Yao Inquiry

[ecuhus1981]

Hey all, Nets / Mavericks fan. I'm not here to troll or flame, but I am curious if any of you can offer some insight into Yao Ming's current situation.

Obviously he's injured right now, but it seems like the Great Wall just isn't interested in playing for the Rockets anymore. The first red flag IMO were the comments he made last summer, that he would retire after his contract expires next year. Both the Rockets FO and the Chinese government moved quickly to spin the story, and Yao retracted the next day I believe, but who says that if they don't mean it to some extent? Hmm...

More puzzling than that even is the confluence of two recent RealGM wiretaps about Yao. Yesterday, I read that he will ask Houston if he can play for the Chinese national team in the summer of 2010. THEN, today he's quoted as "hoping" he will be healthy for the Rockets' 2010-2011 season. HUH?!?! If you're healthy enough to play for your national team next summer, you're darn sure healthy enough to play two months after that for the team that's paying you millions of dollars.

So, I'm confused. I can only imagine Morey could void Yao's contract if he played next summer, then claimed he wasn't healthy enough to play next season. But that's not really a desirable endgame for either side, I would think. So, what's true, what's not, what's the scoop, everyone?

(I expect a few "There IS no scoop. Everything's perfect, except that other team's players keep drudging up old nonsense. Goodbye." replies, but if anyone could share the HOU fan's POV, I'd appreciate it.)

[T-Wack]

He's been done for a long time now. It's just a matter of putting the nail in the coffin.

[bubba]

Hey all, Nets / Mavericks fan. I'm not here to troll or flame, but I am curious if any of you can offer some insight into Yao Ming's current situation.

Obviously he's injured right now, but it seems like the Great Wall just isn't interested in playing for the Rockets anymore. The first red flag IMO were the comments he made last summer, that he would retire after his contract expires next year. Both the Rockets FO and the Chinese government moved quickly to spin the story, and Yao retracted the next day I believe, but who says that if they don't mean it to some extent? Hmm...

More puzzling than that even is the confluence of two recent RealGM wiretaps about Yao. Yesterday, I read that he will ask Houston if he can play for the Chinese national team in the summer of 2010. THEN, today he's quoted as "hoping" he will be healthy for the Rockets' 2010-2011 season. HUH?!?! If you're healthy enough to play for your national team next summer, you're darn sure healthy enough to play two months after that for the team that's paying you millions of dollars.

So, I'm confused. I can only imagine Morey could void Yao's contract if he played next summer, then claimed he wasn't healthy enough to play next season. But that's not really a desirable endgame for either side, I would think. So, what's true, what's not, what's the scoop, everyone?

(I expect a few "There IS no scoop. Everything's perfect, except that other team's players keep drudging up old nonsense. Goodbye." replies, but if anyone could share the HOU fan's POV, I'd appreciate it.)

i stopped reading after that. such a crock of sh*t. his source is prob his neighbor or something.

[Mezotarkus]

i stopped reading after that. such a crock of sh*t. his source is prob his neighbor or something.

The OP makes a valid point that you missed because you were too ignorant to read before responding.

If Yao is asking permission to play for the Chinese national team in summer 2010 why is he still wondering whether he will be healthy enough to play in the NBA 2010-11 regular season?

[YaoZaii]

Hey all, Nets / Mavericks fan. I'm not here to troll or flame, but I am curious if any of you can offer some insight into Yao Ming's current situation.

Obviously he's injured right now, but it seems like the Great Wall just isn't interested in playing for the Rockets anymore. The first red flag IMO were the comments he made last summer, that he would retire after his contract expires next year. Both the Rockets FO and the Chinese government moved quickly to spin the story, and Yao retracted the next day I believe, but who says that if they don't mean it to some extent? Hmm...

More puzzling than that even is the confluence of two recent RealGM wiretaps about Yao. Yesterday, I read that he will ask Houston if he can play for the Chinese national team in the summer of 2010. THEN, today he's quoted as "hoping" he will be healthy for the Rockets' 2010-2011 season. HUH?!?! If you're healthy enough to play for your national team next summer, you're darn sure healthy enough to play two months after that for the team that's paying you millions of dollars.

So, I'm confused. I can only imagine Morey could void Yao's contract if he played next summer, then claimed he wasn't healthy enough to play next season. But that's not really a desirable endgame for either side, I would think. So, what's true, what's not, what's the scoop, everyone?

(I expect a few "There IS no scoop. Everything's perfect, except that other team's players keep drudging up old nonsense. Goodbye." replies, but if anyone could share the HOU fan's POV, I'd appreciate it.)

i think u need to get your data right... a lot of wrong stuff in it.
I'm too lazy to go correct it.

[Mezotarkus]

Here are the critical points where the OP is correct.

Yao wants to play for the Chinese national team in summer 2010:

http://www.interbasket.net/news/2009/12 ... pionships/

The desire for Yao Ming to play in the 2010 World Championships is there, now all it takes is the authorization.

This is according to a representative for Yao Ming, Zhang Mingji, who recently revealed the wish of the Houston Rockets centre to play for the Chinese national team.

However, the 29-year-old has been sidelined for the past five months and will likely miss the entire NBA 2009-10 season.

Therefore Yao will need medical permission from the Houston Rockets before he can play the tournament – something the NBA club will not be fond of considering Yao’s injuries the last few years.

China is in group C of the World Basketball Championships, along with Greece, Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico, Russia, and host Turkey. China’s chances of getting to the next round would increase greatly with the addition of Yao, the star and face of the team.

and then the indication that Yao is not sure he will be read for the next NBA regular season in 2010-2011 from the realgm newsfeed:

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... xt_season/

Rockets center Yao Ming says he is recovering well after having surgery in May to repair a hairline fracture in his left foot.

Yao is out for the season, but Houston has been crossing their fingers that he'll be ready to play by the start of the 2010-11 season.

He placed some doubt over whether that's realistic on Friday when he said, "I might be completely recovered by next season."

Yao has career averages of 19.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

[RoxFan08]

I don't think there is anything to it.

RealGM wiretap articles are often from fairly disreputable sources, and often take quotes very much out of context.

Near as I can tell, Yao has given absolutely no indication that he wants to leave Houston, and his demeanor seems to reflect the exact opposite, in fact.

Depending on who does the interview, what a player is thinking/feeling, and what situation or context the setting is in, a player like Yao can answer questions in ways that would seem contradictory. I think that's probably what's going on here.

Red Flag? That would be some of the statements Lebron has made, or Wade has made. Yao? Nothing to see here folks.

[Iggyemu]

Didn't need that article to know Yao is never gonna be a franchise player again. If we are lucky he takes less money and plays a role like Z does for the Cavs.

[ecuhus1981]

Didn't need that article to know Yao is never gonna be a franchise player again. If we are lucky he takes less money and plays a role like Z does for the Cavs.

Agreed. I'm not sure he would take less money, but if/when Yao returns, he'll be much like Z (whose athleticism was reduced after numerous injuries as well). If he wants to play, he can be a force inside the paint, maybe 14ppg, 6-7rpg and 1bpg. But nothing like his All-Star days of the recent past.

RoxFan08, I never said Yao wants to leave to play for some other team. I'm saying I think Yao may want to sit back and collect the money that's coming to him form his current contract, and then walk away from the game. Doesn't sound plausible, especially for a player of his stature. But I think there is a strong chance it could happen.

[Jaykoolzboy]

I disagree, I think he can still be a 19/9/1.5 player while playing around 30-32 minutes per game, dude is just too skillful to be a role player. Yao never rely on his so called athleticism whatsoever, he is still a 7"6 guy that;s going to shoot over you no matter what.

[aznkillabeezZz]

Why would he give up 17 million to not play for the rockets? Besides he already told the Rockets organization that he's a loyal person and won't opt out.