Houston Rockets confident they can unload Asik, Lin for 3rd superstar
By Jacob Rude
Daryl Morey, Houston Rockets GM, has always dreamed big. Since taking over the Rockets, Morey turned a plethora of assets into James Harden and Dwight Howard, a playoff-contending team, and a hotspot for big-name free agents. To continue his aim of building a championship team, Morey has his eyes on the big prizes this summer, like Carmelo Anthony.
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In order to afford a superstar that high-profile, they’ll likely have to move contracts. It first started with the Rockets likely turning down Chandler Parson’s option, making him a restricted free agent. Their next order of business will be trading the big contracts of Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin for cap relief, which, according to the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets are confident they can do.
"According to an individual familiar with the Rockets’ plans, they are confident they would be able to move Lin and Asik’s contracts because unlike their failed efforts to trade Asik last season, they would be looking to clear cap room, rather than bring back rotation players with similar contracts."
A name that keeps popping up are the Los Angeles Lakers, who have a big chunk of cap room and are looking for cap relief next summer. With Asik and Lin’s deals expiring after next season, the two sides could soon be looking to make a deal. From a purely speculative point, the deal would make sense for both sides, assuming the Rockets include some assets to sweeten the pot for the Lakers to want to take on the big contracts.
For Houston, this would certainly increase their chances of landing someone the stature of Anthony, which has long been Morey’s endgame.