The Boston Celtics are believed to be a contender for Houston Rockets center Omer Asik. Jeff Green or Brandon Bass, along with a draft pick, reportedly may be enough to convince Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to deal Asik to Boston. Philadelphia 76ers center Spencer Hawes is also heating up as a possibility, the Houston Chronicle reports.
"The advice offered to us on Sunday was stern: Keep an eye on Boston," ESPN's Marc Stein wrote on Sunday. "The Celtics possess two players in different salary ranges that would presumably fit in useful ways next to Dwight Howard: Jeff Green and Brandon Bass. The Celts also have a spare first-round draft pick or two to plug into any trade equation to sweeten the deal for Houston, amid rising suspicions around the league that Morey's Rockets are going to find a way to come out of the Asik saga with at least one future pick.
"The same Rockets who happen to have a GM (Morey) and coach (Kevin McHale) who have long-standing relationships with Celts president Danny Ainge."
While the Celtics could be a suitor for Asik, both Stein and Jonathan Feigen of The Chronicle still consider the 76ers to be the most likely trade partner.
Feigen reported on Sunday the Rockets already appear to have a deal in place and are using the Dec. 19 deadline to see if any team makes a better offer for Asik. Feigen believes the potential deal would involve three teams, including Philadelphia.
"As much as speculation has centered around Thad Young, if the Rockets are to do a deal with Philadelphia and former Rockets assistant GM Sam Hinkie, it is more likely to be a three-team deal in which the player the Sixers trade goes elsewhere," Feigen wrote on Wednesday.
"The Rockets likely would want draft picks in the deal, and Hinkie is not expected to give those up. If the deal was for Young, the Rockets and Sixers would not have had to wait until Dec. 15. And if the Rockets were to try to get one of the Sixers players who don't fit in Hinkie's long-term plans, it would be more likely for Spencer Hawes, a range shooter who could play next to Dwight Howard or as his backup with Asik gone."
Asik, a 7-footer renowned for his defense, is expected to be traded by Thursday, Dec. 19.
