Boston Celtics Reportedly Still Interested in Omer Asik

Boston Celtics Reportedly Still Interested in Omer Asik

 By Mark Evans
 

COMMENTARY | After all of the chatter, Omer Asik is still a member of the Houston Rockets. The team set their own deadline to move the disgruntled big man, but ultimately never made a move after they couldn't find the right deal.
The writing has been on the wall for Asik to leave Houston since the team acquired Dwight Howard this summer. The Rockets briefly tried to figure out how the two could play together, but that effort was ditched almost immediately. Asik and Howard are both rim protecting big men with limited ability away from the rim, making it a tough combination.

The Boston Celtics are one of the teams thought to be heavily involved in the talks. A package of Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee, and a protected future first round pick was thrown around, and Houston ultimately decided that they weren't interested.

A trade may not be imminent, but it appears as if the Celtics are still in the mix. According to Marc Spears, the Celtics are still having talks to land Asik in Boston.

This isn't surprising, as the market for Asik is cloudy. His stock will only continue to drop, and everyone knows that Houston needs to get rid of him at some point. Unless any sort of major injuries occur to some important big men around the league, the Rockets don't have any sort of leverage. Maybe a package of Bass, Lee, and a protected first round pick becomes more appealing as the trade deadline approaches.

It will probably be a little while until anything materializes with an Asik deal. Still, expect the Celtics to still be involved. It seems like Danny Ainge is always poking around to see what's available, so why would he stop now? This Boston team lacks any sort of rim protecting big man, and Asik could potentially be a very good fit.

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I looked it up and, if a team engages in trade talks to acquire the same player over a period of six months, that team automatically gains the rights to the player. Some sort of Common Law Filibuster.

Sam