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T-fo is Medium Pimpin' said 01/20, 12:54 PM
Ok, lets look at your theory. Age? He's only 28. Injury history...ok he's had some..point you.

But here's the problem as I see it. If you think T-Mac is too old and too injury prone, who would want to absorb his EIGHTEEN MILLION dollar salary???

For whatever it's worth, he is the teams scoring leader, and an offensive force when healthy.

As to building around Yao like a young Shaq??? I've seen the young Shaq, I watched him play, Yao Ming is no young Shaq. He's a good/very good big man and a great complimentary player. I just don't think he has what it takes to be the centerpiece to build around.

It still all comes back to T-Mac's prohibitive salary. Wait I've got an idea I'm sure you'll endorse...trade T-mac for Kwame Brown...you're always trying to peddle him anyway...lol.

T-fo is Medium Pimpin' said 01/21, 12:05 AM
OK sure, trade T-Mac to the Bulls. Great idea. But why would the Bulls even think of doing that deal??? T-Mac makes 18 million and Gordon, less than 5 mil. Gordon avg 19.5 PPG vs. T-Mac at 22.2. are those 3 extra points worth an extra 14 mil a year? Never happen.

Opposite thing with O'Neal - who, by the way is out for two weeks with an INJURY. His contract is even HIGHER than T-Mac, and he's only scoring 15.3 ppg. and getting 7.3 boards. Not exactly raking the glass for a guy who is 6'11"? So in this case, why would the Rockets do this deal? Take on MORE salary for less of a player - and one that's injured to boot?

If Yao needs a shooter other than T-Mac, your first two suggestions are not very good ones.

T-fo is Medium Pimpin' said 01/21, 03:09 PM
The bottom line is this...
By your own argument, T-Mac has an age issue and an injury issue. I don't see either of those as too big a problem. 28 isn't all that old. BUT

The real issue is his contract. If T-Mac has "issues", why would another team take on an 18 million dollar a yrar contract for a player with "issues"? Especially, if in return the Rockets would be expecting top notch talent with a cap-manageable salary AND other players. The best the Rockets would be able to hope for is for someone to take T-Mac and his contract off their hands and get little at all in return. That just doesn't make sense.

T-Mac isn't exactly a non-producer. He's earning more than he's worth, for sure. But that leaves the Rockets little choice. Keep him and play him.