The Toronto Raptors are hemorraging international players this offseason, while the Houston Rockets are stockpiling them to fill in for injured Chinese center Yao Ming.

Today, the Houston Rockets reached a verbal agreement with the 6-10 Pops Mensah-Bonsu, the energetic British center that played for the Raptors last season.

The deal is a one-year deal and the terms weren’t disclosed as of this writing.

Pops, a fan favorite, averaged 5.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 19 games for Toronto last season.

The agreement was announced four days after the Raptors sent internationals Carlos Delfino and Roko Ukic to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems.

The Houston Rockets are hoping Mensah-Bonsu, along with the signing of Australian big man David Andersen from the Euroleague, can fill the huge hole left by the 7-6 Yao Ming.  The seven-time all-star is expected to miss the entire 2009-10 season with a leg injury.

With his NBA dealings nearly completed, Pops is expected to return to the Great Britain national team in time for their trip to Turkey for more preparation for Eurobasket. Without Pops, Great Britain went 1-2 at a recent four-nation tournament held in Seville, Spain.

The 2009 Eurobasket tournament set to begin on September 7.