escalation

Yao Ming

Guys, there is something more important -- Business Value
Yao Ming = Rockets
Just like Michael Jordan = Chicago Bulls, Kobe Byrant = Lakers

Honestly, if you guys talk about Houston Rockets, what comes to your mind first?
Yao Ming for sure.
Not only you and me, but for all people in China.

In the contrary, when talking about T-Mac, people may think about his long history, he played in three different teams, Vince Carter's relative, scoring champion for two seasons... etc
a lot of things in your mind, but not "concentrate" enough

If I am the owner of Houston Rockets team, I will invest more in Yao Ming, rather than T-Mac.

Besides, T-Mac is not "icon" enough to represent Rockets, I afraid his path will just follow Steve Francis, Charles Barkley, or Clyde Drexler, who all were once a Rockets member for some years, but not a classic Rockets player.

By the way, there was a member who also an icon of Houston Rockets -- Hakeem Olajuwon.