Marc Stein: The Houston Rockets remain on course to trade Omer Asik by their self-imposed deadline of next Thursday, according to sources familiar with the Rockets' thinking. As for where ... TNT's David Aldridge tossed out a new possibility Thursday night during the Rockets' nationally televised loss at Portland, introducing the concept of an Asik-for-Anderson Varejao trade. Sources close to the process on Friday stopped well short of describing the Cavs as Houston's preferred trading partner, but Cleveland certainly has to be added to the list of potential Asik destinations. The Rockets, meanwhile, continue to give off the vibe that they will find a deal they like by the Dec. 19 buzzer, which they established last week and is the last day they can package anyone they acquire in an Asik trade with other players in a subsequent deal before the league's Feb. 20 trade deadline. The rest of the latest scuttle from the Asik front: • The Rockets have indeed shown interest in Varejao in previous years, but one source close to the process indicates to ESPN.com that the Rockets would not be willing to deal Asik for Varejao straight up. It's believed that Houston would be seeking at least one more asset in the exchange if talks with the Cavs ever progress to a serious stage, presumably a future first-round pick. Which raises the question: Is Cleveland really willing to surrender that much for Asik ... and absorb Asik's $15 million salary for next season. • Many league insiders maintain that the Rockets' No. 1 target in an Asik deal remains Hawks forward Paul Millsap, who will join more than 100 players who signed contracts in July in becoming trade-eligible on Dec. 15 ... which happens to be Sunday. We caution, though, that gauging the Hawks' true willingness to part with Millsap -- after signing him to a two-year, $19 million deal that increasingly ranks as one of the league's best bargains -- remains a mystery thanks to ever-coy Hawks GM Danny Ferry. • ESPN.com reported last week that the Rockets are determined to trade Asik to an Eastern Conference destination in part to keep his highly rated defense away from current teammate Dwight Howard. Two more teams, then, that continue to be mentioned as potential trade partners for Asik in addition to Atlanta and Cleveland are Philadelphia (Thaddeus Young) and Milwaukee (Ersan Ilyasova). • What do Millsap, Young and Ilyasova have in common? All three can theoretically operate next to Howard as a power forward with the clear ability to play outside and stretch the floor. Let's see how the fact Varejao lacks the same range impacts Houston's appetite to pursue such a deal. If the Rockets are intent on completing the best trade they can make by next Thursday, they might not wait around for a floor-spacer.
If the Rockets are talking to Cleveland and are waiting until Dec 15 when newly signed free agents can be traded _ Maybe Morey is looking at Jarrett Jack in the trade package...
Yes, we would be front runners to land him if he tells them he doesn't want to play in Detroit (which nobody does anyways because it's cold, dirty, and they suck). They've already decided they didn't want to give him an extension which can create bad blood. Lin and Asik's cap hits are $16.73 million. With all of the 1 year deals coming off the books the Rockets should have plenty of room to sign Monroe to the max ($14.5 million). I doubt the Pistons would want to match either when they are 29th in attendance and 7th in the East. It does not matter that those crappy teams have more cap space. It's all about whether or not we can offer him the max, which we can. Why would he want to play in L.A. next to a 40 year old Kobe? And the Mavs? Come on. It's an easy choice when we can offer two stars to play alongside him with no SIT. LOF.
San Antonio may have the cap space if Duncan and Manu retire after this year as well... But I'm not sold that Monroe is worth a max contract..
I think he is. Even if he's $2-2.5 million under that, he will be worth it later. He's 23, 6'11", 249 pounds and runs the floor extremely well. He would be the perfect PF for the Rockets system. Why would he choose Parker over Howard, Harden, Parsons and Beverley? The Rockets don't need to fill any other holes like the Spurs.
The whole world knows we are "desperately" moving Asik, bid price will just go lower and lower as the "self-imposed deadline" nears. I don't like the situation at all.
1. EC trade partner. 2. No big contracts that extend beyond next season. 3. First round pick (probably protected) or a young player with upside. We shall see.
I like the idea of adding Milsap. He is a PF that can put the ball on the floor and create. We need more of that on the team. I like T Jones and his hustle and potential, but right now he doesn't give us much creating. Will be a interesting week starting Sun...
Thing is, there are teams out there as desperate to get him as we are to trade him. Cleveland must make the playoffs and at least try to make a showing, considering how catastrophically they bungled the 2013 #1 overall pick. If they want to entice anyone to come play with Kyrie, and to brave the grotesque Cleveland industrial winters, then they can't continue to suck. Atlanta's a halfway-decent team but I could see an Asik-Dmo (who hasn't been playing for us, despite the need for backup 5; and Atlanta would probably ask for Jones, which would actually be more fair) for Millsap-Antic, something along those lines.
For one thing _ Parsons and Beverley shouldn't be included with Harden and Howard... Speaking of which _ I would rather have Deng... But, if the Rockets have to go out and get another Max Contract big man _ then they overpaid for Howard. Shouldn't need two Max Contract bigs... And Monroe may not won't to play with Howard because they would be in each other's way. He's already in that situation in Detroit.
Zach Lowe: Morey is indeed asking a lot, which is why at least one unnamed executive reportedly referred to his demands as "delusional." Alan Hahn of MSG Network reported Morey had asked at least one team for two first-round picks in exchange for Asik, but a source familiar with those talks says Morey actually asked for more than that: two first-round picks and the right to swap first-round picks in a third draft. The team in question was the Bobcats, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks.
