target LBJ or Wade.... wat u guys think ????!!!!
some people - the rockets are going to the playoffs - for sho! me - not so dure then i should be either exiled to some yao-mania site, or i am "clueless". the quality of this board worries me, sometimes.
So who are we going to get if Yao leaves? Unless you can convince me that Wade or Lebron is coming, and Yao needs to be shown the door for that to happen, I don't see any switch as being a positive.
I'd rather have 16 million dollars playing on the court than sitting on the bench. That would be a positive.
