On Saturday Bonzi Wells decided he will not opt out of his contract and will return to the Rockets next season. Click here for the story.

Personally, I think it’s great news. I think Rick Adelman will understand how to get the most out of him, and Bonzi is motivated to play for Adelman again like he did in Sacramento. Of course, I’m sure the talking heads on the Houston sports radio stations will continue to blitz Bonzi, but I honestly thought alot of these guys were too quick to judge him last season for being a loser, and that Bonzi will prove them wrong.

So what do you think? Feel free to provide your comments in the YaoMania! forum in this thread (I’ll be approving new registrations today on a fairly quick basis).

I know this article has nothing to do with Yao, but I’m impressed on Daryl Morey‘s perspective on the draft for being such a young GM.

Here are some quotes that shows he understands how a draft can stack up:

“If you get to 18 to 20 (first round pick), there’s usually some sliders,” Morey said. “Danny Granger, Gerald Green, Jameer Nelson in recent years. Guys who should have gone high and slipped farther than they should have in many

“We have some opportunities to move up. We’ve done our draft work. We’re very prepared for this draft. I’ve spent a lot of time on (scenarios to) trade up, trade down, trade in (to the second round). A lot of different discussions have filled several days. Often, they’ll happen on that night because your guy is there, or their guy is gone.”

Later, Morey talks about the best way a player drafted late in the first or second round can stick around in the NBA…

Read the rest of this entry »

In case you hadn’t heard, Yao Ming will be marrying long-time girlfriend Ye Li, a member of the Chinese women’s basketball team, on August 8th. YaoMania! correspondent Raymond has a good summary of the wedding news in the YaoMania! forum. For photos of Yao and Ye Li together at Dikembe Mutombo‘s charity dinner on April 13th, click here.