Tracy McGrady spoke with FOX 26 Sports on Thursday from Chicago where he is working out.

"It's really no comparison to how I feel now and I how felt trying to play all of last season," McGrady said. "My knee is feeling extremely strong. The most important thing is I'm confident in it. You guys just stay tuned. I'm out here grinding in Chicago, trying to get back right, but yes I will be playing for the Rockets in the '09-10 season.

"I will be in uniform for the Rockets this upcoming season, I guarantee you that, and I will be a lot better than I was last year. I will be back to the player that I once was.

"I will guarantee you that."

Injuries have forced Daryl Morey and the Rockets to change course with how they have constructed their roster.

"It's more we're in patient mode," Morey said. "We're trying to add players through trades primarily who help us win now and in the future. It does put a higher bar on the moves. They are a little more rare. We're not trying to move any contracts. Now that we have a pretty good sense Yao will be back next year, definitely the plan is to put a team around Yao for next year, and be as competitive as we can this year."

According to a report from ESPN's Bill Simmons, the Houston Rockets attempted to cover up much of Ron Artest's unique behavior during the 2008-09 season.

Artest nearly missed Game 7 of their series against the Lakers.

Artest missed the first two team buses (the ones for players, coaches and team personnel) from Houston's hotel to the Staples Center and barely made the third and final bus, which was reserved for business staff, sponsors and friends of the team. These stunned people watched Artest sprint to the bus right before it left, jump on and take one of the remaining seats ... yes, wearing only his underwear. Owner Leslie Alexander happened to be sitting on the bus and witnessed the whole thing. And you wonder why the Houston Rockets didn't make any effort whatsoever to bring back Artest.

Simmons writes that Artest made a habit of walking around in public in his underwear during his Houston tenure.

The Rockets are denying that they have any interest in acquiring Carlos Boozer from the Jazz.

Houston was linked to a three-team deal involving Boozer that failed to materialize.

ESPN reported late Thursday that unidentified sources within the Rockets' organization denied any interest in the power forward.

On Tuesday, Yao Ming underwent surgery to repair the hairline fracture in his left foot and another to realign the bones in the foot in an effort to prevent the recurrence of the injury that has ended his past two NBA seasons.

Team Physician Dr. Tom Clanton, assisted by Dr. Bill McGarvey at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute, used a bone graft in the tarsal navicular bone to help repair the fracture. The realignment of the bones in the foot flattened Yao?s arch to reduce the stress in the repaired bone.

?Everything went according to plan and we were able achieve not only fixation of the broken bone but also realignment of the bones to improve the stress pattern on his foot,? Clanton said. ?Yao is doing well and resting comfortably after these procedures. We expect him to be immobilized in a cast and using crutches for at least six to eight weeks.?

The Rockets did not provide any timetable for Yao?s return to basketball-oriented workouts or competition, other than he expected to participate in training camp in October 2010.

Yao Ming has chosen to have extensive surgery that will almost certainly force him to miss all of the 2009-2010 season.  But there is hope that the procedure will allow him to resume his career in the 2010-2011 season.

The surgery will lower the arch on the foot in order to relieve stress and prevent a recurrence of the injury.  Zydrunas Ilgauskas had similar treatment and has been able to play eight straight seasons without re-injury.

Rockets center Yao Ming has purchased the Shanghai Sharks, his former Chinese club.

The Sharks are struggling financially, and the purchase was reported on Thursday by the Chinese media.

"I grew up in the city and became a professional player in this team, so I hope I can do something to help," Yao told Shanghai TV.

Yao's investment company signed a framework agreement with the team's co-owners, who agreed to sell the center all their shares in the club.

The Sharks were in danger of failing to start the new season in November because of their dire finances.

The Atlanta Hawks today traded the rights of David Andersen to the Houston Rockets for a future second round pick, cash and future considerations, it was announced by Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund.

Previously selected by the Hawks in the second round of the 2002 Draft ? the 37th pick overall ? Andersen is an Australian professional basketball player who has played internationally since the 1998-99 season, most recently in the Spanish League with FC Barcelona.

Rockets assistant Elston Turner has interviewed with the Timberwolves regarding their vacant head coaching job.

The meeting was held in Las Vegas and lasted a few hours, according to KRIV-TV in Houston.

Turner is in Las Vegas coaching Houston's summer league team.

Tracy McGrady will change his uniform number to No. 3 for the 2009-10 season to promote his ?3 points Darfur? initiative, with an announcement expected this week.

McGrady put in the paperwork for the uniform change midway through last season and had received league approval.

Trevor Ariza will wear McGrady's former No. 1.