The Houston Rockets previously discussed with the Brooklyn Nets a trade involving Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik for Deron Williams. The potential deal was put on hold and is now "probably dead" because of mounting concerns over Williams' health, Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports.
Houston and Brooklyn explored the potential trade several weeks ago but the discussions didn't go anywhere, according to Berger. Now, with Williams out because of his third ankle sprain of the season, the trade isn't expected to come to fruition.
"Both teams shelved the idea, which never gained any traction. Now, it's probably dead for good with Williams undergoing multiple injections in his chronically bad ankles this week," Berger wrote on Thursday. "'They're shooting him up like a race horse,' said one rival executive who believes the Rockets no longer are willing to take a chance on Williams' fragile health."
The injury-prone star suffered his third ankle sprain on Saturday against the Cleveland, forcing him to miss the next two games against Atlanta and Golden State.
He underwent multiple injections in both ankles earlier this week and is in a walking boot. A timetable for his return is uncertain; the team is scheduled to re-evaluate Williams' health at the end of the week.
The Nets described Williams' treatment in a statement released on Wednesday:
"Following an MRI on Monday, January 6, Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle. Williams was treated with a cortisone shot in the ankle joint, as well as platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections into the lateral ligaments of the ankle.
"In addition, Williams received a PRP injection into his right ankle and a cortisone injection into his right ankle joint to relieve inflammation. Williams, who will miss Wednesday's game versus Golden State, is currently in a walking boot and will be re-evaluated at the end of the week."
Williams, 29, has a history of ankle issues. He missed time last year because of inflammation in both ankles, and he's missed 13 games so far this season because of three left ankle sprains: his first on Nov. 15 against Phoenix, his second on Nov. 20 against Charlotte and his third on Jan. 4 against Cleveland.
