The extra $$$ Yao brings in ALLOWS us to be a better team in this economy

Can't believe some of the Yao h8ters on this board have brought up dumb threads on trading Yao, etc. To these Yao h8ters, has it occurred to you that the extra $$$ Yao bring in to Les allows Les to keep the roster salary near the max of the luxury cap? Going into the 2009/2010 season, the Rockets will push the threshold of the luxury tax again.

Les may not exceed the Luxury tax, but at least he will spend right up to the borderline of the Luxury tax to keep this team competitive.

The same can't be said of other teams who need to cut cost in this economic climate:

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/127874

Fortuantely for us, while Les will stay under the Luxury tax, he isn't looking to rapidly cut cost and we can partially thank Yao for that.

To the Yao h8ters, be glad we're not in the same boat as the Memphis Grizzlies:

http://thehoopdoctors.com/online2/2009/02/2008-2009-team-payrolls/