I think the Chinese governement wants Yao to train with them the same way they wanted Wang to train with them. Chris
The next sentence out of RT's mouth is that Steve DOES need improvement, and they are working at many things. The main point of the quote is that Francis brings some unique skills to the table (eg: rebounding), and that turning him in to a Stockton-clone would waste those abilities.
Many of those rebounds, are because he leaves his defensive assignment to hang around the basket for those rebounds.
I think Yao will be back in China (homesickness) as soon as he can get there. Probably it would be a great opportunity for Steve to visit Yao in China this summer.