I'm kinda relieved, to tell the truth. Yao is a great player and a great person. But he is also one of the most injury prone players I've ever seen. He is in no way fit to be the centerpiece of any team. The TMac/Yao era has been done for a few years now, at least we can finally acknowledge this without any lingering doubts. TMac, if he can come back, can still help the team in several ways. He can play well again, and help the Rockets to an inspired effort, but ultimately the ceiling of this team even with a good tmac is probably a first round exit or as a second round doormat if all things go well. I think it would be much better if he eases his way back and has a strong end to the season (but not too strong, we want to get into the lottery). His contract expires, he showcases his talent. Teams will be willing to sign him, and we get some cap space to net us a big name next year. Maybe we can get him on the cheap too, though I doubt that and not many of us will welcome him back. I just want to get the next era of Rockets bball started. If you can sign either Yao or Mac on the cheap, then do it. If not, let them walk or trade them.
There is no way we can do anything in the postseason without the 5 spot being addressed. In my opinion, it can't be solved with Yao in any other position but off the bench or playing half a season. Yao imo will not go deep in the playoffs. If he does by chance, some other key player will be out and they will just front Yao and render him useless. The league has also officiated Yao and other big men out of the league with doubling before the pass, fronting and Shaq-syndrome officiating. I think Yao needs to be moved to a healthy contending team where he has a decent backup and his teammates can stay healthy. That won't happen here in Houston. Yao + Mac is over in houston. Mac can and will help us this next contract year and then thats it--no more mac and yao.
I like the idea that we could use the disabled player exception to sign Ariza, it would be great if it could be done in this way. As for Wafer, just let him go since we need a center. Yao is likely done as a allstar player, we really need a good big man to complete, I do not who, but I am pretty much sure that his name is not Yao Ming, who could still do something for the marketing, that is all.
i think it is safe to say that tom won't be dealing with the rockets anymore from what i have read. off to colorado. handling of our star players injuries the past few years has been horrible. so long
Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Co is a world renowned sports clinic. Why do you think Kobe was in Colorado when he got busted for sexual assault? He was due to have his procedure the next day.
I've still got my fingers crossed that Orlando matches what Dallas offered Gortat, then turns around and trades him to us for, say, Chuck and Cook. I've no idea why they'd do that, though, instead of keeping Gortat... I guess it's better than nothing though, if they don't want to pay his long-term salary (since Cook's expires this year), and they get a great post defender.
Hey, Chuck's expires next year too (team option for 2010-2011). That makes it even more appealing for Orlando. They get a solid player in exchange for Gortat (instead of nothing via him leaving through free agency), and all contracts expire next year anyway, with flexibility to sign said good player (Chuck).
Man I wintnessed all those : ) Good thing is that the next game against the Cardinals the Stro's won and in the Buffalo game BeBe ran out of bounds in the stands and back on the field to catch a touchdown. With Yao we dod not know what the future holds and at this point the team cannot do much until we know
Thank you for making me remember every bad thing I could have remembered but I do remind you when ujois hit the home run the Astro's still won the series and The streak continues after Yao broke leg.
I just want to know what to expect. Will he be playing next season or not? I just want to hear something definitive. The waiting is killing me.
I love Yao and he is a great person but I see a lot of people on this board talking as if he is done for good. Do we want him to retire ? Do we want to wait for him to come back next year and pray he will be fine ? Do we want to trade him ? Honestly he has been hurt just about every season so when do you finally give up ? This is a business and if you had a worker who kept missing work all the time even after you have supported him/her when do you say " Okay sorry but I'm gonna have to let you go. " Its a business and yes we get attached to players who are great and who are great role models for the NBA but we are human and we are fans and no one likes to lose. This is the first time I will say this because I have backed up Yao from day one but its time to let him go. Look at Jordan, Kobe, Lebron, Majic, Bird, etc.... all the great players and you will see they very rarely got hurt if at all. I'd rather spend Yao and T-macs money somewhere else next year on players who will be on the court and not in cruthches side court. We went through tough times during the Cat and Stevie era and when Wiggins and Loyd decided to snort their lives away so we can stand a rebuilding year once again ........
Orlando would have to wait a year to trade Gortat to Dallas in this scenario. A trade to any other team would require Gortat's consent for one year. Given the Rockets' courtship of Gortat, he'd likely consent to a trade to Houston. Still, this is a pipedream that will never happen. While I think that Chuck Hayes would be a perfect addition to the Magic (who now have a major need to replace Tony Battie's post defense off the bench), there is no way that the Magic would essentially pay $12M next year just for the privilege of having Hayes and also paying Brian Cook . . . again.
You really can't trade Yao - is value is low. No one wants to take a risk on an injury prone center who may never come back and who has a big option for the 2010 season. Next season is a season of growth. We aren't necessarily in rebuild mode. We have a pretty competitive team, not a contender, but one that may very well make the playoffs. The ideal scenario is that T-mac comes back and has enough game that we can trade him to a team that is willing to sacrifice youth for a win-now mentality. A team like Portland might be willing to move a Rudy Fernandez and some contracts for a T-mac if they feel he and Brandon Roy can play well together. But they may want a point guard instead. Other possible teams could be the Bulls, Detroit, New Orleans, and Atlanta. Those teams that feel they are playing well but just not quite a contender, and might be willing to pull the trigger for T-mac in the hopes of making a playoff run. What we could get in exchange is hard to say. Back-up C? Maybe. More likely some young undeveloped talent.
it ain't enough to win championships, is all i'm sayin'. so talking about the "heart of a champion" for a squad that's never sniffed the conference finals seems out of place to me.
It is not the heart we are missing here. imo. We have the "heart of a champion", but not the (insert line here). Anyway, I just think that if ANYONE is going to comeback from such a serious injury, it is going to be Yao.
