Houston Rockets officials in New York won't know until sometime today whether they should take Yao Ming with the No. 1 pick in tonight's NBA draft because China apparently has reservations.
Rockets officials in Shanghai worked through the night Tuesday with Chinese negotiators trying to secure permission for Yao to enter the draft. As of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in China, no resolution had been reached.
Without a release from the Chinese Basketball Association by the time of the draft, the Rockets probably won't select the 7-5 star. That likely would leave the top spot for one of two former Duke stars -- Jay Williams or Mike Dunleavy.
Insiders say questions remain on how much of Yao's earnings (possibly up to 50%) he will have to give up and on his obligation to China's national team.
"We are further along this evening than we were this morning," said Yao's U.S. representative, John Huizinga, by phone at midnight Shanghai time. "We're not going to sleep until we can get as much as we possibly can get done. We're down to the wire."
Huizinga has been in China for two weeks and has secured Yao's release from the Shanghai Sharks, Yao's professional club. But for Yao to be eligible for the draft, the CBA also must sign off.
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