Dream over?

The Associated Press reports: Hakeem Olajuwon's NBA career appears to be over.

Olajuwon has a serious back injury, and the Toronto Raptors are awaiting a decision on whether he will retire. Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald said Monday he doesn't foresee Olajuwon playing this season.

Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens said he expects a decision from Olajuwon soon.

"We're going to know in a couple of days,'' Wilkens said.

The 39-year-old center is in Houston, where he spent 17 years playing for the Rockets before joining the Raptors before last season. He has been excused from training camp by Toronto.

"He can either try and play or decide it's too much,'' Grunwald said. "We don't expect him to play this season or in the foreseeable future.''

Olajuwon, who led the Rockets to NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, went to the Raptors in August 2001 after turning down a three-year, $13 million contract offer to stay in Houston. He signed a three-year, $18 million contract with Toronto.

"It was a gamble and I think we lost on it,'' Grunwald said. "It didn't turn out the way we had hoped.''

Olajuwon averaged 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds in 61 games last season.

Grunwald denied the Raptors were negotiating a buyout to his contract. Olajuwon is due $12 million over the next two seasons.

"We had hoped he would be here for a couple of more years, but it doesn't look like that's going to be the case,'' Grunwald said. "It could have worked great, but it didn't. We have to move on now.''

Olajuwon was selected as one of the NBA's 50 greatest players and was on the 1996 gold medal-winning Olympic basketball team. He is a 12-time NBA All-Star.

Via ap

Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets

Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets

---

No Yao for Rockets?

The Associated Press reports: The Houston Rockets won't find out if they can sign Yao Ming until at least mid-October, a Chinese sports official said Sunday.

"Matters concerning Yao's playing in the NBA will be made clear after the Asian Games,'' which end Oct. 14, Li Furong was quoted as saying from Busan, South Korea, by the official Xinhua News Agency.

Li, a deputy director of the State General Administration of Sports, didn't say what issues remain to be worked out.

Yao still needs approval from the Chinese Basketball Association before signing a contract with the Rockets. The NBA team doesn't expect there to be a problem, team spokesman Nelson Luis said Sunday.

According to the Houston Chronicle, The Rockets are hoping to have Ming in town by Oct.20th, the date of their 5th preseason game.

Chinese officials have said Yao's dealings with the Rockets would not be affected by the dispute over the Dallas Mavericks' Wang Zhizhi, who angered Chinese sports officials by not reporting for training with the national team.

"Wang's issue with the Chinese team will not affect Yao's NBA future,'' Li said.

Via ap

Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, NBA Draft

Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets

---

Suns sign ex-Rocket Langhi

Bob Young of the Arizona Republic reports that the Suns signed another forward yesterday. Houston free agent Dan Langhi accepted a partially-guaranteed minimum salary deal. Langhi was planning to pla in Europe until Wednesday when he heard from the Suns.

"You don't know how happy I am right now. You could call my wife," Langhi said after the club's final informal workout at America West Arena. "This is a great situation. It's a young team, and we've got a lot of good players. It's a great opportunity."

Langhi was the 31st pick in the 2000 draft and had his rights traded to Houston. 2-years with the Rockets was not good for his game. "I really didn't fit in there," he said. "I enjoyed my two years there. I just didn't think that was the best opportunity for me as a player to improve Everybody treated me nice, just basketballwise it wasn't the best for me."

The 6-11, 220-pound Langhi, will try to win a spot on the roster as a backup forward.

Via

Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets

Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets

---