Trade talks for Houston Rockets center Omer Asik stalled when Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge refused to budge from his initial trade offer. Despite reports, Boston had dropped out of negotiations with Houston last week when Rockets general manager Daryl Morey declined Ainge's offer, the Boston Herald reports.
Ainge never intended to change his offer - Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee and a protected first-round pick - because he didn't want to overspend on Asik.
"Why should he?" a source told The Herald earlier this week. "He's holding a lot of cards. He has some decent players and a lot of first round draft picks. And that team isn't going anywhere this year, so what's the rush?"
Although Asik would bolster the Celtics' defense, Ainge was unwilling raise his offer. Morey ended all discussions for Asik on Thursday, presumably to a lot himself more time to find a better deal for the 7-foot center.
"The only way I can see anything happening is if Daryl decides he wants something that he's already said no to," another source told The Herald. "I can see where the thing with Boston makes sense for (the Celtics). Lee and Bass are good, but they're complementary guys. And if the first-round pick is protected, what do (the Celtics) have to lose? But Daryl didn't go for that before, and I don't see how he changes on that.
"Asik has to be a more important asset than that."
Houston was also in talks with the Philadelphia 76ers, who were believed to be offering either Thaddeus Young or Spencer Hawes. It's uncertain why talks stalled with Philadelphia, but it may have been because the club was unwilling to part with a first-round draft pick for Asik.
Morey has until Feb. 21, the NBA's trade deadline, to find a trade partner for Asik.
