Yao get Max for 5 year, ESPN news (originally reported by Mark Berman on FOX)

Was there ever really any doubt he would come back? I mean, it's great to have it in writing now...and early, but by all accounts loyalty means a lot to Yao and this is the ideal place for him.

 

That is exactly how I thought of the article. It seemed like Bucher was saying that Yao is a good guy and showing that he isnt like the other "stars" who make a big scene and try to draw attention to themselves. If Ric was trying to imply that Yao is a loyal and humble guy, then that is exactly the point he got across to me.

 

Great news!

 

Can we count on R2K to provide a video clip of the conference?

 

OH my gosh F&*^ chad ford who are you do you know basketball I cant believe this guy says Houston sucks see you in the finals ford.

 

you can't read...can you?

 

I guess everyone in LA can shut the @$#$@ up and start worrying about their crappy team and not about how Yao will be in LA

 

Oh, they've moved on.

They're now thoroughly convinced that LeBron will be a Laker.

 

FINALLY!!!
Thank You Jebus!!!

Laker Fans are backtrackin fast!!!
Saying they want Amare....AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

 

Kobe couldn't get a long with someone who perfectly complemented him on the court, so they figure he will get along with someone who does the exact same things as him?

Or is Kobe no longer in the picture?

Whacky Lakers fans

 

Man, I am so proud of this franchise in recent years. To wit:

* the way they've conducted their business with Yao

* the way they assembled a bunch of team-oriented players who have extraordinary chemistry, then didn't panic after that disheartening game-7 loss and start making crazy moves

* the resigning of the key role players on the team, letting everyone know how important guys like Deke, JB and even Bowen are

* the class they showed in the way T-Mac was brought in, never saying a bad word about Stevie and expressing regret at having to let him go

* the way they slowly-but-surely cut ties with Eddie G. after it became apparent he wasn't ready to try to grow up just yet

Things got a little messy for a while, with Hakeem in Raptor purple and Rudy being squeezed out. Since then, though (since JVG arrived, actually), I haven't seen a single false step.

 

Opening up the T-Mac press conference to the public at Toyota Center was also a nice touch.

 

Verry nice article and great news!

 

Jackie - that is such an easy question to answer. Just look at his handle - 36, silly!

 

Not that I had any doubt, but...SWEET!!! Good job CD!!!

 

Interestingly, some of us here could not understand it - the simple things of life


Bucher is just man-crushing Yao and doing so with sarcasm, tongue-in-cheek, coded messages and whathaveyou. The only part I did not like it he echoed what other media folks say - that Houston maybe too small for Yao's life size image but the forget quickly that Houston is not just another city. We may not be a "major" media market but we can hold our own. Most importantly, Yao is not one who is enamored by fame and superstardom. Folks around the country have alway misuderstood Yao but that does not bother me much - I love him the way he is and he will be ours for a longer while.

 

Screw the Lakers!!!!

 

Berman scoops again. As far as Yao, he certainly isn't your average American player, I would have done what Bucher said. Hold out and see what my worth was and sign when I could get a 6 year deal, play one team off another and make the Rox match another teams offer.

The Rox have treated Yao well and I wonder if he would or will develop into the player he is going to be if he played with another team. The Rox coaches have taught him the game and they still continue to go out of their way to make trips to China to monitor his development.

Anyway, I'm glad Yao is in the fold for 6 more years. It took Hakeem 8 years before he won a championship so we may need Yao around until 2011 before he brings one to Houston.

 

hakeem never had the best player in the league playing on the perimeter for him...since well...it was him.
this could be the year...or the next, or the next, or the next.

 

As I understand, Yao's rookie contract was for 4 years with the last one being a team option. So the coming season is the year of the team option. I'm wondering could it have been possible for the Rockets to decline the team option and then sign Yao to a 6 year max contract instead of the 5 year max extension? Could Yao have forced something like this by threatening to leave after next season? (disclaimer: yes, I know Yao will never do something like this and all this is meaningless since Yao has signed already. I'm just curious and it's a long off-season).