Yao coming back to Rockets

HOUSTON (AP) -- China's Yao Ming is returning to the Houston Rockets -- a giant selling point for general manager Daryl Morey as he begins courting big-name free agents this week.

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."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/basketball/nba/06/29/yao.rockets.ap/index.html

Does this mean LeBron is going to Houston??

:eyes: