Will Rockets want Yao for the long term?

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Yao Ming has been injured before and it was during the season before the Olympics and Yao had to take time off and get prepared for the Olympics. In fact, this is the 5th season in a row that Yao has had some sort of foot injury. This creates a problem for Houston.

From the outside looking in, it appears that Houston plays better with Ming in the lineup and McGrady in the lineup, they play more inspired with McGrady out of the lineup, and play the worst with Ming out of the lineup. Yet they are not a great playoff threat even with two all star caliber players. Something is wrong with the mix.

Should Houston put up with the latest injury and hold on to a Yao in hopes that he will be permanently cured?

How long will Yao Ming remain a Rocket?

Yao has announced his intentions.

“After much thought and reflection, I have decided to have surgery on my left foot,” Yao said in a statement. “This surgery will allow me to continue my career playing basketball, and I look forward to returning to the court. I would like to thank everyone who sent me their best wishes. I am very grateful to have the support of teammates, friends and fans as I dedicate myself to making a completely successful recovery.”

Though the surgery to repair the injury is expected to differ from his previous surgery, in which pins were inserted to strengthen the bone, the procedure to alter the operation of his foot is similar to the surgery performed on Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in 2001. Ilgauskas, 7-3, also broke the navicular bone in his left foot in consecutive seasons, but he has not had a recurrence of the foot problems that at the time threatened his career. He has averaged 74.5 games per season in the eight seasons since.
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So now Yao can be healed, maybe not be troubled with foot injuries again in his career, but will have to sit out a year. What would you do if you were the Rockets management? Is it time to trade Yao, we know Cleveland with part Chinese ownership, is interested. Is it time to trade McGrady as well and go in a new direction?

Yao has been a pro for 7 years and McGrady for 12, but Yao will be 29 this fall and McGrady 30, their trade value will never be higher.

Photo source Newscom

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