The person did not want to be identified because the team has made no official announcement.

The 2.29-meter (7-foot-6) Yao sat out last season following reconstructive surgery on his left foot. If he had turned down the player option, he would've become an unrestricted free agent on Thursday.

General manager Daryl Morey said on Tuesday that an official announcement will come "in the next day or two."  Yao is due to make about $17.69 million next season, the last of his five-year contract. The Rockets selected Yao with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 draft.
 

In Dallas,  Dallas Mavericks president Donnie Nelson is planning to be in Germany for the start of free agency to show Dirk Nowitzki how sincere the club is about keeping its all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

Nowitzki technically still has to opt out of the final year of his existing contract to become a free agent, but the Mavericks were expecting to receive formal word as soon as Tuesday.

Nelson has booked a flight that will have him in Germany on Thursday. He says retaining Nowitzki "is our No. 1 priority — period." 
 

In  Cleveland, a person familiar with Cleveland’s coaching search says the Cavaliers are moving toward an agreement with Los Angeles Lakers assistant Brian Shaw.

The team has not yet offered Shaw the job, but the Cavaliers are “excited” with what they’ve learned during a two-day meeting with the 43-year-old, says the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team is not publicly discussing its search.

Shaw, who has been on Phil Jackson’s staff in Los Angeles for five seasons, arrived in Cleveland on Monday to meet with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. The team would like to have their coach in place by Thursday, when free agency opens and Cleveland attempts to re-sign two-time league MVP LeBron James.