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

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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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 04: Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets reacts late in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 4, 2009 in Los Angeles,

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 - APRIL 30: Center Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 30, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees tha

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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HOUSTON - APRIL 26: Center Joel Przybilla #10 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 26, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NO

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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PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 21: Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets argues a call with referee Joe Crawford during Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden on April 21, 200

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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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 12: Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets sits on the bench during the game against the Golden State Warriors on December 12, 2008 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The Rockets won 119-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknow

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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PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 06: Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets is defended by Joel Przybilla #10 of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden on November 6, 2008 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by down

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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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 07: Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets shoots a foul shot against the Los Angeles Clippers on November 7, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Rockets won 92-83. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges an

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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BEIJING, CHINA-AUGUST 21:China's Olympic basketball star Yao Ming talks ot the press along side USA's LeBron James at the Olympic Shuang Zone August 21, 2008 in Beijing. The Shuang Zone, sponsored by Coca Cola allows locals to attend free concerts offerin

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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NEW YORK - JANUARY 09: Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets celebrates a basket with teammate Bonzi Wells #6 against the New York Knicks on January 9, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees tha

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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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 07: Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets grabs a rebound against the Los Angeles Clippers on November 7, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Rockets won 92-83. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and

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.