The NBA season is not even a month old yet and already a number of teams are starting to talk trade deals and some of the top names that keep coming up in early season talk includes players like Omer Asik, Jameer Nelson, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, Kenneth Faried, Gerald Wallace and Danny Granger.
Asik is at the top of the list after he reportedly asked for a trade from the Rockets for the second time and while the team has not been moving on a deal yet, that could change in the future. The original trade request reportedly came after the team signed Dwight Howard to a contract as a free agent, making Asik realize that his starting job would likely be gone and his playing time would get slashed, but head coach Kevin McHale and GM Daryl Morey said that wouldn't happen. Cleary that was BS, as the team sat down Asik for no real reason, playing him four minutes against the Sixers and then holding him out and now the two sides appear ready for a deal, but chances are that won't happen for a bit.
According to ESPN.com, the team may not move on a deal until mid-December, as that is when players that signed deals over the offseason are allowed to get traded. After starting his career in Chicago behind Joakim Noah, Asik went to the Rockets and developed into one of the most consistent centers in the game, averaging a double-double last season of 10 points and 11 rebounds and now he is getting the chance to ride the bench. Howard has been great since coming over, but Asik has not been happy and after starting off with both players on the floor, McHale has changed his lineup and now Asik is the odd man out.
The 27-year-old has potential to be an all-star and while the Rockets appear not ready to trade him now, chances are things will look much better as the deadline approaches and based on his skill and size, chances are there will be a solid deal waiting. Asik's numbers are down to g 5.7 points and 9.3 rebounds from 10.1 points and 11.7 rebounds last season and his minutes have been cut by nearly half and are now worse with him being out. The team previously discussed a Ryan Anderson deal with the Pelicans, but it remains to be seen if that is an avenue they will again walk down.
Some of the other names being talked about include Gerald Wallace as well as Iman Shumpert, as both the Knicks and the Celtics are looking for a way to dump salary. The Knicks want to get Rajon Rondo, but right now that appears to not have a chance at happening, while it's possible a swap of bad deals could go down between the two teams, including with Amare Stoudemire. Reports have the Knicks wanting to move Shumpert and there were previous reports that he could get dealt to the Nuggets for Kenneth Faried. Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Danny Granger have all been mentioned in deals and as the deadline gets closer, expect more rumors and news involving all these dudes.
