Eulogizing the Yao-McGrady Partnership

This is just depressing: “The combination was supposed to deliver a championship to Houston. It hasn’t. It won’t. The Rockets asked for and received a disabled player exception — the NBA’s version of short-term disability from the salary cap — allowing the team to sign Trevor Ariza, which it did on Wednesday, because Yao is not expected to be able to play next season due to a broken bone in his left foot. McGrady, recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee, has one year left on his contract. The Rockets are listening to trade offers and quite likely will move McGrady by next season’s trade deadline, which is probably about the time he will be ready to return to action.”