The Rockets are closer to signing Yao Ming and having the No. 1 overall pick ready for next season, The Houston Chronicle reported.

Rockets general counsel Michael Goldberg was given Yao's release from the Shanghai Sharks and delivered it to the Chinese Basketball Association.

"I see no obstacles. I have no concerns," Goldberg told the Houston Chronicle. "We got the release (from the Sharks) in writing. Before a federation can give a release, the team that has a player's rights has to give its release. The CBA could not do anything. That's what we went there for. That's what we got.

"Things went great. The primary purpose was to obtain a release from the Shanghai Sharks. We got the release. That was the big step. That allowed the CBA to begin the process of providing us with the official release. Commissioner Xin (Lancheng, the executive vice president and secretary general of the CBA) promised to move on this quickly."

In the 2001-02 CBA (China Basketball Association) season, Yao led the league in blocked shots (4.8 bpg), and ranked second in scoring (32.4 ppg) and rebounding (19 rpg).