The Houston Rockets have spoken to the Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Bobcats about a potential trade of Yao Ming, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
Kings, Bobcats Have Talked To Rockets About Potential Yao Ming Trade
Yahoo!‘s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday that the Rockets were exploring the option of trading Yao by the February deadline. Yao has an expiring contract worth $17.7 million, $8 million of which will be paid by an insurer as the center will miss the remainder of the 2010-11 season due to a stress fracture in his foot. Yao played just five games this season, and missed all of 2009-10.
Feigen reports that the Rockets are looking to add young frontcourt talent, but that the Kings are unwilling to give up No. 5 pick DeMarcus Cousins. The Bobcats could offer draft picks in a potential trade.
The Kings do have other young big men outside of Cousins; Jason Thompson, a third-year forward-center, has actually been a target of the Bobcats in the past. The Kings traded for Carl Landry last season, and Houston has reportedly been interested in bringing the fourth-year forward back. Landry will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.
The Bobcats are said to be concerned with salary obligations beyond this year, but it is unlikely Houston would take on a player like Gerald Wallace or Stephen Jackson. Houston has been said to be open to possibly trading Aaron Brooks, who will be a restricted free agent this summer. Though D.J. Augustin had a marvelous game in Paul Silas' debut as the coach of the Bobcats, Charlotte has dearly missed Raymond Felton this season. Felton signed with the New York Knicks during the offseason after the Bobcats reportedly made little effort to keep him.
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