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When members of the NBA community went to bed Wednesday evening, the thought on the forefront of executives and media members’ minds was that Omer Asik was likely headed to the Boston Celtics. There was no three-team deal involved and no monumental blockbuster proposed, simply that Danny Ainge and Daryl Morey agreed to swap Asik for Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee and a future first round pick. There just remained one hang-up:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Celtics, Rockets still haggling over which future first-round pick goes to Houston in Asik deal, sources tell Yahoo.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/413438979984609280">December 18, 2013</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
But a source suggested to Liberty Ballers after that Wojnarowski tweet that the Sixers and GM Sam Hinkie should not be counted out of an Asik deal just yet.
Sure enough, according to the same source that is close to the Sixers, Houston came calling again Thursday early afternoon about sending Asik to Philadelphia in exchange for either Thaddeus Young or Spencer Hawes.
Why would Morey and the Rockets be interested in dealing with Hinkie after apparently coming to an agreement with the Celtics? The source then said that Houston found Young or Hawes more cohesive with the team’s current roster and playing style than Bass. However, Houston truly wanted a future first round pick in return for its disgruntled Center and the Sixers were not willing to relinquish the rights to a future first rounder while also potentially owing their 2014 first round pick to Miami and a 2016 first round pick to Orlando.
At this point, it would have made sense for the Rockets to attempt to negotiate a three-way trade with the Celtics and Sixers to send Asik to Boston and bring one of Young or Hawes to Houston, but it was reported that while Houston did engage in a three-team trade talk involving the Sixers and another participant, the Rockets never spoke with both Boston and Philadelphia together.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Proposed Houston-Boston deal includes no third team, sources tell Yahoo.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/413449850894942208">December 18, 2013</a></blockquote>
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When the clock struck 1 p.m. EST, Houston reportedly called off trade talks involving Asik and that was that. However, their still remains about 10 hours left in December 19, you can never count anything out in NBA trade talk when there's a Hinkie lurking in the shadows.
Also, keep your eye on the Sixers, Rockets and Asik when Houston looks to trade the backup center once again before the February 20 trade deadline.
