NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Reasons the Houston Rockets Should Trade Yao Ming This Year

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There was a time, not too long ago, when the Rockets were thought to be one of the teams on the rise in the NBA.

They had Yao Ming, budding star at the center position, and they brought in Tracy McGrady, one of the most prolific scorers in the league at the time.

Now, the Rockets are a mess, McGrady is gone and Yao had a foot issue that cost him the 2009-2010 season and he is very limited in what he can do now.

Here are the 10 biggest reasons that the Rockets should try and move Yao Ming.

Salary Relief

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Yao is not playing much these days and he is making nearly $18 million.

He has played in five games this season, averaged 18 minutes per game, 10 points and five rebounds a game. Solid numbers for a backup center, but not what you want from the highest-paid player on the team.

Franchise Rebuild

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Houston is going nowhere fast.

They are 6-12, good for fifth in the southwest division. They have good numbers in some key categories (sixth in points and rebounds per game, fourth in assists).

However, they need a lot of help in different areas. They need another scorer to go with Kevin Martin, a strong defensive presence. Trading Yao could bring back a decent piece for them to use in the rebuilding process.

Change Of Scenery For Both Player and Team

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Sometimes, when a player is in one spot for so long, something happens to them. It could be complacency, it could be freakish injuries, it could be lack of interest, etc.

Yao has been hurt, and now that he is "back," things haven't gotten better. A new team could do wonders for him and his career and the Rockets will have done right by the player and the franchise.

Fix The Team's Biggest Weakness

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The Rockets rank 25th in points allowed (105.9) and they need a strong defensive presence on the outside.

They are 23rd in opponents three-point field goal percentage (38.4 percent) and they have to upgrade that glaring weakness on their team.

By moving Yao, they can find a solid role player that would want to do grunt work, like defend, because the Rockets are near the top in key offensive categories.

I think the team should rebuild, but if they want to look for immediate results, trading for a good defender could bring them back into the 40-44 win territory.

Yao's Age

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Big men, more than any other position, don't age well.

By nature, their bodies are more fragile than the average person, and these huge 7'0" athletes don't age well.

Look at Greg Oden, who is only 22 years old and he hasn't been healthy a full year since his senior year in high school. Yao is 30 and his body has been failing him for the better part of four years.

Teams Will Take A Chance On Size

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Up to this point, it's been all about Yao's ineffectiveness as a player, which would lead one to ask, "Who would want him?"

The answer is because he is a 7'6" player with a history of being productive.

Teams will always take a risk on a big man, even if he has done nothing (that's why Darko Milicic is still in the NBA). Almost every team is looking for size and the allure of a big man who can produce will lead some teams to take a chance on him.

The Global Effect

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Even though he has become irrelevant in this country, he is still a global icon and beloved in his home country of China.

He can help a team market themselves overseas and bring in new sponsors. This is particularly effective for NBA teams that are looking for money and sponsorship deals anywhere they can find it. Bringing in Yao would be a help to a potential franchise that brings in Yao.

Expiring Contract

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We see teams every year that are willing to take on an expiring contract for eventual salary relief.

Yao is in the final year of his deal, and teams looking for salary cap relief may be inclined to trade for the oft-injured center in order to free-up money at the end of the year.

Houston Doesn't Need Him Anymore

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When Yao Ming came into the league, specifically when he was drafted by Houston in 2002, he was not only a big man with an outside shot, he was a savior of sorts for a franchise that was desperate to find someone to take over the spot once held by Hakeem Olajuwon.

Yao was going to be that guy, and to his credit, he was a very good center in a league that doesn't have a lot of them.

Today, Houston has had to move on without their former franchise player, and though they are struggling right now, it would be in their best interest to move on without him.

He can't be relied on and he is more of a hindrance than a luxury, now.

Why Not?

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An easy, simple question: "Why not?"

What do the Rockets have to lose?

As has been illustrated, they have already gotten a lot out of him and it remains to be seen how much he has left. By dangling him out there for other teams to take, they could find some deal out there that will make them better sooner rather than later.