No agreement is reached with China before the draft? Do we still take a chance and select Ming? Do we trade down and draft Dunleavy or Butler? Do we trade the pick for Odom/Lewis? Personally, if there is no agreement, I would have to say that it is way too risky to take Ming. As much as I would want him, I think the best thing is to take a player that we know for sure can help us out.
I say that we should trade with GS for the third and Antawn Jamison if that happens. With the 3rd we would pick Caron Butler. Not a bad consolation prize.
Depends on the situation, I would say draft him anyway, if things look good, you can always trade his rights away some day. DaDakota
I agree with DaDakota, you draft Yao. Anyway, I think it's a moot point because I'm betting that everything is worked out prior to the draft. It's in China/CBA/Yao's best interest to make things work out with Houston. Having Yao go #1 is very important to China and they can only guarentee that by reaching an agreement with Houston. If he's in the draft, but we trade the pick, then there's a good chance that he doesn't go #1. Also, if he withdraws, then it's even less likely that he goes #1 next year due to Lebron James. He's going to go #1 and he's going to play for the Rockets. Stop worrying.
C'mon guys, we have spent the past two weeks in intensive negotiations. If a deal is not in place then there is some reason that both sides can't agree and it would be stupid to draft the guy.
On this I agree with UT, if we don't have a deal done by the draft we take the Clipper deal. Odom and 2 lottery picks is a GREAT consilation prize. We cannot afford to get caught holding the bag on this, because we aren't good enough right now to get nothing on this deal. With that said, hopefully we here something SOOON!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you see a Chinese "NO" in this Ming draft, there's going to be a riot of basketball fans in shanghai and Beijing. I don't think they could afford that.
Put it this way, if for some wierd reason the Chinese change their minds then the offers for our number 1 will be awesome. Just think of the possible trades it will drive Rudy and the guys crazy and of course the people here will have a field day.
