For whatever reason the trade deadline deals further convinced me of what has been obvious (but I have tried to deny) for the last several months. Realistically the Rockets are going nowhere for a while. Sure, Thabeet could be a surprise or they could get a "diamond in the rough" thru the draft, or finally convince a FA superstar to come to Houston and be a legitimate playoff contender again soon. Those are possibilities, but the probability of those things happening seems very low. If one of those things do not materialize (which seems very likely at this point) then we are going to be stuck in mediocrity probably for the next 3-5 years. However, what are the chances that Yao comes back and even is 75% of his normal self? I realize we have worn out that story and nobody should put any stock in it happening but doesn't it seem more likely that that would happen than we would get lucky in the draft or get a superstar free agent? I could be totally wrong but, from my view at least, it seems the most likely way the Rockets become a legitimate playoff threat in the next 3 years is if Yao comes back and produces at a 75% clip. I realize its probably a long shot and its not something we should bet on, but I do think its probably more likely than the other 3 possibilities. Am I totally off base?
Get Yao back for dirty cheap so he can mentor Thabeet. Keep Miller, too. Bigs are so hard to come by these days for Houston...
I think what you mean is that we aren't going to get someone in the near future that will be as good as 75% of Yao, which is true. But I don't think you rely on Yao anymore, he can't be your starter.
I guess what I'm saying is that Yao getting 75% healthy is more likely than us getting the right players to make us a legitimate playoff threat in the next few years. Maybe what I'm also saying is that the chance of us getting the right players to make us a legitimate playoff threat in the next few years is very low.
This thread will probably die a quick death, but I'm with you - still holding out hope. Odds are better than a million-to-one, so what I'm saying is there's still a chance.
I'm interested to see if Yao's feet could hold up to backup minutes. He'd be a great backup C when he's out there, and it would make us better in an area where we have a need, but having an awesome backup C isn't a game changer. And the price would have to be right.
GREAT Reply.... Betting on Yao is why Morey and the Rockets are in the position they are in now... T_Man
I'll say this...I would love for Yao to come back and play at at least 75% of his old self and stay healthy if he signs for a reasonable amount of money. That's all I'm going to say.
dont we have like 3 7 footers now..... Thabeet, Yao, Miller, Hill & Patterson at 6'10 makes use a pretty big now......
You obviously didn't understand my post. I'm not saying we should bet on Yao. I'm just saying that I think the odds of Yao coming back and being 75% of his former self and making us a playoff contender are higher than us acquiring the proper talent (through lucky draft pick, superstar FA acquisition etc) to be a playoff threat in the next few years.
You couldn't do much about it though. When could you deal/get rid of Yao? 2009-10 season? So I'll ask again...when could you have traded Yao and got decent value. Too much of a risk after the 2008 season/playoffs. Too much money left last year for a nothing player...so I'll ask once more. What the hell could you have done?
I have no problem with signing Yao for the low But if he is our best chance and if we go the route of really depending on him I don't feel too good about our chances.
We are rebuilding, if we are going to sign a center this offseason I'd rather give Perkins that money not Yao.
Will Yao take LLE from us? Or he'll get some offers bigger than LLE from other teams? I really thing GS might throw their MLE to Yao just for the sake of marketing, and betting on Yao to play 50 games a season.
Yeah, that's awesome for a change.... Except... Yao - Hurt Miller - Hurt - OLD Thabeet - Raw Hill - Raw Patterson - Raw
