The news just broke tonight that the Rockets were able to trade never – to – play – in – America – again Vasillis Spanoulis for very promising PF Luis Scola with the “wisest” of all NBA teams, the world champion San Antonio Spurs.

Ever since getting drafted by the Spurs in 2002, the Argentinian Scola has been hyped for years as a great NBA power forward prospect (Olympic Gold medal winner, Spanish league MVP) once he decides to play in the league. Getting Scola may have been the best option available for the Rockets considering the weakness of affordable PFs in the league.

If Scola turns out to be the real deal, Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey might have vindicated himself after drawing the wrath of many Rocket fans who couldn’t believe he selected Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry in last month’s NBA draft. No one saw this deal coming. Kudos to Morey for pulling it off.

What’s also amazing is that Morey carries very little risk of looking like a bad guy in dealing Spanoulis, who many still believe has great upside in the NBA. Spanoulis said he wouldn’t play in the U.S., even if he were traded to the Spurs and given the starting point guard job. So if he stays true to his word, Spanoulis won’t haunt the Rockets in what “could have been.”

And if Spanoulis changes his mind and decides to come back to the NBA, he will be a liar in the biggest sense of the word and will take Morey and the Rockets off the hook. Although I like Spanoulis and hated to see him give up so soon on his NBA career, I’m enjoying how Spanoulis and his agent have painted themselves in a corner with that statement about not even wanting to play for the Spurs.

So why would the Spurs do this deal?…

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Although it’s not Yao news, our correspondent Raymond in China has let us know that Shane Battier arrived in Beijing Monday, and he will be in China through the end of the week.

Shane obviously has a big following there (being Yao’s teammate doesn’t hurt), as you’ll see from the reception he got at the airport:

He’s keeping himself very busy with activities being coordinated by his sponsor, the China Peak Group, including a photo session where he donned several outfits, including this one:

Raymond does a great job of describing what Shane is doing in China as well as posting other photos in this YaoMania! forum.

Our Raymond has translated a couple of more Chinese articles into English. The first one is with Rockets’ guard Luther Head, who says he hopes he’s not traded.

The second one is with Daryl Morey, who is in Vegas for the NBA Summer League. It’s interesting to read that Morey still thinks Vasillis Spanoulis will want to come back next season, despite quotes from Spanoulis there is no way that’s going to happen. Good work, Raymond!

On Sunday, Yao spent some time with children infected with the HIV virus in Shanghai as part of the Basketball Without Borders program.

Since Yao is a spokesperson for the HIV/AIDS prevention campaign in China, he asked for the public’s help to not discriminate against children like these and to provide more of a helping hand. To see more photos with Yao and the kids, click here and here.

In case you missed it in the forum, we have more photos of Yao in the YaoMania! forum instructing kids at the Basketball Without Borders camp in Shanghai. Here’s one of my favorites…

…and here’s more with Yao (with Scottie Pippen) at the Read to Achieve program on Saturday the 7th…

…with this being one of my favorites…

Our Raymond spent over 3 hours translating a Titan Sports (China) interview with Vlade Divac, who is working with Yao Ming and others as a coach for the Basketball Without Borders Camp in Shanghai.

I have highlighted in bold some of the interesting points Vlade mentioned pertaining to how I think Yao will like playing under new coach Rick Adelman, especially compared to what it was like under former coach Jeff Van Gundy.

In a nutshell, I think Yao is going to quickly forget about losing JVG and like Adelman much, much more. Here’s the translation…

Vlade Divac, one of the players who knows Rick Adelman the best, was a traditional center who did not have lightning speed, and had a successful stint in his NBA career under Rick Adelman. On July 6, in Shanghai Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Vlade Divac talked about his ex-mentor. In short, he said, “Relationship-wise, we are just like father and son.”

TITAN: Let’s talk about Coach Adelman. You played under him for 6 years. You are one of the players who understood him the most. Can you tell us something about Rick? What type of a coach is he?

DIVAC: Let us first talk about what kind of a person he is. He is by far one of the best and kindest persons I ever met in my life. He is a person who treasures family life, and understands and values interpersonal relationships. He treats his players well, just like they are his family members. He is very sentimental, and after you spend sometime together with him, you surely will like him. Moreover, you can learn a lot of things from him. He is just like a treasure. It is not just about basketball. He seems to know a lot of other subject matters.

TITAN: Does he scold and curse (his players)?

DIVAC: No, at most times, he is a very calm and tranquil person. He is unlike some other coaches who like to yell and gesticulate by the courtside. He understands too much basketball-related matters. He does not only teach players how to play basketball on court; he also let his players realize their own values and how to lead their lives off the court.

TITAN: So (are you saying) playing under Adelman will be interesting and full of fun?

DIVAC: Right. Under his coaching, I have enjoyed the most successful stretch of my professional career. That really had been fun and interesting.

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Raymond has some pics in the YaoMania! forum of Yao at the start of the Basketball Without Borders camp in Shanghai, where he is joined by Luther Head, Vlade Divac, and other volunteer coaches. Click here for more on Yao and the other volunteers coaching at the Basketball Without Borders camp.

On Wednesday July 4th, Yao participated in a Special Olympics event in Shanghai where 1,500 intellectually disabled athletes, children and volunteers created ceramic tiles to be put together for a wall promoting the Special Olympics to be held October 2nd – 11th in Shanghai.

Click here for an article about the ceramic tiles along with another photo with Yao and the special person pictured above. Click here for more photos from the event.

Here’s an article about Yao’s desire to continue being the flag bearer for the Chinese Olympic team. It’s good to see that Yao really wants to be the one to continue representing his country, and he’s not shy about it.

Finally, Yao gave an interview where he speaks about how he’s building a rapport with new Rockets head coach Rick Adelman. The thing I found interesting about the article is Yao saying:

“I’m pretty familiar with his style. It’s pretty much like the national team’s.”

Something tells me Yao is going to LOVE the new offense.

Props to Raymond in China for the photos and stories.

On Tuesday Yao participated in a Chinese Olympic Organizing Committee event sponsored by Coca-Cola in Beijing starting the countdown from 400 days to the start of the 2008 Olympics.

Yao participated in the event with women’s volleyball player Zhao Ruirui, men’s table tennis champion Wang Liqin, and diving champion Guo Jingjing.

Looking at all the pictures from the event in the YaoMania! forum, you can imagine how big the 300, 200, 100-day festivities will be.

After the event, Yao flew back to Shanghai, where he will participate in a Special Olympics event in Shanghai on July 4th, as well as a Basketball without Borders Asia Camp event with Rocket teammate Luther Head on July 5th.

Yao will stay in Shanghai the rest of the month, and his wedding will be very private to the point that no government or CBA officials, or even teammates from the Shanghai Sharks or national team, will be invited.

Thanks again to Raymond for the photos and translation.