Its very easy to react quickly and emotionally to Ron and his statements. There's no doubt that our skin is getting a little thin at this point. But if you step back and try to look at the whole thing rationally, Houston did know what they were getting, so I don't think any of this is a surprise to them.
If their intent from the beginning was to just have Ron for a year to make a serious run, and let the chips fall where they may later. Then what do they really care what he says or does right now? What they do know, is that he's in the last year of his contract and wants the money. So to get the money he wants, he needs to play his little butt off, and thats really all they want from him. At the end of the year they can then pass judgement on the results. They retain his Bird rights and can always do a sign and trade with some other brain dead sucker out there.
In fairness to Ron. I agree with Bricky. He didn't start this one, Yao did. Maybe we should buy Ron tickets to the Olympics. It will get him out of town, and maybe he can go cozy up to Yao.