And if Yao stayed in China or retired he wouldn't be able to play in the NBA, and what would be the point of that?
You can hide under the mindlessness of this thread - it's 30 feet thick (and deep) ..you'll be safe there!! D R
Then Yao can play in China forever if he likes, but he won't get NBA minutes and he won't get NBA money. If he decides to come back to the NBA, I believe we still hold his rights. Let him retire, we'll never trade his rights, and he'll have to stay in China for the rest of his career.