No Yao for Rockets?

The Associated Press reports: The Houston Rockets won't find out if they can sign Yao Ming until at least mid-October, a Chinese sports official said Sunday.

"Matters concerning Yao's playing in the NBA will be made clear after the Asian Games,'' which end Oct. 14, Li Furong was quoted as saying from Busan, South Korea, by the official Xinhua News Agency.

Li, a deputy director of the State General Administration of Sports, didn't say what issues remain to be worked out.

Yao still needs approval from the Chinese Basketball Association before signing a contract with the Rockets. The NBA team doesn't expect there to be a problem, team spokesman Nelson Luis said Sunday.

According to the Houston Chronicle, The Rockets are hoping to have Ming in town by Oct.20th, the date of their 5th preseason game.

Chinese officials have said Yao's dealings with the Rockets would not be affected by the dispute over the Dallas Mavericks' Wang Zhizhi, who angered Chinese sports officials by not reporting for training with the national team.

"Wang's issue with the Chinese team will not affect Yao's NBA future,'' Li said.

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Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, NBA Draft

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Mavs sign Najera

Dwain Price of the Star Telegram reports that the Dallas Mavericks have wrapped up one of their free agents, and are in discussions with the other. Eduardo Najera re-signed with the Mavericks yesterday to an undisclosed contract while the team continues to negotiate with Wang Zhi Zhi.

Re-signing Najera was important to the Mavericks who are trying to increase their defensive intensity this season. Najera was one of the team's defensive stalwarts the past two seasons and has become a fan favorite because of his gritty style of play.

"Eddie, in a lot of ways, is everything we're looking for in players," Mavericks' president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said. "He has great heart; he's a total team guy. The intensity that he brings on the floor is second to none, and we're really pleased and proud to have him back in the fold."

'I'm ready to start working," Najera said. "I think that we have a great team and I'm really happy with my teammates, so this is great news for me."

Meanwhile, the Mavericks are in contract negotiations with Wang's agent, Jeff Schwartz, and are exploring all options, including trading him, said Nelson. It appears as though the Mavericks are close to finishing their training camp roster after adding guards Raja Bell and Adam Harrington along with center Kip Christianson and forward Derek Hood. All were signed to minimum salary contracts and will be in camp when it opens Monday.

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Dallas Mavericks

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Mavs sign Jones

Jodie Valade of the Dallas Morning News reports: The last time Popeye Jones called Dallas home, the Mavericks had a different owner, a different coach and played in a different building.

Yet after signing a fresh, one-year contract Friday to play for the Mavericks at the veteran's minimum, the 6-8 forward had one overriding thought.

"This feels like coming home," he said.

The addition of Jones marks the Mavericks' first free-agent acquisition of the off-season, with the re-signing of Raef LaFrentz as the only other summer move. The Mavericks continue to label the re-signing of restricted free agent Eduardo Najera as "close" and hope to use restricted free agent Wang Zhizhi as trade bait.

In contrast to past summers filled with trades and free-agent signings, this off-season has been quiet. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he anticipates bringing just 12 players to training camp, which begins Oct. 1.

"We wanted to bring back the same team, basically, unless something rang our bell," Nelson said.

"This is where I want to retire," Jones said. "This is my second home. I'm going to make it my first home for the rest of my life."

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Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards

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