What's THIS all about? - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

David · 06-25-2002, 05:45 AM

Borrowed from LMF

From Hoopsworld

It has been a long time coming. The Chinese have a history of being extremely difficult
to deal with - just ask Mark Cuban or Donnie Nelson. Both Mavs officials have been
outspoken about the many issues they have faced in dealing with China in relations
with Wang Zhizhi. It was Cuban who prophetically told the Rockets that dealings with
the Chinese are never over or uncomplicated. His words rang true on Sunday night,
when the Chinese told the NBA they would not allow Yao Ming to leave the country
unless the league would sign a legal document guaranteeing that Ming would not miss
any international tournaments, even if they interfere with the Rockets' schedule.

This is the final nail in Ming's NBA coffin. The Rockets made it clear that they would
only draft Ming if they could get a guarantee that he would not miss any games.
Surprisingly, the Chinese agreed to that stipulation. Now they are going back on their
word, seeking a letter from the NBA that would negotiate the earlier letter. Wang
Zhizhi missed 18 games for the Mavericks last season because he had to participate in
a Chinese international tournament, which has apparently led to Zhizhi's decision to
defect this summer. The Chinese are not willing to risk a Ming defection, so they are
making it impossible for the Rockets to agree to draft him.

The big loser in this scenario is Yao Ming. The Rockets will be better off making a deal
for the #1 pick, which will likely go to the Clippers so they can draft Duke's Jay
Williams. Yao Ming was destined to be the biggest bust in draft history, given that the
player who dominated him in China was little more than a role player in Dallas last
season. China's little games just made it less appealing to deal with them in the Ming
sweepstakes. The Rockets continued, undaunted, until the Chinese finally made the
one request that would break the deal.

Yao Ming stands to lose millions, and the Chinese can forget about future relations
with the NBA. The Rockets have made it clear that they will not take a player who
cannot participate in 100% of their games. The NBA has taken the "hands off" stance,
saying this is between the Rockets and China. China is appealing to the NBA, knowing
they will do nothing. This way the Chinese can say it was a failure on the part of the
NBA to offer certain guarantees that cost Yao Ming his NBA dream. The truth is known,
though. The apparent defection of Wang Zhizhi killed this deal, just as we predicted it
would. The Chinese got cold feet. The Rockets, meanwhile, have been saved from
themselves. Ming is a bust. Let him stay in China.

Drbio · 06-25-2002, 08:20 AM

David- everything that I am hearing is that the Rockets already have an agreement in place to allow Yao to play in the World Championships, but that he would be available all season otherwise. Since they don't conflict it shouldn't be a problem. Did this give an author? LMF and Hoopsworld are not always the best source of info.

Dooby · 06-25-2002, 08:28 AM

I believe there is a rampant vocal portion of the Rockets fan base that is deathly afraid of Yao Ming. They are tossing out so much conjecture on how this thing could get screwed up, that some of it is being taken as rumor and getting reported.

I mean honestly, the only leaks can come from the Rockets end because no NBA beat writer has chinese contacts. SO if the Rockets are saying one thing, and crap flies in from somewhere else, you know that it is just BS.

Only listen to the Rockets.

Besides, this story is almost a week old. It just keeps showing up as a new story everyday somewhere else.

Fidel · 06-25-2002, 01:00 PM

<< Ming is a bust >>

Excactly.

Murphy3 · 06-25-2002, 01:16 PM

a bit early to say he's a bust... how can you be a bust if you haven't been drafted yet

now, if you were to say.."ming will be a bust"..well, that makes a little more sense.

but, a big early to say that as well

Drbio · 06-25-2002, 02:49 PM

Ming is not a bust. That's crazy.

DTL · 06-25-2002, 02:58 PM

The AP wire version (link):

China wants Yao for national team

June 25, 2002

BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese sports authorities want a written promise that Yao Ming will be available for the national team before he's allowed to go to the NBA, state media reported Tuesday.

The approval of the Chinese Basketball Association is the last major obstacle facing Yao before he joins the NBA. The 7-foot-5 center is expected to be the top pick by the Houston Rockets in the draft Wednesday.

``We want to make sure that Yao will be available to play with the national team when he is needed in the future,'' CBA secretary general Xin Lancheng said on the Web site of the state newspaper China Daily.

Such a commitment would pose a conflict for the Rockets. The Chinese association expects Yao to be with the national team for the Asian Games in October, when the Rockets want him in training camp.

An assistant said Xin wasn't available fro comment. But a member of the CBA staff said the demand covers major tournaments such as the Asian Games, the Asian basketball championships and the world championships.

``The sides are in discussion on the matter but I don't know if there has been any outcome as yet,'' said the staff member, who gave only her surname, Cheng.

Yao would be the third Chinese player in the NBA after Wang Zhizhi of the Dallas Mavericks and Menk Bateer of the Denver Nuggets.

The demand for the 22-year-old center to play on China's national team has been a sticking point in the negotiations.

Yao's agent said Saturday that his Chinese team, the Shanghai Sharks, had accepted a compensation offer for releasing him to play in the United States. The agent wouldn't elaborate on the proposed agreement.

Yao is not expected to appear at the draft in New York because he is training with China's national team for a tournament this month against Yugoslavia, Italy and Australia.

The CBA has said it also expects Yao to join the national team for a world championship qualifier in August.

DTL · 06-25-2002, 03:01 PM

Extremely short-sighted of the Chinese authorities, IMO.

BTW, did Hakeem ever have the same issues being from Nigeria?

Drbio · 06-25-2002, 03:06 PM

No.

Fidel · 06-26-2002, 01:02 AM

<< a bit early to say he's a bust... how can you be a bust if you haven't been drafted yet >>

Oh come on Murph, it´s obvious that this is a prediction. Like saying he is a bust in the making or something like that. I didn´t feel the need to explain it any further. So here we go: I think Ming will be a bust. At least if he´s taken that high.

DTL · 06-26-2002, 08:45 AM

link
Report: Rockets now free to pick Yao
June 26, 2002

HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Rockets have cleared the final hurdle in their quest to select 7-foot-5 center Yao Ming with the top pick in the NBA draft, reaching an agreement with the China Basketball Association.

Erik Zhang, Yao's agent, confirmed the deal was reached early Wednesday morning.

``They will select Yao Ming as the No. 1 pick of the draft,'' Zhang said.

``He's very excited. It's a major event in his career and his life. I think he's very happy right now. He will be able to compete with the best of the best and he wishes one day to help China win the Olympic medal in basketball.''

The CBA, he added, is ``obviously sacrificing a lot in letting Yao Ming play in the NBA.''

The CBA joined the Shanghai Sharks, Yao's team, in endorsing Yao for a letter of clearance to play in the NBA next season. That move followed a series of letters from the Rockets pledging to support Yao's intentions to play for the Chinese national team.

As a result, the CBA also promised that Yao will also be available for the Rockets' full season and playoffs.

A possible conflict would be the Asian Games in October, when the Rockets are in training camp. Yao is expected to play for the Chinese national team at the World Championships at Indianapolis, Ind., in August.

Receipt of a clearance letter from FIBA, the sport's international governing body, is a formality following recommendations from the CBA and Sharks.

That clearance had become the only remaining consideration for the Rockets in their plans to choose Yao with the first pick in Wednesday night's NBA Draft.

CBA officials already had announced that Yao would not be in New York on Wednesday when the draft takes place. He'll be training with the national team for a tournament against Yugoslavia, Italy and Australia.

The Rockets could have chosen Yao without the letter of clearance, but would not have known whether he would be permitted to play next season.
----------------

So, has anything been *really* decided? Will he be in training camp in October or playing for the national team in October?

Dooby · 06-26-2002, 08:54 AM

Dooby's prospective hatred of Yao Ming explanation:

1) The endless Hakeem comparisons are going to suck.

2) The first paper that uses the headline "Ming Dynasty!" should get fire bombed. And an extra fire bomb for each successive exclamation point.

Please feel free to add to my list.

Fidel · 06-26-2002, 09:00 AM

<< 2) The first paper that uses the headline "Ming Dynasty!" should get fire bombed. And an extra fire bomb for each successive exclamation point. >>

Haha, lol Dooby here we go. Scroll the page down. It´s the biggest german sports site.

Dooby · 06-26-2002, 09:06 AM

Sigh. German's get an exception. They have enough trouble with fire bombs already.

DTL · 06-26-2002, 01:57 PM

watch out for the Brazilian fire bombs coming! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Fidel · 06-26-2002, 02:47 PM

<< watch out for the Brazilian fire bombs coming >>

Let em come. We´ve got the best fire fighter in the world!

Oliver Kahn.