Broken foot could end Yao's career

This is the third time he has suffered a fracture in this foot.

Yahoo! Sports first reported the Rockets and Yao's representatives were concerned the 7-6 All-Star would never play again. Yahoo! Sports 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 late in a May 8 playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The team said last week the injury hasn't healed and he was out indefinitely.

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 chunks of the previous 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 and 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 Games. 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 didn't believe the injury was as serious as any of his previous ones. The Rockets said he would miss only 8 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, 28, is due to make 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 already expect Tracy McGrady to miss at least the first half of next season after microfracture surgery on his left knee.

General manager Daryl Morey said last week Yao's uncertain status wouldn't affect any of his offseason plans for trades or free-agent signings. He has said the Rockets are interested in re-signing free agent Ron Artest.

Morey said after last week's draft he would not comment on Yao's health beyond the statement released by the team that he was out indefinitely.

Noteworthy

 

* Four days after Spanish teen sensation Ricky Rubio was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves, executives across the league are flooding president David Kahn's office with calls offering trades to bring Rubio to their cities.

But Rubio's availability for the upcoming season has been cast into doubt by a $6.6 million buyout of his contract with DKV Joventut in Spain. His agent, Dan Fegan, is trying to negotiate that number down to ease the financial burden on his client, and there is some question as to whether Rubio wants to play in the relatively small Minnesota market.

* Kyle Korver exercised the option on his contract with Utah and will remain with the Jazz for another year. The reserve shooting guard, a former 76er, is guaranteed $5.2 million next season.

Utah is still awaiting word from forward Carlos Boozer and center Mehmet Okur, the latter of whom is leaning toward opting out, according to his agent.

* Milwaukee has made qualifying offers to restricted free agents Ramon Sessions and Ersan Ilyasova, but will not make an offer to Charlie Villanueva. The Bucks have the right to match contract offers to Sessions and Ilyasova. Villanueva will be free to sign with any team.

* New Jersey is picking up the $2.06 million contract option on forward Jarvis Hayes.

* Indiana Pacers will not exercise its team option on guard Marquis Daniels. He would have made $7.3 million next season, but now he is an unrestricted free agent. *