Houston Rockets Trade Rumors: Rajon Rondo For Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik Top Option As Kyle Lowry Free Agent Target?

May 12, 2014 01:18 PM EDT
Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo
Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) goes to the basket against Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) at Air Canada Centre. "

The Houston Rockets are heading into the offseason with some major moves on their mind and a trade for Rajon Rondo is at the top of the list for Daryl Morey and to get that done he may have to part with Omer Asik, Chandler Parsons or Jeremy Lin and if he can't pull that with the Celtics, names like Kyle Lowry, Mario Chalmers and Darren Collison could be free agent targets at the point guard position.

The Rockets' most glaring weakness is at point guard and while Jeremy Lin has played well since signing as a free agent and the team likes what they have in Patrick Beverley, they need a legitimate playmaker at point guard and Morey has long been fond of Rondo. According to ESPN.com, the Rockets targeted Rondo in a trade last season and almost pulled one off, but the team did not want to give Parsons to the Celtics and that was the major hang-up for that deal.

The Rockets are coming into the offseason after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers in the playoffs and that means they could be looking at some major moves this summer. The team reportedly is interested in getting their hands on Carmelo Anthony and if that doesn't work they could go heavy on the Rondo trade. Morey knows that he needs one more piece alongside James Harden and Dwight Howard and while he doesn't want to give up Parsons to get it done, it might be the only way he gets his hands on Rondo. Last season Morey had trouble moving Omer Asik because he is getting paid a ton of money this year and while that number is still high, it's on an expiring contract and that could be enough to get a team to pull the trigger on a move.

The Knicks have the best chance to sign Melo because they can give him the most money and the most years, but with the salary cap expected to rise, teams like the Rockets and the Bulls can at least compete a bit at trying to woo him. Anthony is likely to stay, but he will be on the market for the first time in his career and teams will be trying to convince him that signing with them is better than staying with the Knicks. Right now, even with Phil Jackson and possibly Steve Kerr in the fold, they are likely right, as the team is coming off of a terrible season and that forced Anthony to miss the playoffs for the first time in his career and he can't be happy about that.

Lowry averaged close to 20 points this season and eight assists and he has shown that he is a very talented point guard with the Raptors and while he said that he hopes to stay in Toronto, the money could lead him elsewhere. The Rockets could make a move for Lowry while working on other trades and the 28 year old will definitely be a target for a number of teams. If the team ditches Lin and his money, Chalmers and Collison could be cheaper options and each have value, as Chalmers has played on two straight championship teams, while Collison has been an important contributor with the Clippers.

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