The Houston Rockets are into the December part of the schedule and as the deadline nears for players that signed over the summer to be traded, that could mean general manager Daryl Morey and the team will look harder at a deal for center Omer Asik, who has been disgruntled since losing his spot in the starting lineup.
Asik has reportedly been looking for a trade since the Rockets signed Dwight Howard over the summer and when that happened, Morey and coach Kevin McHale said that the team would find a way to make it work with both big men. That hasn't worked out and now, according to Pro Basketball Talk, there are a number of teams that could fit in a deal, including the Pelicans with Ryan Anderson, as well as the Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers. Asik put up great numbers last season while starting all 82 games and this year his numbers have been cut in half after McHale took him out of the starting lineup.
One issue for the Rockets in making a deal is asking for too much, as CBS Sports reports that the team is looking for high draft picks, including possibly two first round picks and that got one GM to say the team was "delusional" and that could make a deal tougher for the team. The Rockets don't have an immediate need to trade Asik unless they get what they want, as they have him under contract for this year and next year, but if they want to make a playoff run, they need him either gone or playing happily with the team. Asik has great rebounding skills, but when Howard and Asik are on the floor together the spacing is terrible and that is one reason why the Rockets have been using Terrence Jones so much.
The 27-year-old center would be a great fit with the Pelicans, who need some reinforcements now that Anthony Davis is out and Anderson could be good with Howard, as the two previously played together in Orlando. That time saw Anderson win most improved player of the year and a move with him to the Rockets could help the offense greatly once he gets healthy. The Blazers have been fantastic in the early goings and adding Asik to team that has LaMarcus Aldridge could be dealt.
The Mavericks reportedly were willing to trade Shawn Marion, but so far there hasn't been much movement on that front. Asik likely will get dealt closer to the trading deadline and while the price is high for the Rockets, if the right deal came along, they might pull the trigger. This season Asik is averaging four points and under seven rebounds per game after averaging 10 points and 11 rebounds last season.