[Yahoo] Rockets could lose Yao for season—or longer

NICE!

 

Yeah thats what Friedman said and thats what scares me

 

It might and I personally would not want to resign Ron. He was good last year and it was a contract year. If Yao is indeed done, I hate to say it, but "tank" and go for next season. Why lock yourself up in a contract that Ron would want when there is no certainty that Yao will be back. What else are you going to rebuild around? Scola? Brooks? I dont know, IMO, if Yao is done, wel then start the rebuilding.

 

You're an idiot.

First off Yao is probably going to miss all of NEXT YEAR and maybe LONGER

 

You may have a point, but Peter Vescey and Yahoo! Sports/Adrian Wojnarowski are worlds apart. A small difference doesn't describe the gap between the two's credibility at all.

 

It really doesn't matter WHO said it, we all felt it in the back of our minds whether we want to admit it or not when we heard that it wasn't healing...

 

believe it. i checked into the source.

there's not enough information to set expectations, but Yao is going to get multiple second/third/fourth opinions and there is a significant likelihood that this COULD turn out to be career threatening.

 

i feel so bad for yao...and of course for us, the fans.

this sucks majorly. if true, it's just devastating.

 

I agree. If Yao and TMAC are done, tank and get minutes to the mass of young talent we have.

Artest is not good to be around developing talent.

 

This changes everything...now if we are rebuilding, I'm willing to work with a project player.

I think we could still be a #7/8 playoff team with Tmac and Scola, with another nice piece (maybe Artest for a 1 year deal if he can't sign elsewhere for longer).

We would have to go get a big, defensive to give us a chance though. Maybe I think Brooks would be able to start, if we have McGrady handling the ball in the half court. Battier, Landry, and Lowery would be solid bench players.

You would hope that Taylor and Buddinger can produce right away as well to help our bench, or maybe Taylor could start at the 2, and let Tmac slide back to the 3, where he was more successful as a Rocket in 2005.

The key will be how much Scola and Brooks can give night in and night out as far as points go. Tmac and Artest are proven scorers, and if Artest doesn't resign, we need to get a proven scorer.


IF we decide to rebuild now, I could see us trading Tmac, BUT if only if we get some value back, not junk and bad contracts.

The Rockets will have to make a decision soon though. If we are not rebuilding this year, then I don't see any way we can trade Tmac. We'll probably win the lottery if we did trade him, which means Scola would probably leave, same with Brooks unless we offered them crazy $.

I think the smart thing for the Rockets to do is to play out this season around Tmac, Scola, Brooks, and possibly Artest. We still have a decent team.

Then lets wait for Yao's status next summer, do what we can in the draft, and if Tmac doesn't take less $, let him go, and use that $23 million to sign whoever we want, instead of settling for junk and bad contracts for Tmac right now.

Best case scenario: Yao is healthy by 2010-2011 season, we pick up another star to run with him, Scola resigns, and we go from there.

Worst case scenario: Yao's career is over, we go into full rebuilding mode, with no vets left. Win the lottery and see what happens 3 years later...

 

Hits as hard as when I heard billy mays died.

 

Thanks for bringing me back to reality. Seriously, I'm knee-jerking with some of posts here lately.

 

Also this is the real deal. Not some reporter trying to make a name for himself.

See all the stickies about our draft day trades? Yahoo twitter. The same guy who wrote this article

 

Why is everyone acting like Yao is Michael Jordan? All of our hopes and dreams and our favorite team is done, its all over with because our oft injured slow footed center may miss next season? Overvalue much?

 

even the lakers feel sorry for yao
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2009/06/yao-mings-career-in-jeopardy.html
Lakers Blog - latimes.com

« The Lakers and Free Agency: Your Question of the Day | Main
Yao Ming's career in jeopardy?

As Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojanrowski reports, that's the worry circulating throughout the Houston Rockets' front office. The fractured foot that put Yao out of commission during the Western Conference Semi-Finals vs. the Lakers has been stubborn to heal, and beyond a recent "out indefinitely" statement, Wojnarowski suspects concerns over Yao missing the majority of next season. Or even worse, being forced into early retirement. Obviously, more information needs to be presented before hitting the panic button- Rockets GM Daryl Morey is withholding public comment until more tests are completed- but I have to imagine it's a tense vibe over at HQ.

And with this story, I ask two questions...

1) If Yao could miss a large chunk of time, does this development potentially shift an already radically altered NBA landscape? Could that make Houston think twice about committing long-term to Ron Artest. Are they more likely to move T-Mac for help or just let his 22 mil expire and blow the whole baby up? Keep whomever they can to remain competitive? Is there a team in particular you picture swooping in to become a player?

2) Does Yao's situation make you more nervous about various Lakers, whether Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Sasha Vujacic or DJ Mbenga, representing their country in Olympic play? BK and I have both stated past opinions that it's damn near impossible to fault a player for his patriotism, nor should their NBA employer forbid anyone from suiting up in the offseason. But all things being equal, are you now more inclined to hope those purple and golders take a pass and save their best for the NBA hardcourt?

In any event, best wishes to Yao for a full recovery. He's a class act, a great competitor and has been terrific for the league. I hope Wojnarowski is just caught up in worst case scenarios and not predicting the future.

AK

 

RECAP ON FRIEDMAN ON 1560

Doing two things at once, sorry if I missed some stuff:

Rockets taking a wait and see approach. Will wait for multiple doctor's evaluations.

Friedman was more surprised to hear the news a few weeks ago (opposed to the news today) that the fracture didn't heal properly yet. That was concerning and a sign that things could be worse.

Friedman's experience hanging in the draft room: Everyone's on computers, chatting via IM so there's not a lot of verbal discussion. You can tell the team was interested when everyone's body language is a little more animated and everyone starts checking Blackberry's, phones, etc. (He mentioned this on his blog draft night). They were using multiple websites (HoopsHype, Real GM, etc), constantly on the phone.

Thought they were trying to improve the team any way possible. Rox involved in big moves, but difficult to gauge how close they were to sealing them, Morey said the same thing.

Talk about Amare. Says Amare isn't a #1 guy, more #2. Not crazy about spending the max on him. Reminds him of Rondo who put up great numbers in the playoffs, yet there's still rumors that Boston will move him. There must be something more to these guys that makes them less attractive to the teams they're on...more reasons not to give Amare the max.

Feels sorry for Morey, who's been dealt a tough hand w/ all the injuries and now it could be a sudden rebuilding phase. He's proven he knows what he's doing though.

Friedman's takes on draft picks: Jermaine has potential, could be a scoring punch. A bit surprising that the Rox spent $6 mil to get those picks. More pressure for these guys to perform and make the team (Jermaine and Budinger). Team is getting younger and younger, the face of the club is changing.

Maybe someone will have a more detailed recap. I'm running late doing this gotta go!

 

after hearing doctors say that on the radio over and over again, it certainly wasn't out of the realm of possibility. this article isn't saying that he won't ever play again....only that it will be difficult for it to heal properly enough for him to play next season....and that it possibly means he won't ever play again.

none of this is a stretch based on what we were already being told by independent doctors.

 

I was expecting him to play again. And promptly get injured again.

Repeat a few more years until he retired.


So, yeah... I was surprised that he might never play again. But, the outcome isn't that different.

 

its an emotional time to be a rockets fan for sure. trades, rumors, injuries . . . so many big questions.

would be nice to have some good news every once in awhile though.

 

cause he's our best player and our franchise player PERIOD.
no one else on this team is that.