The Houston Rockets saga involving Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin has come up again at the trade deadline and while Lin is likely staying, the team has revived talks and now Spencer Hawes and the Philadelphia Sixers are a prime option for the team, while the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns may be the best fits for the center's services.
The Rockets have been going back and forth on trading Asik all season and now that the deadline is getting closer, a deal could be going down. Asik has been disgruntled with the Rockets all season after the team signed Dwight Howard and after initially trying to work the two players on the court at the same time, Houston yanked away Asik's starting job and his numbers plummeted. Asik might be one of the best centers in the league, but he hasn't been playing minutes that way and that could spark a deal finally between the Rockets and the Sixers, according to CBS Sports, or possibly the Atlanta Hawks or Phoenix Suns.
The Sixers were mentioned earlier in the season as a potential landing spot for Asik, as they are rebuilding and Sam Hinkie has said the team will deal, but compensation has been an issue all along with Asik. The Rockets want at least a first round pick for Asik and while he is that talented, the situation may not play out where Daryl Morey can get that. Teams are not willing to give up picks easily right now since the 2014 draft is expected to be deep and on top of that, Asik's contract is not the easiest thing to move, especially to a team like the Sixers, as he is making $8.4 million this season and $17 million overall through next season.
Asik put up double-double numbers of 11 rebounds and 10 points last season while starting all 82 games and now he is just hoping to find somewhere he can actually play. The team put him on the bench for a while and then he was injured, putting more doubt on trade talks and now as the deadline gets closer it looks more possible a move will get done.
The CBS report tries to work out the money between the two sides and the tough thing for the Sixers is that they will take on $17 million for him for just Asik playing a season and a half and they do not want to give up draft picks. The team has cap space, but adding Asik will cut into that and the report says that if the team makes a move at $11 million under the cap, they still would need to add money to get to the NBA salary floor.
The Suns are an option as well since they have the draft picks and that makes them a potential partner in a number of deals. The team could have four first round picks in the next draft and that enables them the flexibility to make a deal if they want to. Daryl Morey has shown that he can think outside the box and he has made at least one significant trade each season he has been with Houston. This year, it could be for Asik.
