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Agent: Yao's next move to be known in a week
By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-03 09:58 Injury-plagued Houston Rockets all-star center Yao Ming will have to wait a week to see if he again requires surgery on his broken left foot, according to his agent Zhang Mingji. "It's yet to be decided," Zhang, who goes by the name of Eric Zhang in the United States, told Sina.com. "Yao is still under examination right now. We will not rush to a decision before collecting enough information from the examinations. "I think it will take about a week to make the final decision. Having surgery or not - all different treatments are being considered right now."
Zhang's response differed to NBA.com writer Fran Blinebury, who claimed yesterday the 7-foot-6 giant was to go back under the knife. "Now, after consulting with the Rockets' medical staff and a handful of specialists on the East Coast, a decision has been made to have Yao undergo surgery once more to repair the stress fracture in the tarsal navicular bone of his left foot," Bllinebury wrote. "What has not yet been determined is the exact method for the repair." Surgical options include inserting a metal pin inside the foot, a bone graft or possibly rebuilding his arch, as medicos have done for Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas of Lithuania. Blinebury added that by having surgery soon, Yao might be able to return to the court by the second half of the 2009-10 season and possibly be at full strength for the playoffs. "It (When Yao comes back to the court) all depends on what kind of alternatives we will choose. So far, we are still discussing," Zhang said. Zhao also dismissed reports claiming Yao and his family were unwilling for him to undergo surgery. "Yao does not favor a specific treatment. He and his family just hope he can have the best treatment, whether surgery or physical therapy."
Foot and leg injuries hampered Yao in the three prior seasons and it is feared the latest injury may affect his current contract, which still has two years left. Yao is due to make more than $16 million next season with a player option for 2010-11 that would see him earn in excess of $17 million. Zhang said Yao's contract will be unaffected by the latest setback. "Every injury will have some effect on a player's career and his contract. But it's not that big. Yao still has two years on his contract and he also has the guaranteed contract, which means he will still be paid during the layoff. "As long as Yao can get fit in two years, his future contract will not be affected. It's a long time and we have confidence in him." |
