Yao Ming's career in jeopardy

HOUSTON - Yao Ming's broken left foot could be a "career-threatening" injury, the Houston Rockets' team physician said yesterday.

Tom Clanton told the Houston Chronicle that Yao's injury "has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career-threatening."

Yahoo Sports reported earlier yesterday that the Rockets and Yao's representatives were concerned that the 7-foot-6 all-star would never play again.

Yahoo quoted "multiple league executives, officials close to Yao and two doctors with knowledge of the diagnoses."

Yao suffered a hairline fracture of the tarsal navicular bone in a May 8 playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The team said last week that the injury had not healed.

Yao played in 77 regular-season games in 2008-09, his most injury-free year since 2004-05, when he played in 80. Before last season, Yao missed parts of three seasons with leg and foot injuries.

He missed 21 games in 2005-06 after surgery to heal an infection to his left big toe, then broke a bone in his left foot with four games left in the regular season.

In 2006-07, Yao missed 32 games after breaking his right leg. He suffered a stress fracture in his left foot in 2007-08, underwent surgery, and sat out 26 games.

Yao hurried back from that foot injury to represent China in the Beijing Olympics. He made it through the Rockets' season and the first round of the playoffs before breaking his left foot late in the Rockets' 108-94 loss to the Lakers in Game 3 of the second round at the Toyota Center.

Two days later, Yao said he did not believe the injury was as serious his previous ones. The Rockets said he would be sidelined for eight to 12 weeks. But last week, the team said Yao would undergo additional tests and consult with other doctors to map out a new course of treatment.

Yao is due to be paid more than $16 million next season, with a player option for 2010-11 that would pay him more than $17 million. He was the top overall pick by the Rockets in the 2002 draft.

The Rockets also expect Tracy McGrady to miss at least the first half of next season after microfracture surgery on his left knee.

Houston acquired McGrady in a trade with Orlando in June 2004. The duo have not often played together.

Around the NBA. Kyle Korver told the Jazz he would exercise an option to stay in Utah for the final year of his contract. The former 76ers swingman is guaranteed $5.2 million next season. . . . The New Jersey Nets picked up their $2.06 million option on forward Jarvis Hayes. . . . The Indiana Pacers will not exercise their team option on guard Marquis Daniels, making him an unrestricted free agent.

The Milwaukee Bucks have made qualifying offers to restricted free agents Ramon Sessions and Ersan Ilyasova but will not make an offer to Charlie Villanueva, general manager John Hammond said. . . . Detroit's Kwame Brown will remain with the Pistons, agent Mark Bartelstein said. The 6-foot-11 center will bypass free agency and make $4.1 million next season. . . . Springfield, Mass., the birthplace of basketball, will host an NBA Development League team this fall, to be affiliated with the 76ers, Nets, and Knicks.