The Rockets have been the toast of the NBA's free agency period after agreeing on a deal for free agent Dwight Howard last night, but since the move they haven't rested on their laurels. General manager Daryl Morey has signed Omri Casspi from the Cavs, and re-signed Francisco Garcia.
But Morey and the Rockets aren't done as they're testing the waters to shore up their backcourt and figure out what to do with Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik, who have been offered in trade packages as the Rockets look to team James Harden and Howard with a third superstar.
The offering of Lin and Asik comes despite reports from Ken Berger at CBSSports.com earlier today that the Rockets may keep Asik and Lin next year. Asik has already voiced his displeasure at staying in Houston to back-up Dwight at center.
Marc Stein of ESPN.com tweets that a rumored Pelicans sign-and-trade for Asik, which sources originally revealed to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnawrowski, hasn't even been discussed, and if it had the Pelicans would not be interested in the former Bulls center who took on a larger role with the Rockets this year. Let's look at a couple more rumored moves involving the Rockets this afternoon:
- Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle says the Rockets are interested in the Nuggets' unrestricted free agent Corey Brewer (Twitter).
- The Rockets are also looking at Houston native and Cavs free agent, Daniel Gibson, tweets Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, but cautions they're holding off on signing him for now.
- Marc Stein of ESPN.com tweets that with the Mavs and Warriors both currently looking to sign Suns unrestricted free agent Jermaine O'Neal, the Rockets might also be in the running.
- Because the Rockets signed Casspi and Garcia to two-year deals, they're not reimbursed for parts of contract over $884,293 tweets Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld.
What about the Rockets trading Asik to the Wolves in a sign and trade for AK47 to start at PF? With the additions that the Wolves got maybe Pekovic is going to get a little too expensive for the Wolves (maybe not as he is starting to lack suitors)…
With AK/Howard the Rockets would improve their D a lot which was their Achilles heal last year. Also AK is probably the best available defender to throw at Durant/Lebron in the playoffs.
I am just trying to see who they can get for either Asik or Lin or maybe both. Not much else out there unless they try to acquire Rondo? Bosh? Anderson (I would rather have AK/Rondo/Bosh over Anderson)?
I may be biased but everything I’ve read is that Pek is the #1 priority for the Wolves. You never know though. They definitely need to add defense.
I love Pek (not a fan of the Wolves but I watched a lot of their games cause of Rubio/Love + up and down system) but if some team offers him close to max I would let him leave to look to acquire Asik.
I agree with that, and unfortunately the Splitter deal didn’t help at all. I’ll hold out hope that the Milsap signing deters the Hawks from a huge offer.
Yeah if the Hawks pursue Ellis I think that the Wolves may be able to get Pek for a pretty good deal as his market would be for the most part shot…