This from the Houston Chronicle this afternoon…

In an indication that Yao Ming will miss all of the 2009-10 season, the Rockets signed Trevor Ariza using the disabled player exception they expect to receive with Yao out.

The use of the injury exception would indicate he plans to undergo season-ending surgery, rather than choosing the more conservative option of immobilizing the injury again in the hopes that his hairline fracture would heal without surgery.

If Yao was to recover quickly from the surgery, Yao could come back and play next season, though granting the exception indicates that the league agrees that Yao will likely miss the season.

So it’s not all gloom-and-doom. Yao COULD come back next season. But listening to Houston sports radio and reading the Chronicle for over a week now, everyone has been resigned to the prospect that Yao will most likely miss next season, although it hasn’t been confirmed yet, nor has the treatment that Yao will opt to take.

The good news is that using this exception on Ariza gives the Rockets the flexibility to still use the mid-level exception on another free agent, perhaps Orlando center (like Marcin Gortat?). Go Daryl, Go!

Here’s more from the Chronicle on today’s announcement.

I would be irresponsible if I didn’t report what Yahoo Sports and the Houston Chronicle are reporting about how Yao may miss next season, and maybe longer.

Here’s Yahoo’s story, and here’s Jonathan Feigen’s story from the Chronicle.

Because Yao is in no pain, I think alot of this may be speculation. I prefer to agree with the statement Rockets’ physician Dr. Tom Clanton made: “The fact he is having no symptoms gives us reason for optimism.”

Discouraging news late yesterday came out that Yao’s left foot hasn’t healed. Yao flew to Houston from China to get his foot checked out as scheduled. This statement came from Rockets team physician Tom Clanton…

“Yao is not experiencing any pain in his left foot. However, the results from the CT and bone scans we performed over the past two days indicate that the hairline fracture has not responded to the degree that we expected. We will review a variety of treatment options before proceeding.”

This could mean anything from wearing a cast to surgery. I know Yao has got to be really bummed right now. He was itching to get back to running, so this is a setback.

Here’s more of the story from the Chronicle.

Raymond has translated an interview of the Rockets’ strength and conditioning coach, David Macha (who also has trained Yao), gave to Sohu Sports where he talks about McGrady’s progress in rehab. I found it interesting that Macha also talks about McGrady’s confidence level.

For Raymond’s complete translation, click here.

Below is a video that Raymond found that includes Yao as well as interviews in English of Yao’s trainer Anthony Falsone and Rockets’ assistant trainer Keith Garnett that was produced on Monday, July 7th. Falsone and Garnett (along with Rockets assistant coach Jack Sikma) are in China to monitor and assist in Yao’s rehabilitation efforts leading up to the Olympics.

To read a translated interview with Garnett about Yao’s progress, click here.

In this video Yao, Falsone and Garnett are seen participating in an academic exchange seminar with some sports doctors from Chinese Basketball Association teams.

Raymond found some great photos of Yao playing some one-on-one with Rockets’ reserve Loren Woods yesterday, as well as some time with weights in the gym. Click here for more photos from Yao’s workouts.

Raymond has translated this nice article about how Yao is now back on the court playing some 3-on-3. Thanks, Raymond!

The P.R. firm representing Reebok sent me this YouTube video of Yao working out from a couple of weeks ago and being interviewed:

Our Raymond has done a great job gathering photos from Yao’s press conference in China on Friday, as well as translating Yao’s answers to the questions the press asked him. Click here for more photos and the translation.

You probably saw the photos a couple of days ago from Yao working out. Now we’ve got video from NBA TV of him working out as well! Check out the video by clicking here.