By a 20/10 man, you were right that I meant the neighborhood and not the absolute numbers Maybe saying a 18/8/2 man would have been more precise. BTW, you missed Webber (24.5, 10.10), Ms. Malone (22.4, 8.6), Antawn Jamison (19.7, 6.8), Rasheed Wallace (19.3, 8.2), Pau Gasol (17.6, 8.9), and Juwan Howard (17.9, 7.9). For comprison sake, let's also include Alonzo Mourning (15.7, 8.4), Kurt Thomas (13.9, 9.1), Dikembe Mutombo (11.5, 10.8), Michael Olowokandi (11.1, 8.9), Vlade Divac (11.1, 8.4, 3.7 apg), and David Robinson (12.2, 8.3). So the question becomes what type of numbers would Yoa have to put up to be worth the number one pick. My best guess is that Yoa in his prime would put up: 14-16 ppg 10-12 rpg 3-4 asg 2-3 bpg (essentially a shot blocking Vlade Divac) Are these numbers enough to justify the number one pick? Easily these numbers justify a top 10 or maybe even a top 5 pick, depending on the draft. What these numbers don't indicate to me is a first or second all NBA team player. Or in a back handed way, these numbers don't indicate a player that can take a team on his back and drag them deep into the playoffs. But I do agree with you that Yoa fits the Rockets very well. Francis and Griffin anyway should be the first tier players that lead the Rockets into the playoffs, with Mobley and Yoa being second tier players and the key supporting cast. As an aside, most the 18/8 guys that we both both mentioned are on the record (or least should be) as to not wanting to play center: Brand, J. O'Neal, Nowitzki, Abdur-Rahim, A. Walker, Webber, K. Malone, Jamison, Rasheed Wallace, Pau Gasol, and Juwan Howard. Thus, trading for one of these guys would only add to the Rockets' log jam at the 4. Some younger 5s that are projected 18/8 guys, Kwame Brown and Eddie Curry, have been mentioned here as trade bait for the number one pick. If either of these players actually get offered, the Rockets might be tempted to pull the trigger.
Is Yao Ming really a number 1 draft choice? Did Al Pacino deserve the Oscar for Scent of a Woman? Or should Denzel have received it for Malcolm X? Maybe there are better analogies...if you lose the Oscar, you lose the Oscar, there are no rewards for second place...but sometimes factors force or create the situation. China and the NBA want Yao Ming to go #1. Yao Ming = TV + $$$ There are few worthy centers anymore.
