Yao possibility of opting out of contract next summer

[Indazone]

Yao Ming Might Opt Out This Summer


SportingNews
Do you remember Yao Ming(notes)? He’s that tall Chinese guy who once dominated discussion of the Rockets. Then he hurt his foot, sat out this season, and turned the team over to a bunch of guys who really love math.

Yao technically becomes a free agent in the summer of 2011, but he has a player option for next season. In most cases, he would return next season with no questions asked and prove he’s worthy of another big contract.

But with a lockout looming next summer, his plans might change. From Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle:

Yao, 29, said he has not considered his options, but was noncommittal about whether he might opt out of his contract.
“I’m sure I’m not sure until after we discuss (it),” Yao said. “We have not started (to) discuss it yet, so I’m not sure, either way. I have to talk to my agent first before we start to decide where I need to go. If you ask my agent, he will say, ‘I have to ask Yao and we will start discussing it.’”

The gamble here is clear: Yao is a max player, and with the max contract level likely going down in the next collective bargaining agreement, he stands to lose money if he waits to become a free agent. The flip side is that the Rockets (or any other team) could be wary of giving him a max deal when he hasn’t proven his foot is completely healed. If he gets a long-term deal and comes back at less than full strength, the Rockets will operate at a financial disadvantage for years.
Granted, Yao is worth a lot off the court as one of the most marketable players in the world, but for a front office that prizes efficiency above nearly all things, that’s a risk that might not be worth taking.

The curious part of this discussion is that Yao might fail to prove himself to be a max player next year. Foot injuries can linger, especially for 7-6 mutants, and if Yao isn’t at full strength, he might be paid like a great player rather than a superstar. If he’s looking for more money, the smart move would be to opt out. If he wants to make the Rockets as legitimate as possible, he’ll wait until his on-court value is proven.

http://dimemag.com/2010/03/nba-rumor-yao-ming-could-opt-out-of-his-contract-this-summer/

[The TroutBum]

Did The Sporting News just call him a 'mutant'?

Awesome.

[Indazone]

Would be seriously po'd if he opted out and joined the Mavs. I wouldn't put it past Cuban to shell out the dough to make it happen. Ughh

[timvpimp]

Rockets front officers would wet their pants celebrating the ultimate release from this shit and the collateral damages he's brought to this team, but fortunately i don't think shit's agent is retarded enough to suggest his agent make such a choice even though shit himself might probably accept such a suggestion if offered, as shit is probably the goofiest creature to have ever lived in this world.

[TDMVPDPOY]

theres plenty of money on the table, and some team is going to throw the cheque book at him...

[timvpimp]

Would be seriously po'd if he opted out and joined the Mavs. I wouldn't put it past Cuban to shell out the dough to make it happen. Ughh
it makes no sense TBH. If shit opts out, the only reason or motive would be the simple desire for championship but the Mavs wouldn't be made a title contender by the sign of a shit. signing a decent center may give the Mavs a chance at championship, but I'm pretty sure it makes no differece to sign another piece of shit into Mavs lockerroom which's already smothered with the shitty likes of Matt Carroll and Rick Carlisle.

Shit may as well rest his ass for another season, banking the 18 million and making his return in the autumn of 2011 (provided he won't turn too shitty for NBA games then).

[boutons_deux]

"max player"

max risk. The guy's career is punctuated with injuries that are more memorable than his game.

[Danny.Zhu]

RJ for Yao. Sign and trade.

[The Franchise]

His agent will not allow him to make such a stupid financial decision. If he opts out, nobody's going to pay him more than 9 or 10 million next year. Some GMs may overpay for a player, but not a broken question mark of a player. Coming back next year, and finishing the season injury free, would guarantee him a huge payday.

[Lars]

Im pretty sure it will all work out.

[pauls931]

Congrats, I think he's an overrated POS... At least he can shoot FTs though...

[djohn2oo8]

This is Morey's primary fuck up, if he hadn't made the Kevin Martin trade, then Yao's opting out would have cleared up lots up cap space. But, now since they took on Jeffries contract, plus Martin's, Yao opting out now wouldn't clear up much space, unless Morey makes trades this summer

[Indazone]

Odd's are Morey and Yao will work this out. Yao isn't going anywhere. He is the franchise player.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Would be seriously po'd if he opted out and joined the Mavs.


You'd be mad if the 7'6" piece of shit opted out of the contract he doesn't deserve and free'd up space for Houston to sign players who can actually stay healthy when it matters? Damn, Yaofan is fuckin retarded.

[djohn2oo8]

You'd be mad if the 7'6" piece of shit opted out of the contract he doesn't deserve and free'd up space for Houston to sign players who can actually stay healthy when it matters? Damn, Yaofan is fuckin retarded.

Yup

[djohn2oo8]

Odd's are Morey and Yao will work this out. Yao isn't going anywhere. He is the franchise player.

A franchise player can be counted on to stay healthy

[Muser]

Yao is a franchise player? :lmao :lmao :lmao

[djohn2oo8]

Yao is a franchise player? :lmao :lmao :lmao

:lol

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Wow I didn't see that part. That's almost as dumb as posting coldplay lyrics.

[djohn2oo8]

Wow I didn't see that part. That's almost as dumb as posting coldplay lyrics.

Indazone with the fail again

[bostonguy]

Yao would be stupid to opt out of that contract. Regardless of if he does or doesn't, it is time to end the Yao Ming experiment. The guy will never stay healthy. If he doesn't opt out he becomes a trading piece or they can just let his contract expire. They need to go after a legit starting center this year. Yao won't stay healthy.

[djohn2oo8]

Yao would be stupid to opt out of that contract. Regardless of if he does or doesn't, it is time to end the Yao Ming experiment. The guy will never stay healthy. If he doesn't opt out he becomes a trading piece or they can just let his contract expire. They need to go after a legit starting center this year. Yao won't stay healthy.

Exactly :toast

[Xevious]

Yao is a freak of nature. He's too big and too heavy to withstand an 82 game season. His injuries are only going to increase in frequency as he gets older. I can't see any GM throwing big money at him anymore.

Maybe he should just finish out his contract and focus his remaining basketball years on his national team. That seems to be his priority anyway.

[baseline bum]

Would be seriously po'd if he opted out and joined the Mavs. I wouldn't put it past Cuban to shell out the dough to make it happen. Ughh

It can't happen. Dallas already has about $62 million in guaranteed deals for next season, not counting Nowitzki (if he opts out to sign a new deal). The only contract they can get out of is JJ Barea's, I believe. Plus, they have to re-sign Brenda.

[sook]

Yaofan is a stupid creature, more concerned about his pay than the rockets.

[Indazone]

Yaofan is a stupid creature, more concerned about his pay than the rockets.

Oh yeah and Chris Bosh isn't for wanting to leave the Raptors? You are such an idiot.

[djohn2oo8]

Oh yeah and Chris Bosh isn't for wanting to leave the Raptors? You are such an idiot.

I know you heard Mike Breen say that Yao might not be back until January

[Indazone]

All I know is what Morey is saying..and it's a good thing he runs the Rockets and not you.

Here is what Morey said previously. Yao and his agent are smart to say he's not sure what he's going to do to maximize his negotiating stance.

Morey: Yao Won't Opt Out of Contract


http://www.blogcdn.com/nba.fanhouse.com/media/2009/12/yao-ming-suit-1209-200.jpgDon't expect a very big guy to be available during perhaps the NBA (http://nba.fanhouse.com/)'s biggest free-agency summer ever.

That's the word from Houston general manager Daryl Morey about 7-foot-6 Yao Ming (http://nba.fanhouse.com/players/yao-ming/3599). He has no doubt the center, out all season following foot surgery, won't opt out of his contract next summer to become a free agent.

"He's very loyal, and he's going to opt in,'' Morey said in an interview Monday night with FanHouse. "He's definitely coming back.''

When asked if Yao has told him specifically he won't opt out of his contract, Morey didn't consider that necessary. Morey said he and Yao regularly have talked about next season.

"He loves Houston and he's very loyal,'' Morey said. "He's coming back. (Next) summer we'll talk about how to integrate him (back with the Rockets).''


Yao can opt out next summer of the final season of a five-year deal paying him $17.69 million. If he doesn't opt out and the Rockets (http://nba.fanhouse.com/team/rockets) don't sign him to an extension by June 30, 2011, he would become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2011.

Morey said Yao, injured during last May's Western Conference finals against the Lakers (http://nba.fanhouse.com/team/lakers), is making fine progress from his July 21 surgery for a fractured left foot. He expects Yao to be fully healthy for next fall's training camp.

"He's doing very well,'' Morey said. "Everything is healing with an operation that was pretty intense. He's ahead of schedule. The smart thing to do is hold him out until next year. ... Everything the doctors are telling us is he'll be available (next season).''

Yao is making $16.38 million this season. Insurance will reimburse the Rockets about $6.7 million of that.

With Yao apparently not a candidate for free agency, attention mostly should focus on three other top players who can opt out of their deals. They are Cleveland's LeBron James (http://nba.fanhouse.com/players/lebron-james/3704), Miami's Dwyane Wade (http://nba.fanhouse.com/players/dwyane-wade/3708) and Toronto's Chris Bosh (http://nba.fanhouse.com/players/chris-bosh/3707).

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/12/08/morey-yao-wont-opt-out-of-contract/

[djohn2oo8]

All I know is what Morey is saying..and it's a good thing he runs the Rockets and not you.

Here is what Morey said previously. Yao and his agent are smart to say he's not sure what he's going to do to maximize his negotiating stance.

Morey: Yao Won't Opt Out of Contract


http://www.blogcdn.com/nba.fanhouse.com/media/2009/12/yao-ming-suit-1209-200.jpgDon't expect a very big guy to be available during perhaps the NBA (http://nba.fanhouse.com/)'s biggest free-agency summer ever.

That's the word from Houston general manager Daryl Morey about 7-foot-6 Yao Ming (http://nba.fanhouse.com/players/yao-ming/3599). He has no doubt the center, out all season following foot surgery, won't opt out of his contract next summer to become a free agent.

"He's very loyal, and he's going to opt in,'' Morey said in an interview Monday night with FanHouse. "He's definitely coming back.''

When asked if Yao has told him specifically he won't opt out of his contract, Morey didn't consider that necessary. Morey said he and Yao regularly have talked about next season.

"He loves Houston and he's very loyal,'' Morey said. "He's coming back. (Next) summer we'll talk about how to integrate him (back with the Rockets).''


Yao can opt out next summer of the final season of a five-year deal paying him $17.69 million. If he doesn't opt out and the Rockets (http://nba.fanhouse.com/team/rockets) don't sign him to an extension by June 30, 2011, he would become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2011.

Morey said Yao, injured during last May's Western Conference finals against the Lakers (http://nba.fanhouse.com/team/lakers), is making fine progress from his July 21 surgery for a fractured left foot. He expects Yao to be fully healthy for next fall's training camp.

"He's doing very well,'' Morey said. "Everything is healing with an operation that was pretty intense. He's ahead of schedule. The smart thing to do is hold him out until next year. ... Everything the doctors are telling us is he'll be available (next season).''

Yao is making $16.38 million this season. Insurance will reimburse the Rockets about $6.7 million of that.

With Yao apparently not a candidate for free agency, attention mostly should focus on three other top players who can opt out of their deals. They are Cleveland's LeBron James (http://nba.fanhouse.com/players/lebron-james/3704), Miami's Dwyane Wade (http://nba.fanhouse.com/players/dwyane-wade/3708) and Toronto's Chris Bosh (http://nba.fanhouse.com/players/chris-bosh/3707).

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/12/08/morey-yao-wont-opt-out-of-contract/

If you look back in this thread, you'd see where I said it wouldn'[t benefit if Yao opted out now since Jeffries and Martin's contract were taken on. Reading comprehension, TRY IT!!!

[tlongII]

Yao is a franchise player? :lmao :lmao :lmao

Definitely. It's just a matter of him staying healthy.

[Indazone]

If you look back in this thread, you'd see where I said it wouldn'[t benefit if Yao opted out now since Jeffries and Martin's contract were taken on. Reading comprehension, TRY IT!!!

Reality? Try it sometime it works.

"We have to bet on Yao," said GM Daryl Morey. "There's no other way to go at this point." He intends to go after big-name free agents like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade this summer, though someone like Chris Bosh or Joe Johnson is more realistic.

[noob cake]

Most of you retards are too busy sucking up to Brooks to realize that Yao enables Les to shell out money for the lux tax and second round picks.

[Indazone]

However that being said, if the Rockets don't do well by Yao, he could be in another uniform next season. Cuban historically has no issue going over the cap. If he could get Yao, he would.

[Riverwalkman]

Is he alive?

[djohn2oo8]

Reality? Try it sometime it works.

"We have to bet on Yao," said GM Daryl Morey. "There's no other way to go at this point." He intends to go after big-name free agents like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade this summer, though someone like Chris Bosh or Joe Johnson is more realistic.

"At this point"- Translation:Yao has 1 yr left, we have no choice

[Indazone]

When will you buy a clue?

Yao remains the crux of Morey's plan

By RICHARD JUSTICE Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle

Feb. 27, 2010, 8:56PM

Yao Ming remains the key to everything for the Rockets. That's the bottom line, right, Daryl Morey?

“Yes,” he said.

After all of Morey's precise calculations and smart moves, the most important step to making the Rockets serious contenders next season requires a leap of faith.

“We have to bet on Yao,” the general manager said. “There's no other way to go at this point.”

All our defensive principles involve funneling guys into the bigs and having a presence at the time and getting a defensive rebound to start the break,” Morey said. “We don't have that, and a lot of that is on me. We could have chased a veteran (Brendan Haywood), but we would have had to give up something that would hurt us in the future.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6889487.html

and do you remember when Morey said this?

"Yao," Morey said, "is the cornerstone of our franchise now and in the future."

[djohn2oo8]

When will you buy a clue?

Yao remains the crux of Morey's plan

By RICHARD JUSTICE Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle

Feb. 27, 2010, 8:56PM

Yao Ming remains the key to everything for the Rockets. That's the bottom line, right, Daryl Morey?

“Yes,” he said.

After all of Morey's precise calculations and smart moves, the most important step to making the Rockets serious contenders next season requires a leap of faith.

“We have to bet on Yao,” the general manager said. “There's no other way to go at this point.”

All our defensive principles involve funneling guys into the bigs and having a presence at the time and getting a defensive rebound to start the break,” Morey said. “We don't have that, and a lot of that is on me. We could have chased a veteran (Brendan Haywood), but we would have had to give up something that would hurt us in the future.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6889487.html

and do you remember when Morey said this?

"Yao," Morey said, "is the cornerstone of our franchise now and in the future."

What, you want him to come out and say openly we don't think Yao is in our plans? You are a moron. Morey knows that this is Yao's last go at it, and he will build around him

Answer me this: If Yao was still the franchise player, why is he going to need his minutes reduced? Oh yeah, thats right, he can't play the minutes he used to play anymore

[Indazone]

all I have done is quoted Morey and all you bring is fantasy and conjecture. FAIL

[djohn2oo8]

all I have done is quoted Morey and all you bring is fantasy and conjecture. FAIL

Yaofan, enough said