The Houston Rockets are preparing for a big summer and a Rajon Rondo trade, a Kevin Love trade or a Carmelo Anthony free agent deal could be in the cards, but for Daryl Morey to get that done, trades involving Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons or Patrick Beverley will likely have to go down and that means the summer of 2014 could be very dramatic for the Rockets, NY Knicks, Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Rockets came into the season with high expectations after signing Dwight Howard to a contract and now Daryl Morey will be looking to create his own Big 3 for James Harden and Howard. Marc Stein from ESPN.com reports that the team will be looking at a number of different moves this offseason and that a deal for Rajon Rondo or a free agent signing with Carmelo Anthony are the main targets for the team. Anthony could be a great scoring option for Howard and Harden to play with, while Rondo could take over for Lin as the starting point guard with ease.
Making a deal for Rondo or Kevin Love will not be easy, but Morey has shown in the past that he is willing to think outside the box, including with the Harden deal and the trade for Patrick Patterson before last year that helped set up the Howard move down the line. Morey will have to navigate some tough waters this offseason, as he has a major decision coming with Chandler Parsons and that could affect how he tackles the Anthony or Rondo moves. The team may have to move both Asik and Lin, as each are in the final years of their deals and are getting paid a ton.
Rondo is coming off of serious surgery, but he looks healthy and he averaged over 10 points and nine assists last season while playing in 30 games. The Rockets nearly traded for Rondo last season, but the Celtics wouldn't take on Asik's money without Parsons and that nixed the deal. The Celtics have said that they want to lock up Rondo long term, but the team could change its tune if they get some draft picks or talent out of the deal. The Rockets were eliminated in the playoffs by the Blazers, but Morey feels that they are missing just a couple pieces from a championship mix.
The Knicks are still going to try and sign Anthony to a contract and many think that the team has the inside track because they can offer him the most years and the highest amount of money. Anthony has the chance to leave NYC if he wants, as the Chicago Bulls and Rockets have reportedly been identified as the teams going after him the hardest once he hits free agency. Anthony is expected to opt out of his contract and while the Knicks are the frontrunners, there is reason to be worried: the Knicks missed the playoffs last season making it the first time in Anthony's career that he was out of the postseason and the fact that the team took such a big step back from last season could lead him to leave as well.