HOUSTON—In the wake of Yao Ming's season-ending ankle injury, the Houston Rockets have asked the NBA for a disabled player salary cap exception.
Yao has been sidelined since November 10, and the Rockets said Friday that the Chinese star had a stress fracture in his left ankle.
Yao, who missed all of last season after reconstructive foot surgery, played in just five games this season before he was hurt again.
If the league approves it, the disabled player exception would allow the Rockets to acquire a free agent or trade for a player without having to match salaries, up to the value of the mid-level exception of about $5.75 million.
The NBA granted the Rockets the same disabled player exception for Yao in 2009, and Houston used that money to sign Trevor Ariza.
Houston traded Ariza to New Orleans after one season as part of a four-team deal in which they acquired Courtney Lee.
