Rockets Interested in Yao

The Houston Rockets, owners of the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, contacted the agent for Yao Ming to express their interest in the 7-foot-5 Chinese center.

“Mr. [Carroll] Dawson called us to tell us they remain very interested in Yao Ming,” Yao’s cousin and agent, Erik Zhang, told Houston television station KRIV. “I think he called as a courtesy to us and we appreciate that.”

The Rockets saw Yao work out in an NBA-sponsored practice in Chicago and wonder how they might get him to Houston for another look.

Dawson, the team’s general manager, said Sunday the team has six weeks to decide its best option. But the Rockets need a center.

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New York Knick center Marcus Camby, who sat out the last 38 games of the season because of a torn muscle in his hip, has been cleared by team doctors to resume full workouts.

Camby played in only 29 games. The Knicks (30-52) had the seventh-worst record in the league.

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Former Boston Celtic teammates Larry Bird and M.L. Carr wrote a letter to NBA Commissioner David Stern to ask about the possibility of a new franchise at Charlotte, N.C.

The Hornets, who played in the city for 14 seasons, are moving to New Orleans.

Stern said before a new team could play at Charlotte, the city would need a new arena deal. He said if such a deal were in place, the league’s board of governors would consider Charlotte.