With Yao Ming being non-committal about the subject of opting out this summer, the Rockets have been thrown for a loop. While the vast majority of basketball experts expected Yao would opt-in for the final year of his contract because of his injury issues this year, uncertainty regarding the CBA situation has caused Yao to reconsider.
Before anyone panics, however, the likelihood that Yao is in any jersey except a Rockets one next year are slim. In all likelihood, Yao will opt in to his contract and play out next year for $17 million or opt-out and sign an extension with the Rockets.
However, in the slim chance that he decides to bolt for a different team, the Rockets will have find it impossible to find someone that can fill Yao's shoes (both metaphorically and physically). However, with already lacking depth on the front line, the Rockets will have to find adequate replacements for a team that has struggled so mightily without a force in the middle.
Subtracting the $17 million from the payroll for next year would open up doors for Daryl Morey to work his magic, likely giving him around $10 million in cap room and with some posturing, could give him enough money to land a max f ...
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Article written by Patrick Harrel
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