The NBA has granted the Rockets a disabled player salary exception in the wake of Yao Ming's season-ending injury. Yao underwent surgery on Jan. 6 to repair a stress fracture in his left ankle. The exception allows Houston to acquire a free agent, or trade for a player without having to match salaries, up to the value of the mid-level exception (about $5.765 million). The Rockets must use the exception by Jan. 31 or it will expire. Houston was granted the same exception after Yao missed last season following re-constructive foot surgery. Read more: http://www.nba.com/2011/news/01/14/rockets-exception.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2
