HoopsHype.com Rumors

The threat of the James Harden-led Rockets signing Howard away from L.A. is very real to the Lakers, sources said, which means the Lakers will eventually be getting a sign-and-trade pitch from Houston as well. The Rockets will have the cap space to sign Howard outright after the expected shedding of Thomas Robinson's contract, but sources say that the Rockets will certainly attempt to convince the Lakers to take in return Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin in a sign-and-trade deal for Howard, thus theoretically keeping alive the possibility that Houston could preserve its cap space to pursue Chris Paul and possibly pair Howard with Paul. ESPN.com

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Omer Asik, Dwight Howard, Jeremy Lin, Thomas Robinson 

With the Rockets expected to make a run in free agency at Lakers center Dwight Howard, Rockets center Omer Asik said he has not given a thought to how Howard might impact his position with the team or if they could play together. “It’s all things that happen out of my control,” Asik said. “I really don’t know and I really don’t care. Whether it happens, we’ll see. I’m just looking forward to rest and getting better for the next season.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Omer Asik, Dwight Howard 

Asik will join the Turkish national team for its World Championships qualifying tournament this summer. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik 

Royce Young: Brooks on sticking with Hack-a-Asik: "If we hit maybe one more shot, we would've gotten out of it." Twitter @dailythunder

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Omer Asik, Scott Brooks 

Back in December, the NBA warned Rockets center and defensive anchor Omer Asik about flopping when he embellished a minor contact with Tim Duncan to draw a foul. Three months later Asik was up to his old tricks and this time he’s going to pay for it. The league announced Thursday Asik will be fined $5,000 for a flop against Duncan last Sunday. Once again Asik embellished a minor contact — and once again it worked. He drew the foul in a game that ended up being a one-point Rockets win. NBCSports.com

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik 

Mark Berman: The NBA announces Rockets center Omer Asik fined $5,000 for his 2nd anti-flopping violation. This one during win over the Spurs 4 days ago. Twitter @MarkBermanFox26

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik 

But the Houston Rockets could be the real threat. They have a young star in James Harden and the possibilities of putting together a fearsome team. They have quietly been sending out signals around the NBA they’d trade Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin, both of whom have enhanced their value since being lured last summer as free agents and were in the grand plan of GM Daryl Morey possibility to be used — as seemingly all his players are — as targets to be able to upgrade. NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Trade, Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Houston is still lingering in Josh Smith talks, but Atlanta's desire for Asik and Parsons is a non-starter for Rockets, sources tell Y! Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Omer Asik, Josh Smith, Chandler Parsons 

Jonathan Feigen: From Omer "Quote Machine" Asik: "When we play hard, we can beat anybody in this league. That's it.' Twitter @Jonathan_Feigen

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik 

"He's a big boy and definitely hard to keep off the glass," Joakim Noah said. "He has a high IQ and we know he affects the game in a lot of ways. "He's a hard worker and has a great attitude, a positive guy. He sacrificed a lot for the team. He obviously wanted to play more and have a bigger role. That's probably one of the reasons he left. But he was one of the reasons we were so successful." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Omer Asik, Joakim Noah 

Noah joked that he was getting corny when he wistfully recalled how seeing an unused backgammon game on the team's charter plane made him long for Asik. The practice sparring partners whiled away hours playing the game. "I wish him nothing but the best," Noah said. "But hopefully he plays like (crap Tuesday)." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Omer Asik, Joakim Noah 

KC Johnson: Noah on Asik: "I wish him nothing but the best. But I hope he plays like sh** tomorrow." #Bulls #Rockets Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Omer Asik, Joakim Noah 

A. Sherrod Blakely: Doc Rivers said the #Celtics inquired about #Rockets O. Asik last summer. When told his price tag, "that ended all inquiries." Twitter @SherrodbCSN

Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Doc Rivers, Omer Asik 

The NBA officially warned Rockets center Omer Asik for violating its anti-flopping policy on Tuesday. Asik’s flop occurred early in the third quarter of a 134-126 home loss to the Spurs at the Toyota Center on Monday. Asik battled for rebounding position with Spurs center Tim Duncan. Duncan was basket-side and was about to secure the ball when Asik, reaching over and past him, quickly fell backwards as if he had been elbowed in the head. Duncan was called for a loose ball foul. Replays indicated that Duncan’s elbow made minimal contact with asik underneath his shoulder area and that the head flail was completely unnecessary. Video of the flop can be seen here on NBA.com. SI.com

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik 

This year All-Star weekend is in Houston and with your performance I don’t think you’re far away from it. Do you expect to be selected as an all-star? Omer Asik: I don’t think there is anyone who wouldn’t want to be selected as an all-star. Of course I would like to be on that court but honestly I think it’s a longshot right now. I hope I can perform better and become an all-star in the future. TrendBasket

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik 

Fran Blinebury: Rockets coach Kelvin Sampson on Omer Asik's offense: "I saw flashes of no offense when he came in. Actually, his offense was offensive." Twitter @franblinebury

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik, Kelvin Sampson 

Mike Tokito: Outside weight room, Rockets C Omer Asik was absolutely hammering the wall with a medicine ball. Huge sound -- crazy-looking warmup. Twitter @mtokito

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik 

Asik, I'm told, is getting $8 million a year for three years, not the $5m-$5m-$14m as written in the offer sheet the Bulls had to match. Or so a confab of two GMs told me in person. Hard to see why every RFA contract here on out won't be constructed with pain-in-the-$%^* terms. Sulia

Chicago Bulls, Omer Asik 

Daryl Morey: We pursued @AsikOmer just 4his defense+reb alone but also liked his screening MT @noamschiller Did U bring in Asik with high screens in mind Twitter @dmorey

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik, Daryl Morey 

Omer Asik has been as good as advertised, but is there some concern about his foul trouble and the fact that this team needs him on the floor. Is he going to have to be more selective about the shots that he attacks?: Daryl Morey: “He actually hasn’t been a super high-foul-rate guy even in Chicago, and in Chicago they were asking him to foul out a bit. [Wednesday] he fouled out and that will be something that, given, I agree with you, our defense does struggle with him off the floor. … Our half-court D has been the best in the league when Asik’s been on the floor so far this preseason. … I’m not actually too concerned about his foul rate. He’s very smart. He’s a very smart defender; he doesn’t gamble defensively.” Sports Radio Interviews

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik, Daryl Morey