Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports that Yao Ming is officially a Houston Rocket. Rockets general counsel Michael Goldberg received contracts from the China Basketball Association that he said lacked only signatures, completing negotiations to gain the clearance from the CBA that Yao needs to the play in the NBA. Yao is expected to arrive in Houston on Sunday or Monday.

"I always knew it would go this way," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said. "But it's like the season starting. You always know there's going to be a season, but you can't wait for it to start. It's a very exciting day."

The Rockets were sure this day would come eventually, but not until Thursday?s arrival of the contracts could they say that Ming was officially a Rocket.

"It's a great day that has been long been anticipated," Rockets president and chief executive officer George Postolos said. "There's real excitement here because we know Yao Ming is coming to Houston.

"This is not a surprise. It's not something unexpected. We knew we would have to work through this with the China Basketball Association and with Yao Ming and his representative. We knew it would take more time than typical when signing a draft choice. It has gone very much as we expected it. But we're happy. Like anything that important and you work toward for an extended period of time, it's exciting and gratifying to finally get there."

Yao's agent Erick Zhang said that Ming has signed his NBA contract and that it is on it?s way to Houston. The rookie scale contract will give Ming $17.8 million over 4 years. The fourth year is a team option. He's absolutely besides himself," Zhang said. "He's happy and he's very excited. I think he's ready. We're thrilled that this thing is finally over. We know now he will be able to join the Houston Rockets."