Rockets to begin tricky negotiations over Yao Ming
Rockets to begin tricky negotiations over Yao Ming
Robert J. Saiget, Agence France-Presse, Beijing
The Houston Rockets's top negotiator Michael Goldberg is due in Shanghai this week to begin complex talks on signing NBA top draft pick Yao Ming, amid rampant talk the giant center's U.S. future is in jeopardy, officials and insiders said Wednesday.
"Mr. Goldberg is due in Shanghai tomorrow (Thursday)," Li Yaomin, general manager of Yao's team the Shanghai Sharks, told AFP.
"The talks are not going to be easy because there are a lot of things that need to be discussed," he said.
The most complicating factor will be the status of China's other NBA star Wang Zhizhi, who has gone missing in Los Angeles in recent days after refusing to return to China to train with the national team.
Reports have speculated that Wang is on the verge of defecting -- a possibility that he adamantly denied several weeks ago -- which in turn could prompt Chinese basketball authorities to block Yao's move.
"This is a very serious situation. If the Wang Zhizhi situation can't get solved, then things will become very complicated for Yao Ming," Li said.
In a sign of how sensitive matters are becoming, Chinese sports reporters have been ordered not to write anything about what is happening with Yao and Wang, journalists and basketball officials said on condition of anonymity.
The Rockets chose the 7 ft 6 in (2.24 meter) Yao with the team's overall number one pick at the June 26 draft, making the 21-year-old the first foreign player ever chosen as top NBA choice.
However getting him over to play is a deeply complicated process.
Besides needing to sign a deal with Yao, the Rockets also have to agree contracts with the Shanghai Sharks and the China Basketball Association (CBA), as well as letters guaranteeing Yao will return to China when needed for the national side, Li said.
Goldberg is expected to begin negotiations with the CBA over the weekend.
Under Chinese rules, Yao must hand over up to half of what could be a US$15 million, four-year deal to the CBA and China's sports ministry, while the Sharks will also be entitled to a share of what is left over.
As part of their guarantees over Yao's return for national duty, Chinese officials could even want a letter of guarantee from the NBA itself, Li said.
Under global basketball ruling body FIBA regulations, any international transfers must be approved by the departing player's home association, giving the CBA the power to veto Yao's future in the world's top basketball league.
The CBA has already expressed anger at Wang's failure to return to China to join training for the upcoming World Basketball Championships and Asian Games.
The 7 ft 1 in (2.16 meter) center failed to show up after his contract ended with the Dallas Mavericks in May, despite agreements with Dallas, the CBA and Wang's Chinese club the Bayi Rockets that he would do so.
Instead the 22-year-old ended up playing for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA's Los Angeles summer league in the hopes of impressing other NBA teams, improving his game and winning a better contract.
As an unrestricted free agent, Wang can sign with any team that wants him and has recently hired agent Jeff Schwartz, who also represents other NBA stars like Jason Kidd, Jerry Stackhouse and Paul Pierce.