HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) - With Yao Ming facing a broken left foot that could end his career or keep him out for all of next season, the Houston Rockets are making a fast break to land Orlando center Marcin Gortat.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey went to Orlando to visit the free agent center from Poland just after midnight on Wednesday as the free agent negotiation period began for NBA clubs.

Gortat, 25, stands 2.11m and weighs 108.9kg. He averaged 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds a game for the Magic in a reserve role last season but might be just the player Houston needs to try and replace the injured Chinese superstar.

A Rockets team physician said Monday that a hairline fracture in Yao's foot has worsened in the past two months and plucking the backup to NBA star big man Dwight Howard could be the insurance policy for Houston should their worst fears about Yao come true.

The loss of Yao comes after an injury pushed the retirement of Dikembe Mutombo, the Democratic Republic of Congo veteran who spent the past five years as Yao's backup.