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| China's Yao Ming (R) is blocked by Lithuania's Mindaugas Zukauskas
(L) during their quarter-final match in the men's basketball at the Athens
Olympic Games August 26,
2004. (Reuters) |
The Lakers, with a handful of moves, could create
some cap space
by the summer of 2006.
The Warriors already have made moves that will leave them with as much
as $20 million in cap space in 2006. The Clippers, of course, always have
cap space.
This is significant because Rockets center Yao Ming could be a free
agent in the summer of 2006. Every three months or so, a rumor
pops up that one of the West
Coast teams is keeping space open to make Yao a maximum-dollar contract
offer. The logic is simple -- Yao is an odd fit in Texas, and he would
rather be in a market with a sprawling Asian community, where he would be
more comfortable and could maximize his marketing potential. Thus, the
Lakers, Warriors and Clippers are the usual suspects.
If those teams secretly are hoping to land Yao, they probably should
start making other plans. Yao is not going anywhere.
The Rockets have the advantage of being able to sew up Yao in the summer of 2005 -- a team
is able to sign a player to an extension after his third year in the
league, before the player becomes a free agent. Expect the Rockets to make
Yao a maximum offer next summer.
And expect Yao to accept it. One of the reasons is Carroll Dawson, the
Rockets' general manager and one of the most modest and affable guys in
the business. Dawson has done a commendable job not only making Yao feel
at home with the organization and in Houston, but in bringing Yao's group
of novice advisors -- known as
Team Yao -- into the fold.
The bulk of Team Yao is made up of University of Chicago business
school students and faculty, primarily deputy dean John Huizinga and
student Erik Zhang, Yao's cousin. This is their first foray into NBA
business, and Dawson has treated them well.
Dawson won't exactly say whether the team will offer Yao a maximum
contract next summer -- he would not be much of a negotiator if he did.
But he does say, "He is a treasure. The Chinese look on him as a treasure.
Just try walking through an airport with him. Certainly, we're going to do
everything we can to keep him in Houston."
Another reason Yao will be off the free-agent list by the end of next
summer is Tracy McGrady. Had the Rockets not traded guards Steve Francis
and Cuttino Mobley (two players who just could not figure out how to take
advantage of Yao's size and skill) for McGrady, Yao would have been more
reluctant to stay. With Francis and Mobley, the Rockets were a pretty good
team, but one with no shot at a title.
Whether McGrady will fit better than Francis and Mobley is yet to be
seen, but Houston has upgraded its talent. In Houston's second year under
coach Jeff Van Gundy, the Rockets should pile up more than last season's
45 wins, even in an ever-tougher Western Conference. And that, ultimately,
is what Yao wants. It showed during the Olympics. Yao was third in scoring
(20.7 points per game) and first in rebounding (9.3) among all players. He
dominated in China's 67-66 win over Serbia and Montenegro, with 27 points
and 13 rebounds, including four clutch free throws down the stretch. It
was the biggest win in the history of Chinese basketball.
During that game, and throughout the tournament, Yao was forceful and
emotional. He nearly was in tears after the Serbia and Montenegro win. "He
was incredible," Dawson says. "He was mature, he was forceful. He was a
presence. You could see this is a guy who hates to lose. All the great
ones had that quality."
Combine that quality with a 7-6 frame, a knack for passing and a consistent shooting
stroke, and you have a player that you just don't lose as a free agent.
Other teams might be longing to lure Yao away, but he's staying
put
.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-09-14 13:17