I don't have any inside information about Yao Ming's preferences (although I noted he was playing WarCraft 3 recently) for staying or going - but I do have inside information about Yao's family - His parents (especially his mom) are making plans for a venture which will make it a lot more difficult (yet not impossible) for them to up and leave Houston. Things should be annouced in Feburary or March - if this has any effect on the basketball side of things - I don't know. But Yao's mother is probably the 2nd most important decision maker in the entire Team Yao structure - not Eric Zhang, not Bill Duffy, not Ye Li, not Bill Sanders. Yao's mom. And her preference would be to stay in someplace where she has established friends and a routine - that's not Los Angeles.
I don;t support Yao regardless of the situation, but Deke didn't outplay him. He simply did what Yao would have done in the situation. They can complain about him not being aggressive all they want, but in the 1st quarter they didn't start pounding the ball inside until Deke went in for some reason. Also, AB played great, imo, and really got a lot of drive and dishes. I'm just saying that any stiff with true size should have had a decent game last night on the interior and Deke proved it. So did Yao. They were the only two players on the team to shoot over 50%. To get to more of the NBA Dish stuff, though, if Yao wants to go, that's fine. Either way, the Rockets have the option of offering him the contract early. If he says no thanks, then they have the option of trading him to whoever they want during next year. Even if it is the Lakers, there is some good talent there to mine, plus draft picks. And it's not like we're headed to championships as we speak. At the end of the day, Yao is a very hot commodity. Besides what he can do on the court - which everyone should agree is significant, but limited - his financial impact is huge. Since the Rockets, and not the Lakers or any other team, drafted him, some good will come out of Yao for the Rockets...that can be counted on.
Good to know. Thanks for the info and I think many here will be aticipating this news in a month or two.
Yaomania, Yao's mom may be the 2nd most important decision maker but the number 1 decision maker is still Yao. If Yao wants out, then Yao will get out. How much more disruption can Momma Yao experience after having to leave China in the first place? From Houston to LA will be nothing in comparison to that. And I do believe Yao occasionally browses the web and cares about what fans think of him. Since he already hates what's going on in the rockets organization, we can only hope that he doesn't mistakenly venture onto ClutchBBS, the biggest rockets fansite there is and read all this trashtalk about him because that IMHO stands a good chance of making up his mind. If even the houston fans hate him and want Mutumbo to start, badmouth him and think he wont leave because he's a cashcow, etc then Yao will be out of here...and no amount of fan whining, hypocrisy, threats, what have you will stop him. Yao is still the final arbiter of what happens to him and if he feels he's relegated to being a roleplayer, cashcow, being frozen out of plays (as he obviously felt in the Suns game) then he'll be on the first plane to LA. I hope he doesn't leave but if what everyone says is true then it's only a matter of time. YOF and YOH's will both have their wish and the Rockets...well.... don't want to think about it.
In order for Yao to get to the next level, the Rockets need to: 1) get a bruising PF; 2) get a veteran PG who knows the art of dishing; 3) outside shooters to take advantage of the double team. We are actually downgraded significantly in all 3 areas this season after making the moves, and yet people are saying that the Rockets are trying to rebuild around Yao. If Yao really wants to prosfer, his best choice will be: Supersonics, Suns, Spurs, Timberwolves, Kings. Lakers will be a better fit than the Rockets (better outside shooting, better penetration by Kobe since TMac is unwilling to sacrifice his body for the game), but not that much better.
Ming needs to discuss his situation with CD, LA, JVG, whoever will listen. I get the feeling that he expresses his "real" thoughts to his friends and family, maybe some in the Chinese media, but that's all. If he is frustrated with Ewing, JVG, the system, whatever, lay it out there. Maybe not the public, but certainly the Rocket's organization. I bet he has never done that. Now is the time. I bet they are just as frustrated with him.
Yao could go anywhere his heart desired, but honestly, if he wanted JVG gone, it would happen, but its not his nature...I still think Phil is coming here and we will win many championships...
I am not sure if Yao is thinking of going to LA, but the laker fans are expecting Yao to come to LA in a few years. That's what I've heard from the southern california sports radio station.
I do not believe it is part of the Asian culture to try to make waves and disrupt the status quo. I would find it surprising if Yao explicitly wants JVG to leave.
I don't know about Laker's fans, but here is the vote results on Yao's official website I even heard wild reports Kobe's falling in love with Yao.
