Front page Oct. 9 - Yao Ming and the Rockets have reached a verbal agreement on a contract, Rockets GM Carroll Dawson announced today. Yao's agent, Erick Zhang reported that the China Basketball Association, which needs to provide the final official approval for Yao to sign the deal, may hold off providing clearance until the Asian Games are completed on Oct. 14. Assuming all goes as planned, expect Yao Ming to be in Rockets camp and in uniform no later than Oct. 20.
