NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics may trade for Omer Asik

By Josh Hill | Jun 23, 2014

May 2, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) dribbles into Houston Rockets center Omer Asik (3) in the second half in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

The Boston Celtics were looking at possibly trading for Omer Asik earlier this season and it appeared that they may have been closer than we all thought to landing him. But the greed of the Rockets prevented a trade from happening and as a result Asik stayed on with the Rockets for the rest of the 2014-15 season.

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But as they continue to press for LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, the Rockets need to shed salary and Asik is at the top of the list in that department.

According to NBA scribe Chuck Myron, the Boston Celtics remain focused on Kevin Love but if they miss out on trading for him there isn’t another superstar worth going that hard for. That being said, Myron says he can see the Celtics targeting Houston Rockets center Omer Asik once again if the Love talks don’t progress anywhere.

"There doesn’t seem to be another superstar trade target out there, although there are surely decent upgrades to be had. As I suggested earlier, I think they’ll be in the market for Omer Asik, who’d fit the mold of the rim protector they’re looking for (and he’d come off the books in 2015, allowing Boston some flexibility for a free agent run at Love, if possible). I wouldn’t be shocked if Houston got in the mix for Rondo, too. I don’t think Ainge gives up Rondo this summer, however."

The Rockets probably haven’t reduced their asking price for Asik, but their incentive to trade him has changed as has the time table in which they need to move him. Houston wants to shed Ask, which lowers his value to them much more than it was earlier in the winter — something that may finally make this trade happen.

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