Yao Ming may miss 2009-10 season

Talk about a reversal of fortunes for the Houston Rockets, who had one of the best and most surprising playoff runs in the NBA this past seaason.

Houston defeated Portland in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Yao Ming then broke his foot, but the Rockets still took the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers to seven games before falling in the semis. You figured they'd be poised to be a top contender next season if their big man was back healthy, which is always easlier said than done when he's involved.

Now the Rockets' team physician is saying that Ming's broken left foot could cause him to miss the 2009-10 season, and possibly end up as career threatening. That'd be a devastating blow for a team already getting minimal contributions from its other supposed superstar, Tracy McGrady, for whatever reason. Ming averaged 19.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this past season. He'd averaged 25.0 and 22.0 points, respectively, in the two season prior to that. He's a virtually unparalleled offensive weapon at center in this day and age when he's healthy and going well.

I've actually heard rumors in the past (never serious ones) about Ming coming to the Chicago Bulls. He'd certainly be a great building block as the polar opposite to point guard Derrick Rose. Now Ming might not be playing anywhere any time soon. Losing him would not only be a blow to the Rockets, it'd be a blow to the NBA, especially in its quest to expand globally.