The Houston Rockets are looking to trade Jeremy Lin after trading Omer Asik to the New Orleans Pelicans and teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks and NY Knicks could be options for the trade as the team tries to sign Carmelo Anthony in free agency.
The Rockets have been targeting moves like this since last season, knowing that they could potentially have a shot at Anthony or LeBron James in free agency. According to ESPN.com, the Rockets are targeting Anthony, who is set to visit Houston along with the Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks in free agency and teams like the Lakers, Knicks and Miami Heat also could be gunning to sign him. The Rockets needed to move cap space and they have started with Asik and now they may move Lin. The two players have huge contracts and they are expiring and after having a hard time moving them last year, teams with cap space could be open to the move.
Anthony opted out of his deal with the Knicks this offseason and now he is a free agent and the Rockets feel they have a chance to sign him. Anthony has been a target for the Rockets and other teams and now they are also looking to try and clear space to sign James as well. The Knicks can offer more money and a longer contract to Melo over the other teams and that is $33 million more than anyone else. The Lakers are not scheduled for a visit from Anthony but he sees them as a potential destination as well, especially if they pull off a trade or clear more space.
Tyson Chandler also said that he would try and recruit Carmelo and now he could end up leaving the Knicks. Lin signed a three year deal with the Rockets and he comes in after averaging 12.5 points and 4.1 assists per game last year, while Asik was benched for a while and after averaging 10 points and 11 rebounds last season, he was down to 5.8 points and 7.9 rebounds in 48 games after playing in all 82 last season. The Heat are the favorites to keep LeBron James and the rest of the Big 3 in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but after losing the finals to the Spurs, LeBron is as vulnerable as he will ever be and chances are he will not be in this position again as a free agent.
The Rockets are in on the team-up deal and they also are in on each of those players individually, as they have been looking at James and Anthony as targets since before the two players opted out and now the chase is on. The Cavaliers feel they have an opening with LeBron losing the finals, while Anthony looks like he is leaving NY even though the team can offer him the most money and the longest deal. Phil Jackson has been proactive at meeting with Anthony, but he has prepared himself and the team for the situation if he leaves and that could make names like Kyle Lowry and Luol Deng targets in free agency.
