Everyone is assuming that the Rockets will draft Ming with the first pick in the draft & they most probably will, but they haven't come out & stated it publicily. I know they are still negotiating with China, but the main concerns have reportedly been ironed out. Chicago appears to be in love with JW & in fact, he would be the final piece to add to their talented young nucleus. Golden State would love to have JW, as well as the Clippers, Denver, NY, Miami, Washington, Orlando, & possibly Cleveland. So, that brings us back to the title of the thread. Is it time to put on the poker face? As much as we get on Krause for being an idiot, he's not stupid. He'll know for sure that we won't trade any further than the #3 pick & still have a snowball's chance of getting Ming. Thus, eliminating any straight up trades with all teams, other than Golden State. The first questions we have to ask are: 1) Is JW the player that Krause covets? 2) Would Krause believe that we would trade the pick to Golden State or in a multi-team trade, that would leave us with the #3 pick? 3) Would Krause draft Ming out of spite, if JW was already gone? (He drafted Fizer that way.) 4) Would he trade down with someone else that would draft Ming with the #2 pick? 5) Would he pick Dunleavy with the #2 pick, if JW was gone? 6) Finally, would Krause swap picks with us & give us a future #1 pick/swap players to insure that he gets JW? The draft is just 1 1/2 weeks away & rumors should start heating up, the closer the draft gets. The safe bet would be to just sit back & draft Ming. However, there are two players (Ming & JW) that are coveted by other teams. If the Rockets could find a way to get an extra pick or a player & still draft Ming, then they have to do it. It's just good business. It's time to put on the poker face.
Well, if we intend to trade the pick, wouldn't the other team potentially have to negotiate with Ming's people again?
That is one strategy....... The other would be to have the Rockets lawyer clear up all the final details/ negotiations during his current 2nd round of dealings in China. Then the Rockets hold a press conference to announce that Ming is our man, and not play any games at all with other NBA teams, Shanghai Sharks, etc... That would show loyalty to everyone associated with Yao Ming and would lead to a strong future relationship without any posturing, stalling tactics, or stupid games being played. Lord knows that if we try to be sneaky with Yao Ming & the Chinese government in something as simple as what you are mentioning, they might take it the wrong way and do the same in return.
better safe than sorry. i wouldn't want to rely on Krause to accept being screwed and not draft ming.
Smoothie, You say better safe than sorry. And even though Ming has had a good career he is by no means "safe", I'm not saying he wont suceed, but he is going off of a carrer in China that isn't too much superior to that of Zhi Zhi. And Zhi Zhi isn't that good of a player yet in the NBA. To try to pick up a proven player is a much safer method.
yes and jason william's career in duke wasn't far superior to juan dixon's in marylands. yet jay will be picked somewhere around 30 players beforehand with most people expecting him to be a far better pro. ming and zhi zhi are two completely different people. ming is of course no guarantee but i think he has great ability.
I think it's too big of a risk assuming Krause would pass over Ming, and possibly creating more havoc angering Ming's people over him not going #1. If Rudy/CD are board and want to play games, there are plenty of games to be played involving our #15.
I agree with you on the unpredictability of Krause. However, the main thrust of this thread is, can we bluff Krause into believing that we'll trade the pick away & hope that we can get Ming at #3? If Krause is dead set on drafting JW & we have a pretty good offer on the table, for us to trade down, would Krause bite on it & give us some additional compensation to guarantee that he gets JW?
I think if the rockets moved down to select Ming the Chinese would not look too kindly on that. I'm going the chicken route also. Stay #1 and select Ming. FYI - here are some more rumors that I've heard floating around. 1. The Bulls are going to select the trade that the Rockets turned down. #2 for the Clips #8 and Odom. Odom gives them the point forward for the triangle offense that they covet. Clips get Jay Will. 2. Grizzles and Warriors swap picks - Warriors are going to try to get something out of being in front of the Griz. The word is just cash and the #3 for the Grizzlies #4. Dunleavy is going to coach Memphis and thats they logical place for him to go.
I agree, but we don't know what has been discussed with the Chinese government. The Rockets could very well have promised that Ming will be drafted in the top 3. Even with the sensitive nature of dealing with the Chinese government, why would the Rockets pin themselves down with having to take Ming with the #1 overall pick? Unless China insists on Ming being #1, I would leave myself with a little flexibility to enhance the value of the #1 pick.
The problem with your plotting, is I belive that Krause wants MING, way more than he wants JW. Why do you think that he's been negotiating with the Chinese for the last few months, before he lost the first pick? ... so he could take Williams? We aren't going to get Crawford or any other trade deals by threatening to take JW. Krause, unfortunately, is in a very good spot. He wins if he takes Ming, giving him his franchise center, moving Curry to PF, Chandler at SF, Rose at SG, Crawford at PG, or if he takes Williams, he'll play Curry at C, Chandler at PF, Rose at SF, Crawford at SG, and Williams at PF. And they all have time to develop, arriving in another 3 or 4 years. We'd have a better chance getting something out of CHI by allowing them to take Ming, not Williams, if we planned on trading Ming, for some reason. CHI already has everything lined up with the Chinese. If HOU does want to trade the first pick, the only way for us to gain leverage in a trade was for us to make sure we had negotiated a deal with the Chinese, and not be held hostage by CHI. Now we are on equal footing, if we want to do a trade. If CHI gets the #2 pick, I'd bet they'd trade it to LAC for Odom/8/12. They'd have a much deeper team. But, it sure seems like HOU will take Ming, at this point, unless some huge domino set of trades comes about, like with CHI, GS, LAC, perhaps MEM, giving us more than one future superstar player, such as Curry, Richardson, Brand, Odom, picks, etc. ... And, as far as the #15 pick ... We don't need a SF from this draft, unless he could step right in and start immediately, and noone seems THAT ready. So, I think we'll be trading for a SF with a few years experience, who can step right in and upgrade the position over Rice and TMo, such as Lewis, Odom, Sczerbiak, Richardson, Battier, etc. Or perhaps, we'll just move Griffin to SF, pick the best talent available at #15/38, hopefully Stoudamire drops and we still get Dixon, and sign Lee Nailon or Michael Redd as FA's. Assuming we pick Ming, and can't pull off any trades, that would give us: Ming/Cato/Stoudamire Taylor/Thomas/TMo Griffin/Rice/Nailon Mobely/Torres/Dixon Francis/Norris/Brown
I agree. The Chinese REALLY want Ming to go #1. It means a lot to them to have their player the FIRST player taken. I think it would behoove the team that wants Ming to take him #1. The LAST thing anyone wants is to give the Chinese ANY reason to hold up negotiations for Ming. The Rockets should take Ming #1 and then look for the best available athelete or SF at #15. Add those players to the team with what we already have and we have a decent squad that has a lot of potential. Exploring trades for more veteran help either a "banger" at the 4/5 and a starting quality SF are definitely something they should do but lets get Ming first and move from there. Chris
Where has anyone read that China is demanding that Yao be taken with the #1 pick? I read an article about 2 weeks ago, in which it stated that China wanted him to be picked in the top 3. No where did it say he had to be #1.
I don't think China is "demanding" that Yao be picked #1. I think they would be HAPPY if he was picked #1 and a bit displeased if he was not. I don't think there are any "demands" in there. Chris
I am squarely in the "don't draft Ming" camp. But we are going to draft Ming and I have come to grips with it. We were lucky to get the number one, Rudy & Co ar clear that Ming is the choice. Take the good fortune and move on. I can't speak for you, but being greedy gets me in trouble just about every time.
