Yao coming back to Rockets, foot healed
HOUSTON
The 7-foot-6 All-Star center said Tuesday that he has picked up
his player option for next season, the last year of his five-year
contract. Yao sat out last season following reconstructive foot
surgery and said he wanted to see how the injury healed before
making his decision.
Yao said he's resumed basketball activities and should be 100
percent when training camp begins.
"To miss one year is a long time," Yao said. "I've never been
in this situation before, and I'm getting as much information as I
can about my foot, to see what's the best for me and best for the
Rockets. I decided a couple of days ago, and there's no one better
than the Rockets now."
If he had turned down the player option, Yao would've become an
unrestricted free agent on Thursday. He is due to make $17.7
million next season, but wouldn't reveal how close he came to
joining the star-studded class of free agents who will hit the
market this week.
"Not considering it anymore," he said. "That's most
important."
Yao and Morey would not say if the two sides are working on an
extension beyond next season. The Rockets selected Yao with the No.
1 overall pick in the 2002 draft, and signed him to a five-year
extension in September 2005.
"He's the centerpiece of the Rockets, the foundation of our
franchise," Morey said. "We're looking forward to great things
from him next season."
Morey said Yao will play an "active" role in helping the
Rockets land a top free agent. While the Rockets don't have enough
salary cap space to offer a maximum contract to guys like LeBron
James, Chris Bosh or Dwyane Wade, Morey thinks Yao's commitment
will sway free agents on the team's championship potential in
2010-11.
"Obviously, Yao Ming is an unbelievable piece to have on our
roster," Morey said. "We feel like we're a great destination. We
don't really feel like the underdog. Any free agent, when they take
the time to look through their options -- they all will -- they are
going to see us as a very interesting option. Obviously, a great
roster that's ready to win."
With Yao back, the Rockets also offer a unique marketing
opportunity for any free agent to consider. Regular-season games
draw enormous television ratings in China and several of Yao's
teammates have landed lucrative endorsement deals with Chinese
companies.
"If free agents want to be a global presence," Morey said,
"we have more people tuning in to our regular-season games than
the Super Bowl."
Morey wants Yao to talk to potential additions, and Yao already
has talking points in mind for his recruiting pitch.
"We have a very good team here, we have very good fans and a
very good coaching staff. Why not come here?" he said. "I would
love to play with any of those guys out there. Hopefully, they come
here all together."
The Rockets have already come up with a creative way to lure
them, sending a caravan of fans on the road to rendezvous with
Morey at his initial meeting with a top free agent. The plan is for
the caravan to deliver Morey to the meeting with "presentation
materials" for the free agent to peruse. Morey wouldn't specify
what the materials included.
"It's top secret," Morey said. "We don't want to give up what
he's going to unwrap on Christmas morning."
Morey said he's not discouraged by reports that the most coveted
free agents of this year's class have already decided where they're
headed. Free agents can't sign contracts until July 8.
"Until July 8, no one can make up their minds 100 percent, no
one can sign their name to the dotted line," Morey said. "So
there's an opening there. My sense from the chatter is that no one
has really made up their minds. But the only people who really know
that are the free agents.
"All we can do is put our best foot forward and make the free
agent understand why Houston is a great destination, and hopefully,
it works out."
Once free agency begins, the Rockets will also have to decide
whether to re-sign restricted free agents Luis Scola and Kyle
Lowry. Houston also holds the option on re-signing forward Chuck
Hayes.