Report: Houston Ends Trade Talks Involving Omer Asik
BOSTON (CBS) - According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the Houston Rockets have decided to keep center Omer Asik -- at least for now.
The Rockets were reportedly involved in trade discussions with both the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers about the seven-footer. But according to Wojnarowski, teams were worried about Asik's contract next season, when he will earn $14.9 million and have a cap hit of $8.37 million, and the Rockets did not find a deal they were willing to make.
Asik requested a trade from the Rockets earlier this season after he found himself on the bench following the offseason signing of Dwight Howard. After averaging 10.1 points, 11.7 rebounds in 30 minutes per game last season, Asik has averaged just 4.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 18.3 minutes of play this season.
The Celtics were reportedly offering a package of Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee and a first-round pick for Asik, who is among the better defensive centers in the league. Team president Danny Ainge didn't say much about the reported trade Thursday morning on his weekly appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub, but did say that the C's were not close to completing any trades.
The Rockets had created a Thursday deadline to make a deal, but Wojnarowski notes they could still deal the Turkish center later this season. The NBA Trade deadline is on February 20.
