Rockets move closer to drafting Ming

[MavsFanFinley]

Rockets: Talks positive toward drafting Chinese basketball star
By MICHAEL A. LUTZ
AP Sports Writer
June 11, 2002

HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Rockets are moving closer to using the first pick in the NBA draft on Chinese center Yao Ming.

The Rockets said they haven't yet reached an agreement but have had positive discussions with the Shanghai Sharks about making their star player, the 7-foot-5 Yao, the No. 1 pick.

``In those meetings, we've discussed details of Yao Ming's playing in the NBA and we've had some very good meetings,'' Rockets general counsel Michael Goldberg told The Associated Press from Shanghai.

The Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday in its online edition that Goldberg said Sharks general manager Li Yaomin and owner Bai Li pledged to recommend to the China Basketball Association that it grant its approval for Yao's participation in the draft.

Yao needs a letter of clearance from the FIBA, the international basketball governing body, to take part in the draft. Approval from the CBA is considered the remaining hurdle for Yao to receive FIBA clearance.

While discussions between Rockets' and Sharks' officials have been positive, Goldberg said both sides still need to address concerns. No specific agreements had been reached and no contracts signed, he added.

``We've developed what I believe to be very good relations,'' Goldberg said. ``Now we go on to Beijing and see the CBA leaders thinking we've got good friends here.''

Rockets officials were to meet there Wednesday with representatives of the CBA.

Houston, which won the No. 1 draft pick in the NBA's lottery last month, hopes to select Yao on June 26 in New York.

Goldberg, general manager Carroll Dawson, coach Rudy Tomjanovich and director of media relations Nelson Luis are in China to meet with Chinese representatives who will decide whether Yao is allowed to play in the United States.

Yao, 21, averaged 32.4 points, making 72.1 percent of his shots, along with averaging 19 rebounds in 34 China Basketball League games last season. He averaged 10.5 points on 63.9 percent shooting and six rebounds in the 2000 Olympics.

``They're concerned because they're losing their best player,'' Goldberg said of the Sharks.

He said the team would like to find ways to improve its roster without him, but didn't place any conditions on providing the recommendation.

``There were general discussions about the kinds of things that might be mutually beneficial,'' Goldberg said.

NBA commissioner David Stern told the Houston Chronicle that roadblocks could develop and keep Yao from playing within the league until later in his career.

``We have people stationed permanently on the ground in China and we have good relationships with the authorities and the CBA and the Shanghai Sharks,'' Stern said. ``But if there's a decision made at the highest levels to not allow a player to come or to restrict him in any way, my reaction was OK, that's happened before.''

Stern said Tuesday's developments could be a good sign for the team as it continues to lobby for the player.

``We are very, very anxious to be as open as we possibly can and to be as helpful as we possibly can to a point, because there is a certain competitive issue,'' Stern said. ``Other than that, we think it's a great development and a great opportunity.''