Jeremy Lin Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Rockets Aggressively Shopping Jeremy Lin

July 7th, 2013 at 12:19pm CST by Chuck Myron

A source tells HoopsWorld's Bill Ingram that the Rockets are working hard to move Jeremy Lin, but Houston is finding little interest in the point guard (Twitter link). The Rockets' pursuit of a deal comes in spite of GM Daryl Morey's insistence this week that he's not looking to move Lin and Omer Asik, and a more recent report from Ken Berger of CBSSports.com indicating the team was open to keeping them both.

Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors surmised that Morey's comments might simply have been an attempt to boost the value of Lin and Asik while easing possible tensions should the two remain on the roster into next season. Asik doesn't seem placated, as Berger heard Friday that the center wants out of Houston and isn't interested in playing on the same team as Dwight Howard. It appeared Lin and Asik might have been at the center of a trade proposal to the Hawks for Josh Smith, but there were conflicting reports, and Smith ultimately wound up agreeing to sign with the Pistons.

The cap hit for Lin will be $8,374,646 in 2013/14, and an identical amount in 2014/15. Asik has the same deal, as both came to the Rockets via offer sheets last summer. Since Houston wrangled the pair from their former teams using the Gilbert Arenas Provision, their payment schedule doesn't align with their cap hits. Both will be paid slightly more than $5MM this coming season, with balloon payments of more than $10MM set for 2014/15. That could be one reason why teams are reluctant to take on Lin.

Lin and Asik likely represent the most attractive package the Rockets could offer in pursuit of a third star to go with Howard and James Harden, unless they want to throw in Chandler Parsons.

Rockets Rumors: Gibson, Brewer, Asik

July 6th, 2013 at 6:17pm CST by Spencer Lund

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.

Rockets Open To Keeping Asik, Lin

July 6th, 2013 at 10:39am CST by Zachary Links

Even though they won’t rule out trades after landing Dwight Howard, the Rockets are now open to keeping both Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin, league sources tell Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). As it stands, the Rockets have no deals in place and no plans in place, one source tells Berger (Twitter link).

Asik and Lin, who earn a combined $16.7MM next season, have popped up in trade talk as the Rockets were reportedly looking into revamping the roster around their prized acquisition. Last night, Chris Broussard of ESPN.com heard that the two sides were discussing a sign and trade for Hawks forward Josh Smith involving the duo. While that was later disputed by a second report, the Rockets’ past interest in Smith is well-documented and those two would undoubtedly need to be involved in such a deal.

Just last year, the former Bulls big man and Knicks’ guard were the talk of Houston as the Rockets landed both players with heavily backloaded deals. They’re in the team’s plans, for now, but that could change if GM Daryl Morey sees an opportunity to pair Howard and James Harden with a third superstar.

Rockets, Hawks Talk Josh Smith Sign-And-Trade

July 5th, 2013 at 10:50pm CST by Chuck Myron

10:50pm: The Rockets are getting "no traction" in their efforts to acquire Smith via sign-and-trade, tweets Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

7:16pm: Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports hears the Rockets and Hawks haven't discussed a Smith sign-and-trade. Still, talks could begin soon, a source tells Wojnarowski (Twitter link).

6:16pm: The Rockets and Hawks are working on a sign-and-trade deal that would send Josh Smith to the Rockets, tweets Chris Broussard of ESPN.com, who figures Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin are headed to Atlanta. Presuming Dwight Howard signs with Houston, such a move would give the Rockets a third star to pair with James Harden while facilitating Asik's desire to move on.

It's not clear exactly what kind of contract Smith would get out of the deal, but he could wind up with as much as approximately $74MM over four years in a max deal, with a starting salary of about $17.35MM, though the final max figure won't be known until the July Moratorium ends next week. Asik's and Lin's salaries for next season add up to about $16.7MM, so a max deal for Smith, which he said during the season he'd be seeking, could be in the cards.

Of course, even if the Hawks and Rockets agree to a swap, Smith would have to give his consent. Smith has been contemplating his future since meeting earlier this week with teams including the Pistons, Rockets and Hawks.

Omer Asik Wants Out Of Houston; Pelicans In Mix?

July 5th, 2013 at 8:01pm CST by Chuck Myron

8:01pm: There's no question Anderson would intrigue the Rockets, but the Pelicans are wary of giving him up without getting more than Asik in return, Wojnarowski tweets.

7:29pm: The Pelicans have shown strong interest in Asik, and are likely centering their offer on Ryan Anderson, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

5:53pm: A source tells Ken Berger of CBSSports.com that Omer Asik wants out of Houston, and other teams are already making pitches (Twitter link). Once a deal between the Rockets and Dwight Howard is finalized, Asik could be sent to the Hawks for Josh Smith, though the Mavs are also making a push, Berger adds via Twitter. I presume he means the Mavs are making a push for Asik and not Smith, but that's just my speculation. Chris Mannix of SI.com and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reported earlier details on the story, with Windhorst noting that the Hawks would sign to a sign-and-trade offer for Smith.

A destination that would appeal to Asik is the Bulls, where he began his career, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. That would reunite him with coach Tom Thibodeau, who'd also be interested in such a deal. That might be more difficult for the over-the-cap Bulls to pull off than it is for the Hawks or Mavs, however. Asik has $16,749,292 left on his deal over the next two seasons. The Hawks won't rush in to any deal, according to TNT's David Aldridge, who says the team won't be making moves just to be "active," and any move would have to fit with the team's culture (Twitter link).

Even if the Hawks aren't interested in Asik, several other teams, including the Warriors, are, tweets Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game. Late last month a report surfaced indicating the Rockets were looking to unload Asik and Jeremy Lin, though Houston GM Daryl Morey backtracked from that story. Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors wondered if Morey's comments were simply to try to make sure Asik and Lin would still be on board if Howard passed on signing with the team, but it appears at least that Asik has been turned off. Lin would be tougher to move than Asik, Bucher points out, noting that many front offices view the point guard as a backup.

Windhorst raises the possibility of Asik heading to the Lakers in a Howard sign-and-trade, and notes that Asik doesn't want to play in any twin-tower Rockets lineups alongside Howard, either. While Asik's cap hit for the next two seasons will be around $8MM, he's actually owed more than $20MM total because of the way his deal with Houston was structured, per the Gilbert Arenas Provision.

Dwight Howard Rumors: Friday

July 5th, 2013 at 2:06pm CST by Luke Adams

Today is Friday, which means decision day for Dwight Howard may finally be here. Or it may not be. Various reports this week have indicated Howard would like to announce his decision today, but at least as many reports have suggested an announcement may not come until later in the weekend. Considering how indecisive Howard has been in the past, resolution today is far from a sure thing, but we at least seem to be nearing the final stages of a saga that's been playing out for the last couple years.

The big Howard story yesterday had the Warriors exploring the possibility of clearing cap space to sign D12 outright. It certainly wouldn't be easy, and there's no guarantee the big man will choose the Warriors anyway, but here's the latest on Golden State's efforts, and the rest of today's Howard rumors:

The Warriors, Lakers, and Rockets appear to be the three teams left standing for Howard, according to Sam Amick of USA Today, who says the events of the last 24 hours have sent "strong signs" to the Mavericks and Hawks that they're out of the running. Meanwhile, a source tells Amick that the Warriors have been given indications that the Rockets are the "strong favorite" to land Howard.
Multiple teams involved in the race for Howard fear that the Rockets will be the winners, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

Earlier updates:

Morey: Rockets Not Looking To Move Lin, Asik

July 3rd, 2013 at 10:05am CST by Luke Adams

Despite reports suggesting otherwise, the Rockets are not looking to deal Jeremy Lin or Omer Asik, GM Daryl Morey tells Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. There have been rumors and rumblings indicating that both players could be expendable if the Rockets sign Dwight Howard.

Morey's comments don't come as a surprise, and I don't think they rule out the possibility of Houston making a move involving one or both players. The Rockets GM likely is simply attempting to regain some leverage and to ensure that Lin and Asik won't be uncomfortable if they remain with the Rockets going forward.

Should Howard agree to sign with the Rockets, moving Lin and Asik would certainly represent the team's best chance at bringing in a third impact player to complement D12 and James Harden. Lin and Asik each have two years remaining on their contracts, with cap hits of about $8.37MM each for 2013/14 and 2014/15.

Considering the Rockets reportedly want to add Josh Smith to go along with Howard, Houston could attempt to send Lin and Asik to Atlanta in a package for a signed-and-traded Smith. It's not clear whether the Hawks would have interest in such a deal (the Rockets may have to dangle other young players or draft picks to pique Atlanta's interest), but that's just one example of an avenue the Rockets could explore.

For now though, according to Morey at least, Houston appears content to hang on to both players.

Rockets Shopping Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin

June 30th, 2013 at 8:32pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rockets have called several teams about Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin and made it known that they are available in trades, league sources told Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. The Rockets are extremely confident in their pursuit of Dwight Howard and therefore they feel that Asik is expendable.

Rival executives feel that Philadelphia is a potential destination for both players as former Rockets executive Sam Hinkie is the Sixers’ new GM. Hinkie was part of the Houston front office that signed both Asik and Lin with backloaded offer sheets last summer.

Lin is available as well, though they’d have to get a starting point guard in return. Teams believe the Rockets will move both Asik and Lin if they seal the deal with Howard this week. In a move that may or may not be noteworthy, Lin was not invited to Houston’s pitch meeting with Howard, sources told Berger.

Rockets Looking To Move Jeremy Lin?

June 27th, 2013 at 6:30pm CST by Luke Adams

The Rockets would like to move Jeremy Lin's contract, and are prioritizing cap relief or acquiring young basketball assets, according to Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com (via Twitter). Deeks adds (via Twitter) that in addition to gaining cap relief, dealing Lin would allow the team to play Patrick Beverley more.

With the Rockets considered a potential destination for Dwight Howard, the team continues to try to clear the space necessary to make a maximum-salary offer to the big man. Thomas Robinson's name has come up more frequently in trade rumors, but Lin's cap hit is more than twice what Robinson's is, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the Rockets were gauging Lin's value as well.

Lakers Not Ruling Out Sign-And-Trade Of Dwight

June 16th, 2013 at 10:20am CST by Chuck Myron

The "overriding expectation persists" that the Lakers won't faciliate a sign-and-trade of Dwight Howard this summer, but the team hasn't completely dismissed the idea, according to Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. The Lakers are willing to listen to just about any idea, and there are indications the Lakers wouldn't dismiss a formal offer from the Clippers of Eric Bledsoe and Blake Griffin for Howard, the ESPN scribes report.

Stein and Shelburne hear the Rockets are likely to offer Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin for Howard in an attempt to open enough cap space for both Howard and Chris Paul. Though Asik, a cheaper basket protector than Howard, and Lin, who thrived with the Knicks under current Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, may be enticing figures for the Lakers, L.A.'s brass would ultimately prefer not to take on any salary if Howard walks.

The Lakers have maintained a dialogue with Howard's representatives throughout the spring and are still confident they can re-sign the Dan Fegan client, even though Howard is intent on listening to pitches from other teams. The team's main priority, beyond re-signing Howard, is reducing its luxury tax bill and positioning itself for the summer of 2014. As it stands, no Laker aside from Steve Nash is signed beyond next season.