NBA Senior Vice President Stu Jackson has chosen longtime friend and ex-Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy to perform the only workout to be performed by Chinese prospect Yao Ming in Chicago tomorrow, the New York Times are reporting.

"Jeff is a first-rate coach, and he should be perfect for this," said Terry Lyons, NBA vice president of international public relations. "His role will be to provide instruction. It will be a typical workout that draft prospects have for a team.?

Ming, expected to be chosen either first or second in the upcoming NBA draft, is expected to be watched by at least 22 teams with all 29 being invited.  This is said to be Ming?s only workout for teams before the draft.  He is expected to go one-on-one with another 7 foot NBA prospect who, according to Greg Logan from Newsday, thus far has been unconfirmed.

Yao Ming can cement his place as the first player taken in the 2002 draft. Yao will work out Wednesday in Chicago for any interested scout, general manager or coach.

Representatives from all 29 teams, including Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson, are expected to attend.

There are questions about Yao. No one wants to spend the top pick of the draft for the next Shawn Bradley. But Yao is 7-foot-5, maybe 7-6. He has good hands. He doesn't look to escape the lane to the safe territory behind the 3-point line where he can show his touch.

If Yao moves well Wednesday, shows those good hands and stays very tall, there will be a buzz about the workout. Momentum will build. Yao plays as if he knows he's 7-5, maybe 7-6 (though he had trouble staying out of foul trouble in the Sydney Olympics) and by June could be an irresistible choice, particularly when the other potential superstars are years away.

As far as the conspiracy theory nonsense that the league will find a way to make sure Yao plays in the right setting, forget it. There is a widespread sense that the Chinese government's interest that Yao plays in a city with a large Asian community has been greatly exaggerated. That might make Yao's time smoother, but his comfort zone is not his government's top priority.

The priority of the Chinese government is to get Yao valuable NBA experience before the 2004 and especially the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and to make sure it gets its cut of his income.

Imagine Bulls GM Jerry Krause squabbling with Chinese officials over the availability of 7-6 center Yao Ming.  This is the best reason, writes Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times, that the Bulls should steer clear of the Chinese big man who many consider to be one of the top two draft picks in this June?s draft.

?If anything, my fortune cookie tells me the sucker who drafts Yao will have no idea when he's coming, if he's coming or, once he does come, how long he's staying,? writes Mariotti.

?Unlike lesser products Wang Zhizhi and Menk Bateer, who gained quick approval and play in the league, Yao needs permission from three government agencies to play. He'll also be forced to turn over at least half his pretax earnings from all American sources, including endorsements, to Chinese agencies and sports authorities throughout his NBA career. The remaining half would be divided between Yao, the Sharks, his coaches and his registered agent, who, according to Sharks management, cannot be an American.?

?And if he refuses in any way? Oh, he'll be fined obscene amounts, thrown off China's national team and basically be disowned.?

The Bulls should just leave the red tape to another organization and take the safe option (Jason Williams) or the smart trade (a package of Yao and others to Dallas for Michael Finley) concluded Mariotti.

As said in RealGM Wiretap yesterday, the NCAA board of directors decided Thursday that high school players can now declare for the NBA draft, be drafted, and still retain their college eligibility.  But the surprising detail, Robyn Norwood of the Los Angeles Times is reporting, is that the group determined that the rule will take effect this season.

This means that a team like the New York Knicks could draft a player like Amare Stoudamire who could then turn around, go to college for three seasons, win the National Player of the Year, and then join the Knicks as a developed talent without having to go through the draft once again.

While the NCAA was earlier under the impression that a player?s rights would stay with the team who drafted them for one year, the NBA?s Collective Bargaining Agreement states that a team would retain a player?s rights until one year after his college career ends, and the player will not be allowed to enter back into the draft.

The rule would have been beneficial for players like Korleone Young (drafted by Pistons), Leon Smith (drafted by Spurs, traded to Mavericks) and Ousmane Cisse (drafted by Denver), players who were drafted straight out of high school then faltered in their NBA ambitions for one reason or another.

As long as a player does not sign a contract or hire an agent they are able to retain their eligibility, meaning that a player who was unsure of his draft status could take a punt and see where they would be selected, if at all.  If they go into the second round or not at all then go to college and becomes a top prospect they will have gambled away their chances to become a lottery pick while the team which took a chance could land itself a steal.

This would not be an entirely new situation for NBA teams, with some facing similar situations in the past after drafting foreign players.  The Chicago Bulls drafted Toni Kukoc in 1990 and had to wait until 1993 for Kukoc to arrive in America, while Arvydas Sabonis ? who many consider to be the best European ever to play in the NBA ? was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1985 draft and did not arrive in the NBA until 1995, his career peak missing the spotlight of the NBA faithful.

"We're only talking about a few high school kids," Marty Blake, the NBA director of scouting, said. "Somebody thought a bus was going to deliver 100 high school kids. It hasn't happened."

Chinese center Yao Ming has not even been drafted by an NBA team yet and already the fingers are creeping into his pockets.

The Shanghai Morning Post reports the China Basketball Association will implement new procedures for those who play overseas, with the government-run CBA collecting 30 percent of each player's salary and other government agencies taking another 20 percent.

Yao, who could be the first player taken in this year's NBA draft, told the Post he isn't fazed, saying, "I've already had many frustrations. A few more won't break me."

No wonder the Chinese Basketball Association is supporting Ming joining the NBA!

Yao Ming has scheduled his first and only workout for NBA teams for this Wednesday in Chicago.  The private display is open to all 29 teams, the Chinese Basketball Federation, Ming's agent Bill Duffy and the NBA deciding to hold one workout rather than have Ming perform 10 individual workouts traveling to 10 different cities.

Many expect Ming to be the first overall pick in the NBA draft, and just like FC Barcelona did last season the Shanghai Sharks, Ming?s ex-team, are expected to receive compensation. For Ming?s rights.  FC Barcelona received between $2-3 million for Pau Gasol, the NBA?s Rookie of the Year.

"Other than a few exceptions, we haven't seen anything of this potential magnitude," Ron Klempner, a players union attorney, said of Ming.

Imagine a world where a high schooler could declare for the NBA draft, be selected, then go to college.  It may not be as far fetched as it first sounds, and beginning in 2003 this may very well be the case.

The NCAA board of directors are expected to vote today on a proposal to allow drafted high school players to play college basketball as long as they don't sign with a professional team or hire an agent.

According to the Los Angeles Times under NBA rules the rights to a drafted player who chose to compete in college instead of signing immediately would remain with the team until one year after the end of the player's college career. Current NCAA rules stipulate that a high school player who declares for the professional draft loses his college eligibility, even if he isn't drafted.

College players who declare and aren't drafted are allowed to return to school and continue their player careers, but if they are drafted they lose their eligibility.

Recent reports of high school phenom LeBron James bypassing his senior year and spending a season playing professionally in Italy are not true, according to the man James considers to be his father.

"I don't know where or how all that stuff gets started," said Eddie Jackson. "What, does someone just wake up one day and decide they're going to put something in the paper without bothering to check the facts?"

Dime Magazine and USA Today issued a report stating that James would accept a salary of around $9 million to skip his senior year at St. Vincent-St. Mary to play professionally in Italy.  The report speculated that James also would pocket $20 million from Nike or Adidas for signing a shoe deal.

"I am telling you it is not going to happen," said Jackson, who was reached in Los Angeles. "For the record, LeBron will finish his high school career at St. Vincent-St. Mary. He said so last week [during a news conference for the Gatorade Award presentation], and nothing has changed since then. We have not talked to anyone about LeBron playing in Italy, and we have not talked to anyone about $9 million. No one has called. There is no truth to it.?

Houston yesterday came away with the 15th pick in the NBA draft after the Raptors lost  a tie breaker with the Indiana Pacers who will draft 14th overall.

The Rockets owe the Grizzlies a first-round pick from a deal with which they acquired Steve Francis and have the option to send Memphis either their own pick, a pick within two spots of their own or a pick that falls within the top 15 this season or next.

In other tie breakers Golden State beat out Chicago for the #1 position (pre-lottery), Phoenix beat out Miami for the ninth pick (if neither move up to the top 3), and Charlotte beat out both Orlando and Utah and will now pick 17th before Orlando beat Utah for the 18th selection.  Portland won a tie breaker for the 21st selection and San Antonio beat out the Lakers for the 26th pick.

The lottery will be held on May 19 in New Jersey.

It?s well known that the Chicago Bulls need a point guard. Speculation is that Jerry Krause may be looking to trade the draft choice for an established point guard.

Andre Miller is among the league best point guard and leads the NBA in assists. Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune reports that Cleveland may have trouble to sign an extension and may be willing to trade for a young and inexpensive player. The Chicago Bulls have what they may want: a top draft choice.