Draft Pick Obligations
Don't forget that the new CBA is not like the old one where you could have the rights to a player indefinately, like when Portland tabbed Arvydis Sabonis with a #24 pick and waited 9 years for him.
Now, if you don't sign a first round pick within 2 years, that player is back in the draft pool. If you don't sign a second round pick within 5 years, that player is back in the draft pool.
So, if Houston and Yao fall through, because of the risk of losing Yao, unless big conditions are accepted, he could slip big.
Earlier reports said that Yao would be available from the start of the seaon until the end of the playoffs, which is like November to June. Now, supposedly the Chinese want him available for any international competions. I can see why Houston is having doubts over using a #1 pick on a olayer who not only will miss summer league, big man camp, pre-season and scrimmages with teammates from June to November, but possibly be lost at other times as well.
I'm still hoping that the Bulls end up with Dunleavy at the end of the night.
