Assuming this silly stupid trade talk (the other thread) were realistic, MN would take Yao in a second - not for $$$ only I'll tell you that. I know you'd be laughing at me Or really?! Granted KG's playing great right now (and all last 8~9 years, arguabley the most consistent among the top 10 players) but remember this is his 11th (ELEVENTH!) season and he's turning 30 (THIRTY) next year. He's taken tons of beating and he's NOT getting any younger. In a game or two, his minutes odometer will turn over to 30,000. A few more beyond that he will pass Kevin McHale who logged 30,118. (Even T-Mac says he's old and he's only 26.) For the first time, he was slowed down all last season by a bad knee (I believe). People here in the Twin Cities think their window of opportunity at a champ with KG has come and gone - Make no mistakes, they love him and call him the "Ticket" (to the promising land of course). However, they also complain on the talk shows that KG never seem to make the last shot (which happens to be true) and he's too unselfish. Also for the first time, he criticized GM Kevin MaHale and owner for last season's flop last week on TNT ( http://www.startribune.com/stories/511/5734199.html ) He knows in his heart that with the current Wolves roster he'll have no chance to contend. He needs help, ironically from super stars like T-Mac or Koby Briant. Just for KG's sake, I'd love to see him go to a team (not Rockets for sure) and win a ring because he's truely a great human being. But realisticly, he will go no where. As so many people (with brains ) have pointed out that our problem is the supporting cast or the inability of the players around Yao and T-Mac to just make 3 or 4 more shots a game. It's like all of a sudden, we are in desperate need for shooters. I also think we need a 3rd scorer who can give you 15 points game in and game out. I guess we all need to be a little more patient. Assuming T-Mac heathy, him 26 and Yao 25 (how quickly people forget this is only his 4th season), the Rockets can only get better. Shoot, I'd send T-Mac to Caribbean for 2 weeks and let his back heal. Maybe this is even better (without T-Mac) - I mean we'll at least find out who can/cannot play when Feb. comes around. Hopefully, they'll get better over time , esp. Stro and guards' shooting. Go Rockets!!
what is the point in this thread? i love yao, but kg is one of the best if not the best player in the league. and he's going to be one of the best players in the league for the next few years. yao at this point is a very good player, but he's not at the level of kg and it's not certain he ever will be. i'm not trying to knock yao, i believe he can become one of the best, but at this point kg is the much better player.
I think the point is pretty clear. You may disagree, but I think arguing in favor of keeping Yao in a hypothetical trade scenario is at least open for debate. I like KG and all, but I'm glad to see someone making the argument for Yao's still undetermined "upside potential."
KG hasn't slowed down a bit in production, he is a top 3 player and still has a ton of PT in him. KG is one of those players who can play for a long, long time (I don't want to use this, but like Malone). Who cares if he's 30? Yao supposedly came back in the best shape ever, had rest this summer, gained muscle, and he is still having fatigue and foul problems. I'm not trying to bash Yao but I'm really beginning to think that 18 & 8 is going to be his numbers. He starts off strong every game and falls off. KG is a 24 & 13 guy every single night, you can't pass that up. This is all hypothetical talk of course, but if it was a Yao for KG straight up deal, I'd take it. If the only thing on KG is that he is too unselfish, then he's got a good thing going on. BTW, I've seen KG take plenty of big shots down the stretch (especially against us), but if there is a better shot that can be taken, it just shows that KG is a team player and wants the best shot possible.
If a thread already exists with your topic, please don't start a new thread about the same thing - it only clutters the board.
