The Boston Celtics appear to be the favorites for the Omer Asik deal with the Houston Rockets, but with the team playing well and leading the Atlantic division, could moves involving Kenneth Faried, Luol Deng, Greg Monroe, Jimmer Fredette or Iman Shumpert be options for the Celts if the other deals fall through before the NBA trading deadline?
According to ESPN.com, the Celtics appear to be the front runners with the Philadelphia 76ers to trade for Omer Asik and the report from Marc Stein says that the team could explore other deals involving various names like Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee, Jeff Green, Gerald Wallace or Kris Humphries if that one falls through and some possibilities include involving Kenneth Faried, Luol Deng, Greg Monroe or Iman Shumpert. Stein mentioned Monroe and Deng, as they have expiring deals that could be good for the Celtics as rentals, as they can try and make a push this season and then get rid of those players in the offseason by letting them leave.
Fredette could be an interesting option now that the Celtics are off the Asik deal (UPDATE: the Celtics are not doing the Rockets and Asik deal) since the Kings have no use for him after not giving him his option for next season. Fredette is being held hostage there and Brad Stevens could be an interesting option for the Celtics as they look to find another scorer. The team has been playing well and a Fredette deal could be interesting.
The Rockets have been motivated to trade Asik for weeks and reports have him asking for a trade multiple times this year, including in the offseason after the Rockets signed Dwight Howard. Asik knew what would happen with the team and had the foresight to ask for a trade, while coach Kevin McHale and general manager Daryl Morey were either lying to everyone, themselves or were delusional by saying that they would be keeping Asik and that things would work fine with Howard on the floor. That worked for about five minutes and then Asik was yanked from his starting job, his minutes were cut and his stats fell big time from his double-double average of 10 points and 11 rebounds last season and he also averaged over a block per game.
Asik was one of the most consistent centers in the NBA last season and he comes in with two years left on his contract and around $20 million and while that is a bit pricy, the Celtics could take that on if they give up money in the process. The Rockets could be trying to pull off a move to pull off another move, which is something Morey would have no problem doing and is why they want to get the deal done before the December 19 deadline, which means those players they acquire can be dealt again before the deadline.
The Sixers have some pieces to move in Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes and Deng, Faried and Monroe are all possibilities to get dealt at the deadline. Monroe had a chance to sign and extension with the Pistons, but the team decided not to do it and will keep Andre Drummond and could risk losing Monroe, while Faried and the Nuggets could be heading for a split as well. The Knicks and Nuggets were working on a deal for Shumpert and Faried before that fell through and the team also shopped him last summer to others in the league. Deng is also a candidate to go, as he is a free agent at the end of the season and with derrick Rose already injured and likely out for the year, the Bulls may try and get something for Deng rather than let him walk.
