BEIJING -- The Houston Rockets won't find out if they can sign Yao Ming until at least mid-October, a Chinese sports official said Sunday.

"Matters concerning Yao's playing in the NBA will be made clear after the Asian Games,'' which end Oct. 14, Li Furong was quoted as saying from Busan, South Korea, by the official Xinhua News Agency.

Li, a deputy director of the State General Administration of Sports, didn't say what issues remain to be worked out.

Yao still needs approval from the Chinese Basketball Association before signing a contract with the Rockets. The NBA team doesn't expect there to be a problem, team spokesman Nelson Luis said Sunday.

Chinese officials have said Yao's dealings with the Rockets would not be affected by the dispute over the Dallas Mavericks' Wang Zhizhi, who angered Chinese sports officials by not reporting for training with the national team.

"Wang's issue with the Chinese team will not affect Yao's NBA future,'' Li said.