The NBA season is not even into December yet and trade rumors are starting to bounce up around the league and one of the biggest names is Omer Asik and while the Houston Rockets likely will be patient, some packages, deals and scenarios for offers may include names like Include Ryan Anderson, Pau Gasol, Thaddeus Young or Iman Shumpert.
ESPN and other outlets have reported that Asik has asked for a trade from the Rockets since losing his starting job and getting pushed down on the bench after playing in all 82 games last season, but he cannot come out publically and ask based on NBA rules. Reports say that the team has denied his request, but ESPN.com is reporting that the team is looking to trade Asik and there could be plenty of options around the league, including teams like the New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings among others.
The 27-year-old reputedly wanted a trade soon after Howard was signed, as he clearly could see the potential situation that is occurring now, ie that he could lose his starting job and the team would stash him on the bench, but the team denied that as well. Last season Asik averaged over 10 points and 11 rebounds per game and his numbers and minutes have plummeted this season and after saying that he would use both Howard and Asik on the floor together, head coach Kevin McHale has decided to ditch that plan and now Asik is languishing on the bench.
The team likely will not trade Asik until closer to the trading deadline and on top of that, the team wants to probably wait until at least December 15, because that is when players signing deals this summer are allowed to be traded. Asik was one of the best centers in the league last season and now after getting benched and having his minutes cut, it's clear that he wants out. The Rockets and the Pelicans previously were linked in a deal that would send Ryan Anderson to the team and that could be one to explore, as Anderson previously played with Howard in Orlando and won the most improved player award while doing so. The deal would be beneficial to both sides and that is one that likely will get revisited when these talks heat up again.
Some media peeps have put together some interesting trade packages and scenarios for Asik, some including names like Iman Shumpert as well as Thaddeus Young and Pau Gasol. Young is a name that has continued to come up with the Sixers struggling and he could be moved by the deadline and the Knicks might get desperate soon as well. The team lost another game and after putting Iman Shumpert on the block and speaking with the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics, they could be in play as they try and find someone to make up for the loss of Tyson Chandler in the middle. A trade likely will not go down for some time, but with Asik feeling disrespected and the team wanting to win a championship, a separation is likely the best move for both sides and for Howard as well. Can't say this wasn't unexpected, at least Asik thinks so.