[Moon RiverParticipant]

The Rockets have drawn a line in the sand for the inevitable departure of the Turkish Delight (Thank you Stacy King).

Leader in the clubhouse appears to be the Cavs, but have been hearing whispers the Bucks have serious interest as well.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24374182/rumor-rockets-to-trade-asik-next-week-possibly-to-the-cavs

[torontoraptors10Participant]

According to David Aldridge, there is a strong possibility that he is going to Cleveland for Anderson Varejao

David Aldridge: Rockets will trade Asik next Wednesday or Thursday. And do not discount Cleveland/Varejao. Would be perfect fit next to Howard. Twitter – See more at: http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm#sthash.admqkGp9.dpuf

[torontoraptors10Participant]

According to David Aldridge, there is a strong possibility that he is going to Cleveland for Anderson Varejao

David Aldridge: Rockets will trade Asik next Wednesday or Thursday. And do not discount Cleveland/Varejao. Would be perfect fit next to Howard. Twitter – See more at: http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm#sthash.admqkGp9.dpuf

[Jester87Participant]

OMG if the Cavs trade Varejao for him they’re totally retarded. It’s not like Varejao is a great shooter, but he’s the only one of their bigs who hasn’t been totally lost outside of the paint. They have a terrible logjam in their frontcourt and all of their bigs are lane cloggers who are making life impossible for their guards, killing spacings and slowing their ball movement down. They need to get rid of a big guy or two and bring some wings and shooters in if they really want to compete for the playoffs, not just switch one of them for another with the same skill set.

[Jester87Participant]

OMG if the Cavs trade Varejao for him they’re totally retarded. It’s not like Varejao is a great shooter, but he’s the only one of their bigs who hasn’t been totally lost outside of the paint. They have a terrible logjam in their frontcourt and all of their bigs are lane cloggers who are making life impossible for their guards, killing spacings and slowing their ball movement down. They need to get rid of a big guy or two and bring some wings and shooters in if they really want to compete for the playoffs, not just switch one of them for another with the same skill set.

[KDThunder35Participant]

 Wow, the Cavs management couldn’t possibly be any worse, then they pursue this.  You want to pair Asik with Tristan Thompson, who is offensively deficient, as is Asik.  They have Andrew Bynum who is just turning it on and fits with the Cavs perfectly (Cavs need offense outside of only Kyrie).  Then you want to put Asik either behind him or with him too.  Please reference how Dwight and Asik played together, not well.  Also, if you put him behind Bynum, he will complain about PT and not give you his best.  On top of that, you owe him approx $8.5 million this year and next year he makes even more on his guaranteed contract.  And you give up Varejao who you don’t owe anything to next year. 

Cavs management baffles the hell out of me.

 

 

[KDThunder35Participant]

 Wow, the Cavs management couldn’t possibly be any worse, then they pursue this.  You want to pair Asik with Tristan Thompson, who is offensively deficient, as is Asik.  They have Andrew Bynum who is just turning it on and fits with the Cavs perfectly (Cavs need offense outside of only Kyrie).  Then you want to put Asik either behind him or with him too.  Please reference how Dwight and Asik played together, not well.  Also, if you put him behind Bynum, he will complain about PT and not give you his best.  On top of that, you owe him approx $8.5 million this year and next year he makes even more on his guaranteed contract.  And you give up Varejao who you don’t owe anything to next year. 

Cavs management baffles the hell out of me.

 

 

[Moon RiverParticipant]

I like Zach a lot and he has an article today on Asik as well.  The part that I like is the perception that Morey circumvented the salary cap rules with the back end heavy contracts to Lin and Asis and now he wants to get out from that $15M due Asik next year.  Other GM’s don’t want to bail him out of that and yes, I understand the cap hit is not $15M, but you are still paying him $15M next year.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/85751/is-anyone-willing-to-pay-for-omer-asik

[Moon RiverParticipant]

I like Zach a lot and he has an article today on Asik as well.  The part that I like is the perception that Morey circumvented the salary cap rules with the back end heavy contracts to Lin and Asis and now he wants to get out from that $15M due Asik next year.  Other GM’s don’t want to bail him out of that and yes, I understand the cap hit is not $15M, but you are still paying him $15M next year.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/85751/is-anyone-willing-to-pay-for-omer-asik

[TyroberParticipant]

Varejao would be an interesting fit with the Rockets. He can start at the PF as well as backup Howard so that is probably someone the Rockets are looking at but I don’t know how Asik fits in with the Cavs. Bynum has been playing pretty good lately, but I guess it is hard to depend on him for a full season. Maybe they will start Asik and have Bynum back him up and split the minutes until they see how each of them fits in. 

[TyroberParticipant]

Varejao would be an interesting fit with the Rockets. He can start at the PF as well as backup Howard so that is probably someone the Rockets are looking at but I don’t know how Asik fits in with the Cavs. Bynum has been playing pretty good lately, but I guess it is hard to depend on him for a full season. Maybe they will start Asik and have Bynum back him up and split the minutes until they see how each of them fits in. 

[DolanCareParticipant]

 What’s funny about this is that Asik won’t start on the Cavs. Bynum will be the true starting 5. 

 

[DolanCareParticipant]

 What’s funny about this is that Asik won’t start on the Cavs. Bynum will be the true starting 5. 

 

[[email protected]Participant]

giving up the player the Rockets want Verejao and receiving  assets from a 3rd team. They list New Orleans, Boston, Atlanta, Portland, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City as the teams that might meat the Cavs needs.

The 2 potential scenarios that "Could happen" are :AV(9mil) to Rockets, Asik(8.4mil) to 76ers and Cavs receiving Evan Turner(6.7) on the last year of his contract and Arnett Moultrie(1.1mil).

or: AV(9mil) to Rockets, Asik(8.4mil) to Thunder and Cavs receiving Perry Jones(1.1mil), the bad contract of Kendrick Perkins(8.7) and a combination of picks.

[[email protected]Participant]

giving up the player the Rockets want Verejao and receiving  assets from a 3rd team. They list New Orleans, Boston, Atlanta, Portland, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City as the teams that might meat the Cavs needs.

The 2 potential scenarios that "Could happen" are :AV(9mil) to Rockets, Asik(8.4mil) to 76ers and Cavs receiving Evan Turner(6.7) on the last year of his contract and Arnett Moultrie(1.1mil).

or: AV(9mil) to Rockets, Asik(8.4mil) to Thunder and Cavs receiving Perry Jones(1.1mil), the bad contract of Kendrick Perkins(8.7) and a combination of picks.

[KidIcarus35Participant]

 This is my first crack at the trade machine, but let me know if you guys hate this.

Houston Trades : Asik and delfino or Casspi

Portland Trades : Mo williams and robin lopez

With CJ McCollum coming back he will need some minutes. They also upgrade to an even more defensive center and get a wing that can help a bit.

Mo Adds some more shooting to Houston and can play some sg in small ball line ups. robin maintains the role that Asik had.

Just something I thought of while on cough syrup.

[torontoraptors10Participant]

I don’t hate this trade… but why would Portland do this trade when they are the best team in the west? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

[torontoraptors10Participant]

I don’t hate this trade… but why would Portland do this trade when they are the best team in the west? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

[LipstickParticipant]

 Delfino’s not even a Houston Rocket anymore…

[LipstickParticipant]

 Delfino’s not even a Houston Rocket anymore…

[KidIcarus35Participant]

 This is my first crack at the trade machine, but let me know if you guys hate this.

Houston Trades : Asik and delfino or Casspi

Portland Trades : Mo williams and robin lopez

With CJ McCollum coming back he will need some minutes. They also upgrade to an even more defensive center and get a wing that can help a bit.

Mo Adds some more shooting to Houston and can play some sg in small ball line ups. robin maintains the role that Asik had.

Just something I thought of while on cough syrup.

[theEDGEParticipant]

Is a 3-way possible with a player from the Bucks going to the Cavs.

Cavs don’t need Asik, but Ilyasova is a player that might help the Cavs.

What do you guys think.

Which Bucks player(s) would better suit a deal between the 3 of them.

[machu46Participant]

The rumor that I’ve heard from the Bucks end is that it would be a two team trade and would likely be something like:

Asik and Ronnie Brewer for Ilyasova, Wolters, and Gary Neal.

Having said that, one of the guys on a Bucks message board that is believed to be close with management and has warned Bucks fans about every move they’ve made in the past few years strongly denied the rumor and said Milwaukee’s name has been thrown out there, but there isn’t any real interest.

Personally, if we gave up Ilyasova and Wolters for Asik, I might be done with being a Bucks fan.  That would be an absolutely awful trade.

 

 

[machu46Participant]

The rumor that I’ve heard from the Bucks end is that it would be a two team trade and would likely be something like:

Asik and Ronnie Brewer for Ilyasova, Wolters, and Gary Neal.

Having said that, one of the guys on a Bucks message board that is believed to be close with management and has warned Bucks fans about every move they’ve made in the past few years strongly denied the rumor and said Milwaukee’s name has been thrown out there, but there isn’t any real interest.

Personally, if we gave up Ilyasova and Wolters for Asik, I might be done with being a Bucks fan.  That would be an absolutely awful trade.

 

 

[theEDGEParticipant]

Is a 3-way possible with a player from the Bucks going to the Cavs.

Cavs don’t need Asik, but Ilyasova is a player that might help the Cavs.

What do you guys think.

Which Bucks player(s) would better suit a deal between the 3 of them.

[HitsterParticipant]

 I don’t see any logic in a Varejao and Asik trade from a playing point of view, Varejao isn’t a stretch 4 in my mind and his strengths are his energy and rebounding which with D12 there, Houston don’t really need. But if Daryl Morey could get his hands on Varejao’s team option for next year, he’d have a virtual dirt chip trading piece like Dallas had with Dampier’s deal a few years ago. So from that perspective Morey could be onto something.

Cleveland have Bynum gradually returning to form and Thompson is settled as their PF plus they may need to give Bennett minutes there so taking Asik isn’t something they need to do.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 I don’t see any logic in a Varejao and Asik trade from a playing point of view, Varejao isn’t a stretch 4 in my mind and his strengths are his energy and rebounding which with D12 there, Houston don’t really need. But if Daryl Morey could get his hands on Varejao’s team option for next year, he’d have a virtual dirt chip trading piece like Dallas had with Dampier’s deal a few years ago. So from that perspective Morey could be onto something.

Cleveland have Bynum gradually returning to form and Thompson is settled as their PF plus they may need to give Bennett minutes there so taking Asik isn’t something they need to do.

 

[Jester87Participant]

Varejao makes sense for the Rockets even if he’s not a stretch 4 because he might come off the bench and for cap reasons. It’s not the best case scenario, but still they would avoid trading Asik to another contender.

I don’t think they’re going to pull the trigger if OKC or Portland are involved and one of the two it’s Asik’s actual destination.

Anyways I don’t understand what the Cavs are doing: if they get Asik he would be an upgrade on D, but their defense isn’t that bad. Their offense would still suck and they would have to face another problem, with one between Asik and Bynum forced to sit on the bench. Getting Perkins and Jones would mean they are officially committed to the tanking race, something might piss off their franchise player, while they take a bad contract thua losing flexibility. Turner might give them some more flexibility and they would still tank, though they would have to play offense with two balls and the next players only meeting could become the sequel of fight club. But I don’t really see why Philly would be interested in Asik. I see some panic in Cleveland anyways, so everything is possible.

Another team that makes a good candidate for a panic trade are the Bucks. For some reason I don’t understand their owner thinks they are a playoff team and he is anti-tank, so they could possibly give up a nice piece like Ilyasova

 

[Jester87Participant]

Varejao makes sense for the Rockets even if he’s not a stretch 4 because he might come off the bench and for cap reasons. It’s not the best case scenario, but still they would avoid trading Asik to another contender.

I don’t think they’re going to pull the trigger if OKC or Portland are involved and one of the two it’s Asik’s actual destination.

Anyways I don’t understand what the Cavs are doing: if they get Asik he would be an upgrade on D, but their defense isn’t that bad. Their offense would still suck and they would have to face another problem, with one between Asik and Bynum forced to sit on the bench. Getting Perkins and Jones would mean they are officially committed to the tanking race, something might piss off their franchise player, while they take a bad contract thua losing flexibility. Turner might give them some more flexibility and they would still tank, though they would have to play offense with two balls and the next players only meeting could become the sequel of fight club. But I don’t really see why Philly would be interested in Asik. I see some panic in Cleveland anyways, so everything is possible.

Another team that makes a good candidate for a panic trade are the Bucks. For some reason I don’t understand their owner thinks they are a playoff team and he is anti-tank, so they could possibly give up a nice piece like Ilyasova

 

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I don’t think anyone’s mentioned it on this thread yet but I read somewhere that there are rumours of an Asik for Thad Young deal. Houston is trying to ship Asik out East and don’t want to help out a potential Western rival like OKC or Portland. Young would give Houston a good forward and Philly would have the cap room to absorb Asik’s hit for next season.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I don’t think anyone’s mentioned it on this thread yet but I read somewhere that there are rumours of an Asik for Thad Young deal. Houston is trying to ship Asik out East and don’t want to help out a potential Western rival like OKC or Portland. Young would give Houston a good forward and Philly would have the cap room to absorb Asik’s hit for next season.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

As much as I dislike Varejao, I guess he’s just the type of player you hate to play against but love to have on your team.

I wouldn’t mind moving Asik for him because Varejao knows his role and would be happy to simply come off the bench at either the PF or C spot, something Asik was clearly not happy doing.

I don’t know why the Cavs would take Asik though.  Especially with Bynum starting to get better.  There has to be a 3rd team involved.  If I were the Rockets, I would not trade Asik to OKC.  OKC would be unstoppable with a defensive duo down-low and with Lamb and Jackson coming on, their bench and supporting scorers are looking like they could make them the best team in the West come playoff time.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

As much as I dislike Varejao, I guess he’s just the type of player you hate to play against but love to have on your team.

I wouldn’t mind moving Asik for him because Varejao knows his role and would be happy to simply come off the bench at either the PF or C spot, something Asik was clearly not happy doing.

I don’t know why the Cavs would take Asik though.  Especially with Bynum starting to get better.  There has to be a 3rd team involved.  If I were the Rockets, I would not trade Asik to OKC.  OKC would be unstoppable with a defensive duo down-low and with Lamb and Jackson coming on, their bench and supporting scorers are looking like they could make them the best team in the West come playoff time.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

The Rockets are using the media to try to create the impression that there is a willingness around the league to ante up. They did this when they had sources leak to Marc Stein that there was a team willing to give them a first round pick for Thomas Robinson, which we found out was not there. The rumors that are getting out do not make sense. Why would Cleveland think a frontcourt of Andrew Bynum, Omer Asik, Tristan Thompson, and Anthony Bennett would work? They would only further clog their paint and recreate the offensive headache Asik and Howard create in Houston. Given the last five game stretch, I do not think they will be making a move in the immediate future. Milwaukee is a dumpster fire, and shelling out $26 million for Larry Sanders and Omer Asik in 2014-15 is not going to change that reality. They are getting exposed for not just being a tankable star away from respectability (and forget about the offseason nonsense of blame everything on Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings, addition by subtraction, build around Larry Sanders, the only downside is that they might win too many games to get a quality pick). If, and probably when, they deal Ilyasova, they are going to want youth or picks, certainly not an increase in payroll.

A team that wants to defend (which Houston clearly shows it has no interest in) and can afford a terrible offensive 5th option would have interest in Asik if not for the fact that they have to pay him $15 million next year. Much like the amnesty provision, selling an owner on paying that much for Omer Asik is not easy. Bad teams that aren’t guarding anyone don’t need to shell out big money for a “rim protector” who cannot won’t keep the other team from scoring. Derrick Favors isn’t making the Utah Jazz a respectable defensive team. The Bucks gave up the second most points in the paint last year with Larry Sanders, and stopped playing any semblance of defense after Christmas. Both handed out big money to limited players, and the results are not good. The teams that will swallow the money are teams who think they are contenders, those teams are in the West (Indy and Miami aren’t breaking up their thing), and both Houston and their potential partners in the West are going to hard ball to assure that the end result of a trade gets them closer to the Spurs and Thunder, not add another hurdle to their run. The one place in the East that I would be interested in seeing Asik land is Boston, but even then it makes more sense for them to do it next summer after the draft with a healthy Rondo.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

The Rockets are using the media to try to create the impression that there is a willingness around the league to ante up. They did this when they had sources leak to Marc Stein that there was a team willing to give them a first round pick for Thomas Robinson, which we found out was not there. The rumors that are getting out do not make sense. Why would Cleveland think a frontcourt of Andrew Bynum, Omer Asik, Tristan Thompson, and Anthony Bennett would work? They would only further clog their paint and recreate the offensive headache Asik and Howard create in Houston. Given the last five game stretch, I do not think they will be making a move in the immediate future. Milwaukee is a dumpster fire, and shelling out $26 million for Larry Sanders and Omer Asik in 2014-15 is not going to change that reality. They are getting exposed for not just being a tankable star away from respectability (and forget about the offseason nonsense of blame everything on Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings, addition by subtraction, build around Larry Sanders, the only downside is that they might win too many games to get a quality pick). If, and probably when, they deal Ilyasova, they are going to want youth or picks, certainly not an increase in payroll.

A team that wants to defend (which Houston clearly shows it has no interest in) and can afford a terrible offensive 5th option would have interest in Asik if not for the fact that they have to pay him $15 million next year. Much like the amnesty provision, selling an owner on paying that much for Omer Asik is not easy. Bad teams that aren’t guarding anyone don’t need to shell out big money for a “rim protector” who cannot won’t keep the other team from scoring. Derrick Favors isn’t making the Utah Jazz a respectable defensive team. The Bucks gave up the second most points in the paint last year with Larry Sanders, and stopped playing any semblance of defense after Christmas. Both handed out big money to limited players, and the results are not good. The teams that will swallow the money are teams who think they are contenders, those teams are in the West (Indy and Miami aren’t breaking up their thing), and both Houston and their potential partners in the West are going to hard ball to assure that the end result of a trade gets them closer to the Spurs and Thunder, not add another hurdle to their run. The one place in the East that I would be interested in seeing Asik land is Boston, but even then it makes more sense for them to do it next summer after the draft with a healthy Rondo.

[MUbballfanParticipant]

 This sounds like the kind of stupid move the Bucks would usually make,  probably giving up their first round pick for next year or something along those lines.

[MUbballfanParticipant]

 This sounds like the kind of stupid move the Bucks would usually make,  probably giving up their first round pick for next year or something along those lines.

[anthony_DavIS23Participant]

Does anyone think the suns could acquire Asik? David Aldridge reported that the suns are willing to part ways with 1 or more first round picks and although I do like Plumlee, Asik would certainly be an upgrade. Other players will have to  be involved probably, does anyone think this is a possibility?

[anthony_DavIS23Participant]

Does anyone think the suns could acquire Asik? David Aldridge reported that the suns are willing to part ways with 1 or more first round picks and although I do like Plumlee, Asik would certainly be an upgrade. Other players will have to  be involved probably, does anyone think this is a possibility?

[Sharp ShooterParticipant]

 I’ll be glad when the Rockets will finally trade him. Im tired of hearing about Asik, the media makes it out for him to be this All Star center when reality he is a back-up center at best. Also, the Houston Rockets are going to have to get off their high horse for Asik, in regards to the trade demands. They’re asking price for him is too much considering his stats.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

You know he averaged 10/11 while shooting 54% last season and averaging less than 3 fouls, right?

He’s a defensive anchor and is one of few players that you could put on any big in the entire league and let them go one-on-one.  Not to mention, prior to this season, he hadn’t missed a single game in his entire career.

It’s very difficult to find a big that doesn’t want the ball, can guard every center one on one and doesn’t have injury problems.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

You know he averaged 10/11 while shooting 54% last season and averaging less than 3 fouls, right?

He’s a defensive anchor and is one of few players that you could put on any big in the entire league and let them go one-on-one.  Not to mention, prior to this season, he hadn’t missed a single game in his entire career.

It’s very difficult to find a big that doesn’t want the ball, can guard every center one on one and doesn’t have injury problems.

[Sharp ShooterParticipant]

 I’ll be glad when the Rockets will finally trade him. Im tired of hearing about Asik, the media makes it out for him to be this All Star center when reality he is a back-up center at best. Also, the Houston Rockets are going to have to get off their high horse for Asik, in regards to the trade demands. They’re asking price for him is too much considering his stats.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 I hate most of these trades. And I don’t think they will get enough value for Asik. If they keep Asik, then the Rockets remain contenders even if Howard goes down for an extended period of time, including the playoffs. With Asik they can also limit Howard’s minutes to the 30ish range without really suffering much in the win column. Keeping Howard fresh throughout the season will help decrease the liklihood of injury. If they trade Asik and they don’t get back someone who can help them on defense, then every time Howard sits down the team is going to become defensively terrible, just like it was last year whenever Asik was on the bench. So there will soon be pressure to play Howard 38 minutes or more a night. And of course he will say he can do that. Until he gets hurt. 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 I hate most of these trades. And I don’t think they will get enough value for Asik. If they keep Asik, then the Rockets remain contenders even if Howard goes down for an extended period of time, including the playoffs. With Asik they can also limit Howard’s minutes to the 30ish range without really suffering much in the win column. Keeping Howard fresh throughout the season will help decrease the liklihood of injury. If they trade Asik and they don’t get back someone who can help them on defense, then every time Howard sits down the team is going to become defensively terrible, just like it was last year whenever Asik was on the bench. So there will soon be pressure to play Howard 38 minutes or more a night. And of course he will say he can do that. Until he gets hurt. 

[Mad MaxParticipant]

 I know Miami is in dire need of a true Center. He would be a great fit there, although Miami doesn’t have the pieces to aquire Asik, unless they can find a 3rd team maybe.

[Mad MaxParticipant]

 I know Miami is in dire need of a true Center. He would be a great fit there, although Miami doesn’t have the pieces to aquire Asik, unless they can find a 3rd team maybe.

[LipstickParticipant]

 Doubt Houston wants to make their 3-peat that easy.

[LipstickParticipant]

 Doubt Houston wants to make their 3-peat that easy.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Asik would be a good fit at the Suns but as we moved Gortat I don’t see us taking back a bigger contract. The problem is that Houston don’t want to move Asik to a contender and all the other teams know this so will try to drive a hard bargain. A canny GM would perhaps look at having an outward deal if they acquired Asik which they could put into place once the trade had gone down.

From a fun point could Houston send a pick which would only go to the other team if Asik remained on that team’s roster for the rest of this season or the remainder of his contract. Picks can be conditional on where teams finish, this would not be making Asik a no trade clause just any future trade might be harder or the receiving team has to give more up.

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Asik would be a good fit at the Suns but as we moved Gortat I don’t see us taking back a bigger contract. The problem is that Houston don’t want to move Asik to a contender and all the other teams know this so will try to drive a hard bargain. A canny GM would perhaps look at having an outward deal if they acquired Asik which they could put into place once the trade had gone down.

From a fun point could Houston send a pick which would only go to the other team if Asik remained on that team’s roster for the rest of this season or the remainder of his contract. Picks can be conditional on where teams finish, this would not be making Asik a no trade clause just any future trade might be harder or the receiving team has to give more up.

 

 

 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rockets-suspend-trade-talks-for-omer-asik-184122796.html

After failing to find a suitable deal for center Omer Asik before a self-imposed Thursday deadline, the Houston Rockets backed away from trade discussions, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Houston general manager Daryl Morey informed Asik’s agent Arn Tellem of his decision on Thursday afternoon, sources said.

“This gives [Houston] a chance to buy some more time,” one source involved in the deal process told Yahoo Sports.

The NBA’s trade deadline is Feb. 20.

Asik has a $15 million salary-cap hit next season, and that, combined with rival teams’ unwillingness to package a quality power forward with an unrestricted first-round draft pick, pushed Morey away from making what he believed would be a bad deal now.

Boston had offered Houston a package of Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee and a restricted future first-round pick, but the sides never came to terms on an agreement. Philadelphia had remained in pursuit of Asik, but Morey found no deal there, either.

Asik demanded a trade out of Houston shortly after Dwight Howard committed to signing a free-agent deal, and has been anything but patient in awaiting the Rockets to move him. Asik has been moody – even insubordinate – over the Rockets’ failure to trade him, and his reaction to Houston letting its self-imposed deadline pass without a trade could have an impact within the locker room.
————————————————————–

It is nice that the wonderful string of lies is over for the moment. I’m sure it will be more of the same the next time Houston starts leaking more dreams as rumors to national reporters to try to gin up interest. The problem is that this is the second time in six months the rest of the league called their bluff about having a good offer on the table.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rockets-suspend-trade-talks-for-omer-asik-184122796.html

After failing to find a suitable deal for center Omer Asik before a self-imposed Thursday deadline, the Houston Rockets backed away from trade discussions, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Houston general manager Daryl Morey informed Asik’s agent Arn Tellem of his decision on Thursday afternoon, sources said.

“This gives [Houston] a chance to buy some more time,” one source involved in the deal process told Yahoo Sports.

The NBA’s trade deadline is Feb. 20.

Asik has a $15 million salary-cap hit next season, and that, combined with rival teams’ unwillingness to package a quality power forward with an unrestricted first-round draft pick, pushed Morey away from making what he believed would be a bad deal now.

Boston had offered Houston a package of Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee and a restricted future first-round pick, but the sides never came to terms on an agreement. Philadelphia had remained in pursuit of Asik, but Morey found no deal there, either.

Asik demanded a trade out of Houston shortly after Dwight Howard committed to signing a free-agent deal, and has been anything but patient in awaiting the Rockets to move him. Asik has been moody – even insubordinate – over the Rockets’ failure to trade him, and his reaction to Houston letting its self-imposed deadline pass without a trade could have an impact within the locker room.
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It is nice that the wonderful string of lies is over for the moment. I’m sure it will be more of the same the next time Houston starts leaking more dreams as rumors to national reporters to try to gin up interest. The problem is that this is the second time in six months the rest of the league called their bluff about having a good offer on the table.

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