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

Hakeem would like to say a few words about Charlie Thomas.

 

So now its on the Chronicle... here is a link in case you have not seen it or no one else posted it

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6503064.html

Rockets center Yao Ming’s left foot injury could be severe enough to be season ending or even career-threatening depending on the success of potential treatments chosen, Rockets team physician Tom Clanton said Monday.


"At this point, the injury has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career threatening," Clanton said. "One of the things we are trying to get is a consensus opinion on that, to make certain there is no option we are overlooking that would provide an earlier return or would be an option for treatment that he would prefer rather than doing additional surgery."


Clanton, responding to a story on Yahoo Sports that reported that the Rockets and Yao representatives are concerned Yao will never play again, said that Yao could choose to try again to immobilize the foot in the hopes that the hairline fracture of the tarsal navicular bone would heal on its own, as several of his previous bone injuries have and doctors expected this time.


"We are not going to comment," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said, "until we have all the facts."

 

Get well Yao and good luck on your recovery. I think if Yao does miss a year he probably will get a smaller paycheck or should expect one. He'll be relegated to being a backup no matter what team he may land on and his role will be more like Ilgauskas who had foot problems for years.

Its ashame Kevin McHale got fired. Could have probably stolen all their prospects with ease.

 

and Charlie would like to say some about Hakeem.

i was thinking of that exact situation when i read da da's post.

but this isn't a fake job. these are team doctors commenting at this point looking at CT scans. i can't see how faking this would help them in any way...and i can't see yao being party to that, either.

 

Man, this is disappointing. The only thing that wuda made this a little bit better wuda been if he dint have that player option for 2010/2011. At least that way we cuda had two massive expiring contracts to look forward to and then be able to make a good decision as to who we wanted to sign....Even still I think insurance covers his contract until he plays so Morey might be able to work some magic...[/Wishful thinking]

 

We need to sign Gortat. When you project his current numbers to starters minutes he is a good big man, he is more mobile than Yao and younger. No he wont score as much be he will rebound more and probably defend more due to the fact he is not as sluggish.

 

Why would they flame. Lol relax dude

 

I'm not so sure Dwade wouldn't leave if his team isn't going anywhere past the 1st round. That team has NOTHING around it, and it may be that way for awhile...Beasley=BUST.

(kinda like how Kobe demanded a trade a couple of years ago when he played great but the team never got past round 1)

Same goes for Dirk, his team went to the finals 3 years ago now, then managed to lose to an 8th seed after winning 67 games, made a horrible trade to acquire an old point guard, and only got by the Spurs this year because of injuries...Dallas hasn't been a contender since 07. His time to win is running out as well.

Rondo has been in trade rumors this entire off season, and apparently the Celtics don't like him for some reason, so I could easily see him gone from the Celtics by 2010 if not sooner.


With Ginobili's injury problems, he won't make as much $, and I'm sure the Spurs would like to get younger, and if Richard Jefferson workso out, they may opt to keep him over a 33 year old Ginobili. He would be a nice role player for us.


Pierce and Roy are probably the only for sure going to stay where they are at. Pierce would probably want to retire a Celtic since he's been there so long.

Roy will get a max contract from the Blazers, but Aldridge COULD leave if offered more $ elsewhere...you never know, but he's not a franchise player though, and I wouldn't want to pay him too much.

I could see Lebron leaving if Cleveland doesn't win it this year, but I doubt he comes to Houston...he loves the attention and publicity and he would get that with the NY Knicks or the Brooklyn Nets...but its really hard to predict him though

 

If Gortat is our starter we can still have a good season, possibly great. Please Les get it done, this guy is our best option at center I've mulled over everything. We don't have to trade away Landry, Brooks, or Battier...although if we can get Rubio I would do it just for the name, the kid will sell jerseys and tickets. Gortat would put up good starter numbers with over 10 rebounds per game and probably like 10 or more points and 2-3 blocks. He is still young and I know he would be overpriced to a lot of you but in our current situation he is worth it.

 

Look at the bright side, if yao come back half way next season, he will be able to play the whole playoff, if the team still can manage to get there...

 

I can't even get angry. I'm just very sad. First Michael Jackson, and now this?!

I've posted this video too many times as a Rockets' fan:

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This is why we need a Rasheed Wallace, Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh. Yao doesn't play then that's fine if we pick up a player like one of the three above. I would even consider Marcus Camby but if you think we are fine with this team right here without Yao then that's just wishful thinking.

 

no yao = no title, with the current talent that we have right now.

 

1) Sign and trade Artest and trade other valuable pieces (Scola, Battier, Hayes etc) for youth/future picks.

2) Keep AB and Landry.

3) Do NOT trade Mcgrady.

4) PRAY that Tmac comes back Orlando style and let him do whatever the hell he wants.... Let him shoot and average as many points as as he possibly can by letting the offense flow through him. This allows Tmac to try and be the MAN again which he wants. At least Tmac is entertaining to watch when he's on the court whether you're a Tmac hater or not. Those that are fans would love to see him back healthy. If your a hater and Tmac fails then at least you can say you were right all along once and for all and he will be dealt by the deadline.

This will let Mcgrady raise his trade value while we plan for the future but still keep us relatively competitive if he's healthy. If not then at least we didnt trade him for junk i.e (Larry hughes + crap)... (Curry + Qrich).

Worst case scenario Tmac doesn't return healthy and then and only then we can move him before the 2010 trade deadline.

 

Agreed. I could easily see Wade going back to his hometown team Chicago and pair up with Rose. Rondo wont be back with the Celtics. He is "hard to coach" and him and management dont get along according to reports. And LeBron, if he dont win this year, despite Akron being his hometown, I see him leaving. Whats the incentive for him to stay besides the hometown "discount"?

 

We are probably the most intriguing option for Gortat. He wants to start, he probably wants to be a on a good team with a good coach like us that expects to compete. He wants money and I think we have the most to offer out of contending teams and I think Les will spend more now that Yao is down. Don't be surprised if we sign Gortat and Artest. I think we can still contend with this lineup because our defense will improve.
PG. Brooks, Lowry (Rubio if there is a trade or Conroy if there is a trade for someone other than Rubio)
SG. Taylor, Battier
SF. Artest, Battier, Budinger
PF. Landry, Scola, Villanueva (maybe Les opens up his personal funds and goes all out)
C. Gortat, Dorsey (Camby, Randoplh, Kaman, Chandler if we could trade for any of these guys great)

 

The Rockets announced right before the draft that Yao wasn't healing. I thought this could of possibly hurt our chances at getting Stoudemire or at least give the upper hand to Phoenix. Are the Rockets being truthful? Are they trying to make next year's first round pick look more attractive to other teams?

 

I think this team without Yao makes it into the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed...maybe upset the Lakers in round 1???

We still have Brooks and Scola who gave them trouble. Still have Hayes to defend Gasol, still have Battier and maybe Artest to make things difficult for Kobe, BUT we now have somebody who can get us an easy shot...Tmac.

That was why we couldn't win games 3, 5 and 7.

I know that is all wishful thinking, but I really do believe the Rockets can squeeze into the playoffs. Dallas, Phoenix, Utah and New Orleans are also sliding

The top 3 are LA, San Antonio, and Denver

Then you have the bottom 5: Portland, Utah, New Orleans, Dallas, Houston.

My surprise team would be OKC if they can pick up a solid, defensive big man.

I just don't see a 38- year old Nash and Amare leading Barbosa, Hill, Barnes, Amundson, and Jrich to the playoffs...

 

The absolutely only positive thing about this season is that we can let our younger talent develop more and look forward to a much more uptempo offense.

So we sacrifice our chances at a title for more entertaining basketball - contingent upon definition of entertaining basketball.

Either way, this is disappointing. I really had high hopes for this team next season.

 

If you dont believe that Yao is out or hurt or hasnt recovered and things have gotten worse, I hate to say it but you are in denial.