Rockets Agree To Trade Center Omer Asik To The Pelicans

ESPN is reporting that the Houston Rockets have agreed to trade center Omer Asik to the New Orleans Pelicans.

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The Houston Rockets have agreed to trade defensive specialist center Omer Asik to the New Orleans Pelicans in a deal aimed at clearing salary-cap space to chase LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in free agency, sources told ESPN.com.

In exchange for Asik, the Rockets will receive the Pelicans' 2015 first-round draft pick. The Rockets also will include $1.5 million in cash as part of the deal.

This maneuver by the Rockets also sets up the team to trade point guard Jeremy Lin, which would open up enough cap space for the Rockets to make a run at James and Anthony.

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Last season Asik averaged 5.8 points and 7.9 rebounds as a backup to Dwight Howard.