The Portland Trail Blazers are one of the surprise teams of the young NBA season, having won 10 straight games and leading the Western Conference with a 12-2 win-loss record behind the efforts of All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge and last year's Rookie of the Year Damien Lillard.
In hopes of sustaining their hot start, the Blazers are reportedly eyeing Houston Rockets center Omer Asik believing he can provide them with interior defense especially now that the Rockets have been open about their desire to trade Dwight Howard's back-up.
Mitch Lawrence of the NY Daily News is reporting that the Blazers have been in talks with the Rockets about a possible deal for Asik, offering center Robin Lopez in return. Yet the same source adds that the Rockets want more for Asik especially a power forward who can shoot from the outside to open the interior for star center Howard.
"The Rockets want a power forward who can shoot threes to pair next to Dwight Howard," wrote Lawrence. He said this explains why the Rockets had talked with the New Orleans Pelicans in the offseason about a trade for Ryan Anderson which New Orleans shot down.
Asik was the starting center for Houston last year before Howard came aboard. He averaged 10.1 points and 11.7 rebounds last year. Rockets coach Kevin McHale tried to play both Howard and Asik at the same time but has moved the latter back to the bench. This led to Asik's frustration and request for a trade.
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