The Houston Rockets are coming into a very interesting stretch of the season, as trade rumors involving Omer Asik have started to intensify and with point guard Jeremy Lin banged up, the team could also look to deal him after getting solid play from Patrick Beverley and Aaron Brooks and a deal could be coming soon.
Lin has a big contract and while he has played well for the Rockets, they are a team that has not been afraid to make deals, as evidenced by the James Harden move as well as the trade with Thomas Robinson and with Asik's deal likely coming this week, deal talks involving Lin could intensify as well. According to ESPN Radio host Alan Hahn, the Rockets would be open to moving Lin and while they are not actively shopping him, if they had a "taker" the team would move him and it could come in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, especially with the team looking to get draft picks.
Ideally, the Rockets would love to get Asik off the books for draft picks while also getting an expiring contract in for Lin's, which still has another year on it and with the way Beverley has played over the past two seasons, the Rockets feel they have a point guard that can lead them to the playoffs for a much less expensive price tag. Lin has been injured multiple times this season and while that isn't a reason to trade him, it would not be a surprise to see him moved, especially with whatever happens with an Asik deal. Lin has long been mentioned in trade rumors but nothing has come to fruition, but if the right deal comes along, expect the Rockets to make a move.
Daryl Morey is one of the most interesting general managers out there and there are reports that the team has a three team deal in place to get Asik out of town and that has been an expected move all season and since the Rockets signed Howard. The team is currently second in the southwest and they feel they have a chance at a title shot and that could come with deals for Asik and Lin. The team has won 16 games this season and has been one of the best scoring teams in the NBA and they are going to try and get picks for Asik and moving him along with Lin could bring in more role players and type of roster needed to make a championship run.
The Rockets next play against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday and they are a team that could be involved in one of the deals with Derrick Rose being out of the lineup and the Rockets are coming in ranked second in the league in scoring,. The team is second in the NBA in rebounding and is averaging 107 points per game and while the defense has not been up to par, Morey may be trying to shore that up with the deals coming in December and January.
