Report: Rockets make Lin, Asik available
The Houston Rockets, feeling confident that they will land free agent Dwight Howard, have called several teams to inform them that guard Jeremy Lin and center Omer Asik are available, NBA sources reported on Monday.
The Rockets had a meeting with Howard soon after the league's free-agent negotiating period began at 12:01 a.m. ET Monday.
"They already have him, if you talk to them," one league source said.
If the Rockets sign Howard, Asik immediately would be expendable. One possible destination would be Philadelphia, where former Rockets executive Sam Hinkie is the new general manager.
Hinkie was part of the Houston front office that signed Asik and Lin as restricted free agents last summer.
Should the Rockets trade Lin, they probably would need to get a starting point guard in the deal, or make another trade to get one.
League sources said the Rockets would move Asik and Lin to rid themselves of their contracts, if they sign Howard this week.
Lin was not invited to Houston's pitch meeting with Howard, sources said.
