If you’ve been following the Houston Rockets (or really, the entire NBA) this season, you’ve inevitably stumbled into a rumor surrounding Omer Asik and a potential trade. For reference, there has been a report that Houston is seeking two first round picks for him, and a different rumor that Houston was “delusional” in their trade demands for him. However, there is a new report that seems credible surrounding a potential exile for Asik, and it puts forth an urgent timeline.
Hearing this strong: Rockets determined to trade Omer Asik by Dec. 19 at latest and have ramped up discussions with potential trade partners
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 6, 2013
ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that Houston is “determined” to deal Asik in the next 2 weeks, and later, he cleared up the December 19th timeline by expressing this:
Reason Dec. 19 is significant is because anyone Rockets get would be eligible to be re-packaged in new deal on trade-deadline day (Feb. 20)
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 6, 2013
To be honest, this makes all the sense in the world. No one has been able to nail down an overly realistic team-for-team destination for Asik, and this maneuver would potentially give Houston the leverage that they simply don’t have right now. Presumably, they would need a piece for this year (preferably in the frontcourt) in return for his services, but with his unusual make-up as a “star”-level player who can’t play offense, the trade scenarios simply don’t line up.
Asik could be the biggest domino in the entire trade market this season, and it appears that he (or it) may fall in the next 13 days.