Yao's cousin says Houston isn't a problem According To ESPN's Andy Katz Yao Ming wouldn't have a problem with Houston picking him with the top pick, according to his cousin, who is apparently one of his two newly appointed official representatives. "Yao isn't going to pull a John Elway on anyone," said Yao's cousin Erik Zhang on Sunday night, referring to Elway's refusal to play for Baltimore after being selected No. 1 overall in the 1983 NFL draft. "We'll look at what is best for Yao," added Zhang, a 28-year-old University of Chicago business school student. "But we will work within the rules of the game and Houston is a place we have looked at very carefully. And they've got an all-star point guard (in Steve Francis)." The Rockets are in desperate need of size and at least one source with the Rockets told ESPN.com that they could likely envision drafting the 7-foot-5 Yao over Duke guard Jay Williams, if they received the No. 1 pick, which Houston did in Sunday's NBA draft lottery. The Rockets have scouted Yao in China and sent two representatives to Chicago to watch Yao workout May 1 where Zhang acted as an interpreter. Zhang will take on a more prominent role with Yao after he told ESPN.com Sunday that he has been appointed by Yao to work with his economics professor at Chicago -- John Huizinga -- as Yao's representatives. "There will be no Bill Duffy and no David Falk," Zhang said of U.S.-based agents who were considered possibilities to represent Yao. "I'm leaving for China next week and will talk to Yao and the Chinese Basketball Association to clear up any remaining issues as quickly as possible. John's my professor and he has no financial interest in this, but will do what's best for Yao. John will concentrate on the United States issues and I'll concentrate on matters in China." Zhang said Yao met with Huizinga when he was in Chicago, and Huizinga apparently gained Yao's trust. "The thinking was we needed someone who would take an objective view on this and John is a very capable person," Zhang said. So, a university professor and a grad student are acting as "agents" for the potential No. 1 pick? "It's unique," Huizinga told ESPN.com on Monday. "In addition to being a professor, I'm also the deputy dean of the faculty so my responsibilities are also hiring faculty and there is negotiating. In a way I'm like a general manager. "We're in a unique position because Yao is in a unique position," Huizinga said. "The whole issue of dealing with the Chinese side we understand makes it a unique situation. We just are trying to help Yao get through the situation." Huizinga said Zhang was in need of help when he realized the magnitude of what he had to accomplish. That's when he sought out his professor and the two met with Yao when he was in Chicago. "We're well aware of the uniqueness of what we're doing," Huizinga said. "We're not coming at this with the attitude and step in and do what an agent can do, but help out the situation and deal with the complications. The standard arrangement of an agent probably won't happen." Yao, 21, would be the first No. 1 pick to have played professionally overseas before the NBA. There had been foreign-born players drafted No. 1 overall such as Michael Olowokandi (Pacific) and Tim Duncan (Wake Forest). But both players were in an American college before the NBA. Kwame Brown became the first high school player taken with the top pick when Washington drafted him No. 1 last season. Whichever team selects Yao, it probably won't have him to participate with its summer-league team in July or in training camp in early October. Yao has a commitment to the Chinese National Team for the World Championships in Indianapolis during late August and early September, and is supposed to be with the Chinese practicing in July during the summer leagues. He is also obligated to play for the Chinese in the Asian Games in late September. The Chinese could reserve the right to call Yao back if need be at any time during the season, although that would seem unlikely. Yao's contract is more of a concern for him than the team that selects him. Yao is a product of the Chinese government of sport and 50 percent of his salary would go to the governing body and his club team the Shanghai Sharks. The remaining 50 percent would be divided among Yao and those who helped him get to this point. "The issue is availability and whether or not he will be cleared by FIBA to play in the NBA," Huizinga said. "As I understand it, the Chinese Basketball Association has to give him the clearance to FIBA and that's what Erik is working on in China. There's no reason why once the season started that he would have to go back to China. We're optimistic everything will work out." Yao had two private workouts while in Chicago -- one for the Bulls and another for the Knicks -- in addition to the NBA-organized workout. He's not scheduled to return to the U.S. until July with the Chinese National Team. But at least two NBA officials told ESPN.com that the league is trying to get him to American for the draft on June 26 in New York, especially since he might be the No. 1 pick and the television show on TNT could be seen by a billion people if it is televised in China. Rockets make contact The Houston Rockets are keeping their options open on how they'll use their No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, but representatives of 7-foot-5 Chinese center Yao Ming said the Rockets have promised to seriously consider Ming. "Mr. (Carroll) Dawson called us to tell us they remain very interested in Yao Ming," Yao's cousin and agent Erik Zhang said Monday in an interview with Houston television station KRIV. "I think he called as a courtesy to us and we appreciate that." The Rockets have seen Yao work out in Chicago and wonder how they might get him to Houston for another look. Dawson, the team's general manager, said Sunday the team has six weeks to decide what is the best option for the ball club. John Huizinga, who will be Yao's American representative, said a lot of teams have expressed interest in Ming "and we are all happy that Houston is one of them." -- Associated Press
