The Rockets organization has done a multitude of great things in the franchises history, but in recent years the organization has consistently been trying to rely on something that just isn't there. The Rockets have a great GM in Morey, and a great owner in Les, but we as the fans have got to start questioning the direction in which the team is going. As the Mcgrady/Yao era comes to an end as a failure it seems a bit odd that the organization will continue to build around our centerpiece Yao even after seeing how the previous years have ended all in a similar fashion. I by no means dislike Yao or am trying to discredit his ability, he is a great player and arguably one of the best centers in the NBA, but to attempt to try to cater or build around Yao would be beyond foolish. If we as the fans can come to this conclusion it only makes me wonder what direction the ownership, and Morey will take. Everyone assumes Yao will end his career as a Rocket due to his playing ability when healthy, and his supposed profit and recognition he brings to the club, but in all honesty the club has to realize that building around Yao is very risky, and we could possibly waste even more years relying on someone that has proven to be unreliable. As it appears now the organization is set on Yao even though he has yet to prove he can stay healthy in the recent years. But I have to ask why. It is premature to draw any conclusions, but I can only assume that next season will be the most important of Yao's career. Yao will have to justify if he is worth a possible Max deal, and if he can stay healthy for the entire regular/post season. If Yao fails to play at 100%, and does unfortunately go down I think the club will be forced to either make Yao a backup figure in the organization, and subsequently take a much smaller paycheck. Only time will tell, but at some point the organization has to realize a change of direction might be needed.
No I'm saying that they need to decide in which direction to take on Yao. Do they believe that they can still build around an injury prone 30 year old center, if not what are the other possible solutions.
After this foot restructure surgery, i believe yao will be health in the next 4~5 years. The rockets do need to find more help for yao by using the tmac salary cap though.
A healthy Yao gives the Rockets the best chance to win a championship over the course of the next few seasons. If the Rockets could add Lebron, or some combination of Chris Paul, Bosh, and/or Wade with the snap of a finger, they absolutely would. But, building a championship team is not all that easy. There's a reason that teams have been lining up cap space for years to make a run at Lebron and Dwayne Wade. Those two are proven franchise players, capable of taking a team to a championship. Teams salivate at the chance to have someone of that caliber to build around. The Rockets have someone of that quality, they just need to keep him healthy. Yao has not been healthy the last few years, but when he is, he is one of the very best players in the league. He is the kind of player that other teams have to change entire game plans in order to challenge. With the right supporting cast around him, this is a championship caliber team. There's nothing foolish about trying to build around him, at least for the next year. You pointed out that it's risky, but the chance is still there and I think you take that chance before scrapping everything and starting over. A lot of people seem to be under the impression that Carl Landry and Aaron Brooks are cornerstones that you can build a franchise around. I think this is a mistake of overvaluing the hometown guys. I think those two are both great to have on the team, fun to watch, and I'd like to see them continue to grow, but they are not the types of players that carry a team to a championship. Also, "we as the fans" have not come to this conclusion. Maybe you have, but I still believe that a team with a healthy Yao as the center piece can win a ring. Truth is no one knows how it's going to work out for sure. Morey has a plan. He is aware as anyone of Yao's situation, and I highly doubt that he's going to put all of his eggs in one basket. He seems like the kind of guy who has a set of contingency plans lined up based on the scenarios that arrise.
The bigger question is what are Morey's goals? He is a man who buys low for high value. So how does one do this? Timing with the economy and market for players is key. The one thing he has yet to do is sign a big man to backup Yao that could carry the team through to the finals. The main reason has been timing and money. The second thing we need is a strong franchise player to create. This leads to many more questions... such as what will the team be like next year? Who will be here? Who can go and who can't so the organization has the best chance of winning next year? 2010 is the year we have to win with Yao... it must happen. We want to show him we mean business and that will mean finding someone to play second fiddle to him (Mutombo was OK but we need someone who doesn't run for ice every time he does a wind sprint). Taking a look at hot trading spots where the market is favorable, Morey has three upcoming times to try and make it happen. The first is right now, before the trade deadline with McGrady wanting to leave. However teams are lowballing the Rockets and he may just wait till summer and keep the cap space. However, teams are hungry for cap space that an expiring McGrady contract could provide which could mean a deal may be worked out. After all, Morey has all the power in the trade and anyone wanting to sign a big name in 2010 can kiss his ring or hit the highway. I see him signing a strong and capable center in February. One along the lines of Gortat's ability (If possible). If I were Morey, I would make this a priority since this is the one time to see how Yao's future backup will play as a starter with the current squad. It will answer key questions for the Rockets such as how far can a squad that rivals the Lakers go with a healthy stopper in the paint? This is something that could have pushed us past the Lakers in the playoffs last year. I highly suspect adding a PF or Guard would be a weak move at this time unless the deal is super sweet. The best time to grab one is going to be at the upcoming free agent sweepstakes this summer when the market will be saturated with stars looking for a team to deliver a ring. Not to mention the Rockets will be in better financial shape than most teams competing for players. The good thing about waiting to buy one in summer means you pay the players less because the market is in favor of the buyer since supply is high. That said, economically it makes more since to buy big now if possible and wait until summer to find the next go to man. And who knows, maybe we already have our go to men for when that backup/starter capable center is found. It would be wise to hold out and wait until playoffs and see what Brooks and Landry can do.
I probably sound like a Yao apologist, but some of his injuries are of the fluke variety. He had an infected toe nail, and he broke his knee when Chuck Hayes came crashing across the lane into his legs. 99% of NBA players get a broken knee when Chuck Hayes comes crashing across the lane into their legs. The stress fracture is a bit scary, but Ilgauskas has been injury free for multiple seasons after having that corrected. Yao also doesn't have the burden of playing for the Chinese National team all year anymore either. I know he's not a sure thing, but these are reasons to be optimistic.
I think that a possible scenario for the Rockets could be withholding from trying to invest deep in the 2010 off-season. Wait until the 2011 off-season then you have a better feeling of what you can do with the team. If Yao proves that he can be productive then you possibly go for a 2011 free agent Durant although highly unlikely, or you work a trade. I suspect that after all the 2010 signings one or more teams is going to regret dishing out a large chunk of cash to their respective player, and with the continual salary problems teams are having you possibly look for a trade to improve the Rockets similar to what the Celtics did with KG, Allen, Pierce.
It's a shame. A 100% healthy Yao and a 100% healthy McGrady would have gone deep into the playoffs the last couple of years, because for the first time in their respective careers, they have had great role players since 2007-2008. This year we would be destroying the league with a healthy pair (no, not that kind of pair, get your mind out of the gutter). LOL! Injuries are a b****.
In 2000 the Rockets were the 13th most valuble franchise in the NBA with a value of 206 million. In 2009 the Rockets were the 5th most valuble franchise in the NBA with a value of 469 million. In 2000 the average value of an NBA franchise was 207 million. In 2009 the average value of an NBA franchise was 378 million. So while the the average NBA franchise has increased its value around 80%, the Rockets have increased their franchise value by 125%, without winning a championship and without winning a playoff series until last year. Hmmm, maybe that extra 100 million increase has something to do with Yao???
My post is regarding primarily his on court performance. Fans want to see the team win, the owners want to see winning while profiting. I think Yao can be a key for the upcoming years, but to be a focal piece and be built around might be another thing.
What have the Rockets done of late to make you think there focus is building around Yao? It looks to me like they're just trying to add good basketball players to the team.
I haven't seen them add any exceptional players that would make me believe they aren't still building around Yao. The players that we currently have all are meant to be around Yao. Until we make a drastic roster move it seems the team is still headed in the Yao direction.
How is that not discredit Yao's ability? Was there any question that Yao was one of the best centers in NBA? Believe me, if Rockets can get a Lebraon, a Wade, a CP3, they'll build around them definitely. But for now, who do you think they can build around? Carl Landry? Aaron Brooks? Morey is not as foolish as you think, and you might have to rethink about yourself.
The Rockets, like any well-run organization, simply try to get the best players they can. Unfortunatley, without cap room or a top pick, you don't have much to choose from. So while Yao is hardly the most reliable star player around, you have to keep him unless you find someone better. This isn't baseball. You can't just go around signing superstars because you simply want to.
I'm not discrediting his playing ability. What he does lack is the ability to stay healthy, and to build around someone who has proven to go down on a yearly basis is very risky.
Don't worry, Yao probably won't play for Rockets next year. During today's interview (in China), Yao was asked: "Are you a bit worried how you will play in the system when you are back?" And his answer: "To be honest, I can't play in current Rockets system (with my current playing style). So, either they have to change or I have to change. It would probably be me who has to change. If they wanted to trade me (because I was not able to make that change), I wouldn't be surprised. But I'll definitely try my best to adjust myself to fit the team." I agree with him and think the probability of him being traded is very high.
how many years can you really see Yao staying healthy/elite and contending for a championship in Houston? 2 maybe? The Rockets have been in "win now" mode for quite some time and they're doing right by the fans.
