Rockets start Ming dynasty
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NEW YORK — The home of America's space program took a small step in the development of the hometown basketball team yesterday, and a giant leap for the NBA and the basketball universe.
Associated Press
The Houston Rockets used the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft to select Yao Ming, the 7-foot-5-inch center from China who is generally considered a developing basketball project and one day could become a top NBA center.
The Houston Rockets think No. 1 draft pick Yao Ming has the right stuff.
Perhaps more significant, it is the first time a player who did not attend a college or high school in the United States has been the first selection in the draft, and further pushes open the door to NBA globalization.
"It's a new time," Yao said through an interpreter from China, where he watched the draft on television. "I am confident. I will learn from the NBA and improve myself."
Yao exchanged clumsy high-fives with associates watching the draft and plopped on a Rockets hat that seemed several sizes too small.
That might be the only thing small about Yao, who is listed at almost 7-6 without shoes and a giant wingspan of almost 7 1/2 feet. He was one of five international players taken among the first 16 picks in the draft, and the first taken No. 1 overall.
"We think this guy can bring us championships, along with the other players we have," Rockets owner Les Alexander said. "But this is more than just a sports story."
Alexander waxed on about the potential windfall Houston would receive in global exposure and economic growth, and talked of Yao's place in building a bridge between the United States and China.
Yao, who as the top pick will receive a four-year contract worth approximately $12 million, won't join the Rockets until after the Asian Games in October. The NBA preseason will be under way.
Yao will be available for the entire NBA regular season, according to an agreement reached with the Chinese Basketball Association late yesterday.
"We have a very athletic player who can do a lot of things," said Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich. "(He) runs well, passes well, shoots well. What I really like about him, besides all those things, is his philosophy. His head is on straight. His No. 1 priority is the team."
(Playing for the Shanghai Sharks, Yao was the league's second-leading scorer last season with a 32.4 average. Which leads to the obvious question: Who was first and where is he?)
Chicago followed Houston with highly regarded Duke point guard Jay Williams, who is expected to give the Bulls the top young nucleus in the Eastern Conference, if not the NBA.
"There's nothing but upside," Williams said.
That's what the New York Knicks are hoping as they pulled off the only significant trade of draft day. They dealt veteran point guard Mark Jackson, oft-injured Marcus Camby and their No. 7 pick in the first round for former All-Star and Olympian Antonio McDyess and the No. 25 pick, which the Knicks used for Illinois guard Frank Williams.
There was talk of a McDyess deal that included Andre Miller, but it collapsed, and the Wizards made another unsuccessful run at Bulls guard Jamal Crawford.
The Knicks have a chance to return to the playoffs after discarding the erratic Camby for McDyess, who agreed to drop his chance to opt out of his contract after next season. The Knicks, with the highest ticket prices in the league, never think they are a team that can rebuild with young players as the Bulls have done. So they add an athletic potential All-Star who joins Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston in an exciting threesome.
Frank Williams also could get a chance because the Knicks aren't high on veteran point guards Howard Eisley and Charlie Ward.
The Nuggets, who probably were going to lose McDyess to free agency, made a commitment to rebuilding as they selected two of the most talented international players, big men Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Nene Hilario.
"Antonio is one of my favorite players, and he's always been one of my favorite players," said Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe. "But we were just in a position where we didn't want to lose him for nothing."
There were several minor deals, including one that might someday be a winner for the champion Los Angeles Lakers. They acquired the rights to Missouri shooting guard Kareem Rush and Tracy Murray from Toronto for Lindsey Hunter and the rights to No. 27 pick Chris Jefferies.
At 6 feet 6 with a sweet stroke and an 18.9-point average in three seasons at Missouri, Rush is the versatile big guard the Lakers never figured to get picking 27th.
"He's an incredible talent," said Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak. "He has NBA size, talent and skill level."
