On Yao's Injury: Don't Panic Just Yet

by Tom Martin on Jun 29, 2009 11:58 PM CDT in Discussions about Badasses

We don't know a whole lot about Yao Ming's foot troubles. All we've gotten are a slew of maybes. Maybe Yao will be out for the season. Maybe he will be done forever.

Maybe he will miss a few months and come back right on schedule. We just don't know yet.

Don't expect any sudden moves from Daryl Morey. It's too early. The minute this thing blows up, he'll be on the ball. But it hasn't yet. As far as we know, Yao went to the doctor, and the doctor didn't see improvement. The only question is: How much has Yao's foot failed to improve? If it suddenly begins to heal, then we're all set. If not, I quit. Not sure exactly what it is that I will quit. I won't quit anything specific. All I know is, if Yao Ming is forced to retire, I quit.

Assuming Yao's foot doesn't begin to heal, where does this place us on the list of candidates to go nuts in the Summer of 2010? Say we decide not to re-sign Yao, after doctors have stated that he can no longer play. We'll have a giant wad of expiration cash lying under our noses, ready to be spent. And if we decide not to wait that long, the Amar'e Stoudemire trade suddenly makes more sense.

But all of this is speculative. We're going to have to wait longer. Turn off the radio. Don't read the "everybody panic!" articles. Stop listening to everyone whose sole job description as of now is to make a big deal out of this thing. The minute that a definitive diagnosis is announced, you can go crazy.

However, for right now, just forget about it. Fahgettaboutit.

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I Know the thread

Tells everyone to chill, bc of lack of info. However, the thread does still ponder the cash savings if Yao is out.

I guess I am annoyed by the mini-Justice’s on this site that are already salivating about where to go from here.

Hasn’t Yao earned a little bit more respect than that? Come on people.

by stuartallen83 on Jun 30, 2009 12:24 AM CDT reply actions

uh...

First of all, comparing anyone on this site to Richard Justice is, well, insulting.

Second of all, where does “respect” play into this? Yeah, we all know Yao would give anything to be healthy. We know he’s dedicated. We know he’s trying his hardest to win a championship. Using respect as an excuse to say “Oh, well because we respect him, we can just assume everything will be all happy and perfect” is a lame argument. You have to consider the options. I tried to do it as briefly as possible in order to downplay any sense of panic. I’m not panicking. I’m considering options.

I have all the respect in the world for Yao. But you need to consider the reality of the situation. It’s not covered in daisies and sunshine.

The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak

by Tom Martin on Jun 30, 2009 12:32 AM CDT up reply actions

This could be a blessing in disguise if he is able to rest this off-season.

by Killer Bee on Jun 30, 2009 12:29 AM CDT reply actions

Ignorance - Bliss

I prefer to believe the “SMOKESCREEN” theory to allow Yao to rest for the next 2 months instead on running drills with Team China. Yao (in my mind) will be rested for the first time in his basketball life and show that he is the best big man in the world.

by Cactus Jack Sancho on Jun 30, 2009 1:16 AM CDT reply actions

Here's my question:

Why did Tom Clanton tell this to anybody outside the team? That seems like a pretty big violation of medical ethics (though I’m no doctor, lawyer, etc.). Bucher makes it clear that the Rockets aren’t happy about that.

Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 30, 2009 3:43 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

yes it is a violation

Doctors have this thing called the hippocratic oath. Basically, they are only allowed to talk about a patient’s situation if that person needs to know in order to do their job. It’s for nurses, pharmacists, and other doctors, mainly. It’s not for us. We don’t need to know this (in order to do our job). Absolutely, you cannot reveal a patient’s condition to the general public. You could get your license revoked.

How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!

by ak2themax on Jun 30, 2009 7:14 AM CDT up reply actions

not exactly right.

the hippocratic oath is not relevant here. HIPAA is the regulation that you are thinking of and it is very questionable as to whether or not he violated it. He cannot get his license revoked for it.

"Greed is Good."
So is Rudy.

by Gekko Mojo on Jun 30, 2009 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Whoops

you’re right. Still, he shouldn’t go around talking about his patient’s health. It’s not his right.

How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!

by ak2themax on Jun 30, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

It looks like a pretty clear HIPAA violation to me.

The penalty wouldn’t be much (Surprise!)

But count me on the “information warfare” side of this. I think Morey and the Rockets and perfectly capable of “planting a leak” to allow Yao to rest if that is in the cards.

Of course if he is hurt for sure, then they don’t want that known, as it weakens their negotiating position.

"So do you keep open 3pt FG percentage?"
"Yeah, we'd have everything you'd want, Bill."
"I hate you."
Bill Simmons/Daryl Morey Podcast 5/8/09

by Xiane on Jun 30, 2009 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions

do you think

anyone will come to Houston in 2010 if there isn’t anyone for them to play with. Joe Johnson and others made sense because they would want to play with Yao and win a championship. Without Yao, no one will want to come here.

How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!

by ak2themax on Jun 30, 2009 7:16 AM CDT reply actions

Don't panic yet!

I think Dr.Clanton has to cover all scenarios, esp. worst case ones, because injuries and illnesses can go all types of different ways. They just never know what’s going to happen. Of course, this all makes for great sensationalist news stories so the media will jump all over the worst case scenario. Yao’s foot may heal with a little more time. We just have to wait and see.

by erod on Jun 30, 2009 7:53 AM CDT reply actions

Rockets are already in talks with Magic

I saw on Channel 13 last night that the Rockets have already began talks with the Orlando Magic to sign Marcin Gorat, a sophomore player from Poland.

I know we needed a backup for Yao any way, however the timing just seems to confirm that Morey is already making plans for a Yao-less Rockets squad.

by jasonmicron on Jun 30, 2009 8:09 AM CDT reply actions

Maybe that's why he was interested in moving

up in the draft – to get Thabeet probably.

"I am from one of the top 15 cities in the world. Buffalo, New York." - TrentEdwardsHoF2018

by Artest4Prez on Jun 30, 2009 8:14 AM CDT up reply actions

im so glad we didn’t get that guy though. no work ethic.

it sucks though. i’ve read that yao’s fracture has deepened, rather than healed. that’s so not good.

here’s for hoping for a miracle.

13 points in 39 seconds. Enough said.

by Duhoh on Jun 30, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Forced Retirement

In order for the Rockets to get the forced retirement exception, they’d have to renounce all rights to Yao, get a doctor to say that his injury is career ending, and then hope he doesn’t come back to play in 10 games (INCLUDING pre-season games) cumulative over a 2-year period.

The Rockets won’t see that “wad of cash” for a long time if this scenario develops.

"Greed is Good."
So is Rudy.

by Gekko Mojo on Jun 30, 2009 8:45 AM CDT reply actions

right

and don’t forget, it’s Yao who has the ETO in 2010, not the Rockets. He can definitely force the Rockets to pay him through 2011.

How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!

by ak2themax on Jun 30, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions

ABC 13

reported that wafer rejected 3.5 mill and that morey is still actively pursuing gortat. just thought i’d throw that in the mix.

Wafer . . . again. (Marv Albert, HOU v. CLE Feb 2009)
-one of the FEW at Toyota Center who has the Wafer jersey

by olivarezq1 on Jun 30, 2009 2:13 PM CDT reply actions

yeah, I heard about that

but couldn’t find an article.

The Wafer thing is interesting. I wonder what he expects to get on the open market. I think he’s overvaluing his skills quite a bit, but some team is likely to overpay for him.

Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 30, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

3.5 mil

is more than enough for a guy who had ONE decent year. I don’t know what he thinks he’s worth.

"I am from one of the top 15 cities in the world. Buffalo, New York." - TrentEdwardsHoF2018

by Artest4Prez on Jun 30, 2009 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Unfortunately for him

most of the stupid teams that would classically give him an unjustified contract have either gotten smart in the past few years, are financially crippled right now, or are preparing for 2010.

I like Wafer, but I think his skills are just so limited that the Rockets aren’t going to end up signing him. He can penetrate and he can hit threes, but his jumpshot is inconsistent and he doesn’t pass, so teams can just pack the paint against him. He doesn’t defend, and “one-dimensional scorer” seems to be something relatively replaceable.

Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 30, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree with you there.

And interestingly, the Rockets paid 4 million to draft two guys who just happen to play where he does. If Von gets more than $3.5, good for him, but I don’t think it will be from Houston. Toronto or NJ or NO seem like they could use him. We’ll see. I like him, he’s explosive (in many ways) but his “pointing and yelling” brand of D is not a long term fit in Houston.

"So do you keep open 3pt FG percentage?"
"Yeah, we'd have everything you'd want, Bill."
"I hate you."
Bill Simmons/Daryl Morey Podcast 5/8/09

by Xiane on Jun 30, 2009 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions