The Houston Rockets are now leaning toward keeping disgruntled center Omer Asik, according to ESPN.
After engaging in trade talks with several teams, various media outlets are now reporting the Rockets appear to moving away from their self-imposed deadline of dealing Asik by Thursday.
One rumor floated by ESPN had the Rockets strongly considering dealing Asik to Philadelphia for veteran post player Spencer Hawes and a future first-round draft pick. The Boston Celtics have also been rumored to be in the mix, putting an offer of forward Brandon Bass, guard Courtney Lee and a protected first-round pick on the table.
After the Rockets signed free-agent center Dwight Howard in free agency, Asik has not been shy about expressing his frustrations with his diminished role. With Howard in the fold, his minutes have dipped from a career-high 30.3 last year to just over 18 this season.
When ESPN.com first reported that the Rockets were telling teams they planned to trade Asik by Dec. 19, one of the reasons used to explain their deadline was the fact that Thursday is the last day any traded players can be packaged with other players in a subsequent trade before the league's Feb. 20 deadline. More recently, the rockets have been rumored to be open to including guard Jeremy Lin in any proposed deal.
Since coming to Houston in 2012, Asik has started 90 games, averaging five points and seven rebounds.
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