The Houston Rockets have finally found a trading partner to take Omer Asik with the hope of landing Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James.
Houston is finalizing a deal to send Omer Asik to New Orleans, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 26, 2014
New Orleans will send a future first-round pick to Houston for Asik, league source tells Yahoo Sports. Deal will give Rockets cap space.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 26, 2014
Reports indicate the future first-round pick could be in 2015.
According to Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports, the Rockets will also send out $1.5 million in cash as part of the deal, which may not be formalized until July due to league rules.
For starters, the Pelicans already owe their 2014 first-round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers and - per what's known as the Stepien rule - aren't allowed to owe a first-rounder in consecutive seasons. Yet because that 2014 obligation will be considered fulfilled by the time the draft starts on Thursday night, they would then be free to trade their 2015 pick from that point on.
Asik appeared in 48 games last season, averaging 5.8 points and 7.9 rebounds. As a starter in 2012-13, the 27-year-old averaged a career-high 10.1 points and 11.7 rebounds in 82 games.
