NBA 2014 Trade Deadline Deals and Rumors: Houston Rockets Courting Rajon Rondo; Are Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin on the Way Out?
Do you remember when you first heard about Jeremy Lin's sudden rush to fame and fortune with the Knicks? According to ESPN there has been talk of the Knicks buying Jeremy Li back from the Rockets. One of the main issues that face the Rockets is that they are also trying to get rid of Omer Asik.
Jeremy Lin is worth much more at about $15 million, and selling his contract would definitely save the Rockets plenty of money. Lin averages about 13 points in a game and about 4.5 assists, which is decent but doesn't quite equate to his high contract price.
ESPN Marc Stein reported via Twitter that "Sources familiar w/Rockets' thinking say HOU has absolute interest in trading for Rajon Rondo. But that alone doesn't mean we'll see a deal." The Rockets are playing very hard for Rajon Rondo but the Celtics are demanding more than Houston cam give, even for the injured point guard.
Asik has been the main concern for the Houston Rockets and is usually the person people think about in terms of who the Rockets are selling. Reports say that Asik was unhappy about playing just two games this year, and CBS Sports indicates that Houston is willing to trade him but is picky about who they get in return. The 76ers, who have a history of shelling out for big men like Andrew Bynum, are the most likely contenders: "The Rockets have renewed efforts to trade disgruntled center Omer Asik, with the Philadelphia 76ers emerging once again as a potential landing spot.
"The two teams engaged in serious discussions on an Asik deal in December, when the Rockets were trying to move the defensive-minded center so they could aggregate any players acquired for use in future deals. With that possibility long gone, Houston GM Daryl Morey has re-opened trade talks, and the Sixers have more payroll flexibility than any team in the league to make a deal work."
The cost of selling Asik and not Jeremy could be more than the Rockets wish to tolerate. Lin carries some fame with him and could attract more customers to games and help sell tickets during the season, but is he worth his money on the courts? Are the potential losses worth it? Do you think that Jeremy Lin can live up to his high salary rate? Or is he mostly only good for publicity? What do you think the Rockets will do with Jeremy and Omer Asik?