Less than a week ago, the Houston Rockets were one of the most popular basketball teams in China. Today, they are an enemy of the Chinese state. The same team once loved by Yao Ming, NBA Hall of Famer and current chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, is now the focal point of a Chinese blacklisting of the NBA.

Imagine you’re the commissioner of the MLB. You, in theory, want what’s best for the sport, including increased viewership — especially considering the low ratings in last year’s World Series,...