With the Houston Rockets openly putting Tracy McGrady on the trade market just last week, more bad news has plagued the franchise yet again.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports first reported that perennial All-Star center Yao Ming may miss all of next season, and possibly seasons beyond, as his left foot still has not healed completely since he fractured it in the playoffs in May.

While members of Houston’s front office have declined to really comment on the situation, rumors around the league are that the chances of Yao missing next season are very good. If his progression continues to be halted, he may miss even more time.

Such a situation is hampering the organization during a time when it needs to decide the future for each of its two star players outside of Yao, Ron Artest and McGrady.

It could be quite possible that both Yao and McGrady will not be on the court for Houston next season, a proposition that presents horror to the franchise.

Even if Artest is the mainstay on the team, history has shown that he has had trouble being the biggest star on his team. It seems doubtful that the Rockets would want that kind of leader, but it may be their only option.

McGrady has a hefty contract and Yao’s future is as uncertain as that of Brett Favre.

It would obviously be a gigantic help for the Rockets’ front office if they knew the extent of Yao’s injury so they could figure out whether McGrady is a short-term option or on his way out of town. But at this point, nothing is guaranteed.

Our Take

Yao’s potential long-term injury hinders the Rockets’ chances at winning a title. The team has gotten close to getting over the hump, but their ultimate goal of a championship title still has not been fulfilled. The Rockets must wait to hear the extent of Yao’s injury before anything further can happen, obviously. But the news about Yao’s foot injure means that the team as a whole may look very different next year. That could be either a good thing or a bad thing--good in that it will give the Houston Rockets opportunity to reinvent itself as a team. Bad in that the Rockets will have to face a losing season, which will no doubt be bad for team morale.