NBA News - Ming Dynasty to Collapse?

If Houston didn’t have enough problems to begin with, it certainly has enough now. News broke yesterday that Yao Ming’s fractured foot, an injury sustained during the playoff series against the Lakers, has not healed “at all” in the weeks since. This is terrible personal news for Yao Ming, but it’s even harder news for the betting backers and true fans of the Houston Rockets.

The issue isn’t when Yao will come back – it’s whether or not the 7-foot-6 giant comes back at all. I don’t care how big you are. If you literally don’t have a foot to stand on, it’s virtually impossible to justify a $16.4 million salary next season. This certainly puts the GM Daryl Morey in the toughest spot when free agency rolls off tomorrow.

After an epic duel with the L.A. Lakers, the Houston Rockets were left asking themselves some serious questions. The first of those many questions is whether or not they truly need Tracy McGrady. The high-flying swingman averaged just 15.6 points per game in 35 appearances last season, and was in street clothes when the Rockets finally made it out of the first round. And if you aren’t following the money, Tracy is the highest paid player heading in to the 2009-10 season. Doesn’t sound like much of a bargain right?

The truth is that the real leaders in Houston are Shane Battier and Ron Artest, the latter being a free-agent willing to re-sign in Houston. Though Battier doesn’t pop out on the stat sheet, he’s a tenacious defender and crucial leadership tool of the coaching staff. Artest is a viscious floor leader who demands the best of his teammates. So those two should be safe, but Ming’s injury is going to force Morey’s hand.

The problem is that nobody knows where to push it. Ming could miss the first half of the season, the rest of his career, the last half…nobody really knows. The only true fact is that backing the Rockets is a huge gamble right now. Suddenly, no other team faces more uncertainty than the Rockets.