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Wang ZhiZhi may have thrown a big monkey wrench into the NBA draft. Dallas newspapers reported last week that Wang had missed some mandatory Chinese national training and the dreaded "D" word, defection, was being tossed around. Spend some time around Mark Cuban's Mavericks, and with your government dipping into much of your salary, suddenly America looks awfully good.
"We have called and gone to Wang ZhiZhi's house every day, at least twice a day to try to locate him," owner Cuban told the Dallas Morning News. "We have been unable to do so for the past several weeks. We do not know where he is or how to get a hold of him."
Wang is a free agent, and everyone knows he's a 7-foot shooting guard. So there's not much excitement. That's saved for Yao Ming. He likes the 20-footer, too, but he's nearly a half-foot taller and more skilled. The Houston community has fallen for him, and seemingly, so have the Rockets, who have the No. 1 draft pick. But the government of China might get nervous about all the restrictions it has put on Yao's future earnings. And once Yao gets a load of the big city, it may be tough to get him back to the farm. China wants Yao in the NBA as it opens its borders to put on a better face for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. But if anyone begins to worry he might defect so he can keep his millions, then the government may be in no hurry to allow Yao to come here. That might scare off the Rockets, who then might take one of the big offers—from the Clippers or Warriors, mostly likely—for Jay Williams and get a package of players plus one or two lottery picks to fill out their roster.
Which is what is keeping Bulls GM Jerry Krause up nights.
If that occurs, the Bulls get the choice of the prospects: Mike Dunleavy if he stays in the draft, though he supposedly doesn't want to play for the Bulls because of all the small forwards the team has; Drew Gooden, a good looking player who doesn't quite have a position (either small forward or power forward); Caron Butler, a smallish power forward; Dujuan Wagner, a scoring guard trying to play the point; or Chris Wilcox, perhaps the best athlete, but a raw talent.
None of those players are going to help the Bulls win many more games next season. If that happens, the Bulls probably have to pick Yao and hope he comes to the U.S. at some point so they can trade him. With Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, the Bulls really don't need him.
Some league insiders believe Cuban is starting a misinformation campaign to scare off the top teams, see Yao drop and then scoop him up in a cheaper deal. There's also some thought that Houston could then deal with Golden State, get the No. 3 pick and perhaps next year's Warriors pick or a package of players, and take Yao at No. 3 inasmuch as the Warriors want Duke's Williams. Then the Rockets would be willing to wait for Yao, believing the Bulls cannot afford the risk of getting nothing out of this draft after four straight losing seasons.
"From a league perspective, either we sign [Yao] or we won't," said NBA Commissioner David Stern. "And if we don't, it will be like Arvydas Sabonis. He'll be here eventually. It'll be more interesting [next season] if we have Yao, but if we don't, it's either now or later. I have no doubt about that. We'd love to have him, but one additional 7-footer does not a league make."
Though it could ruin the Bulls' future.
Wang ZhiZhi may have thrown a big monkey wrench into the NBA draft. Dallas newspapers reported last week that Wang had missed some mandatory Chinese national training and the dreaded "D" word, defection, was being tossed around. Spend some time around Mark Cuban's Mavericks, and with your government dipping into much of your salary, suddenly America looks awfully good.
"We have called and gone to Wang ZhiZhi's house every day, at least twice a day to try to locate him," owner Cuban told the Dallas Morning News. "We have been unable to do so for the past several weeks. We do not know where he is or how to get a hold of him."
Wang is a free agent, and everyone knows he's a 7-foot shooting guard. So there's not much excitement. That's saved for Yao Ming. He likes the 20-footer, too, but he's nearly a half-foot taller and more skilled. The Houston community has fallen for him, and seemingly, so have the Rockets, who have the No. 1 draft pick. But the government of China might get nervous about all the restrictions it has put on Yao's future earnings. And once Yao gets a load of the big city, it may be tough to get him back to the farm. China wants Yao in the NBA as it opens its borders to put on a better face for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. But if anyone begins to worry he might defect so he can keep his millions, then the government may be in no hurry to allow Yao to come here. That might scare off the Rockets, who then might take one of the big offers—from the Clippers or Warriors, mostly likely—for Jay Williams and get a package of players plus one or two lottery picks to fill out their roster.
Which is what is keeping Bulls GM Jerry Krause up nights.
If that occurs, the Bulls get the choice of the prospects: Mike Dunleavy if he stays in the draft, though he supposedly doesn't want to play for the Bulls because of all the small forwards the team has; Drew Gooden, a good looking player who doesn't quite have a position (either small forward or power forward); Caron Butler, a smallish power forward; Dujuan Wagner, a scoring guard trying to play the point; or Chris Wilcox, perhaps the best athlete, but a raw talent.
None of those players are going to help the Bulls win many more games next season. If that happens, the Bulls probably have to pick Yao and hope he comes to the U.S. at some point so they can trade him. With Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, the Bulls really don't need him.
Some league insiders believe Cuban is starting a misinformation campaign to scare off the top teams, see Yao drop and then scoop him up in a cheaper deal. There's also some thought that Houston could then deal with Golden State, get the No. 3 pick and perhaps next year's Warriors pick or a package of players, and take Yao at No. 3 inasmuch as the Warriors want Duke's Williams. Then the Rockets would be willing to wait for Yao, believing the Bulls cannot afford the risk of getting nothing out of this draft after four straight losing seasons.
"From a league perspective, either we sign [Yao] or we won't," said NBA Commissioner David Stern. "And if we don't, it will be like Arvydas Sabonis. He'll be here eventually. It'll be more interesting [next season] if we have Yao, but if we don't, it's either now or later. I have no doubt about that. We'd love to have him, but one additional 7-footer does not a league make."
Though it could ruin the Bulls' future.
