The New York Knicks will look to make a complete turnaround in the second half this season as reports indicated that the team will likely make big moves before the Feb. 20 NBA trade deadline.
Previous rumors suggested that the Knicks are shopping for a center or a power forward, who can shore up their injury-riddle frontcourt composed of Tyson Chandler, Amar'e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani, and Kenyon Martin.
ESPN reported that the Knicks could make a push to acquire Omer Asik, who has been on the trading block since the season started after asking for a change of scenery.
The Rockets are still weighing their options on what they intend to do before the trade deadline, but it is widely believed that the Rockets are still trading him in the coming weeks.
New York is viewed as an ideal landing spot for Asik, who requested a trade after anticipating a diminished role when the Rockets signed All-Star center Dwight Howard. Asik could get enough opportunities in New York, but the Knicks might not have enough trade pieces to convince the Rockets to trade the disgruntled center.
Sources added though that the Rockets will likely listen to the Knicks if they are also willing to acquire Jeremy Lin along with Asik. Both players are unattractive trade chips at this point because of their poison pill contracts, which would pay them $15 million next season.
"Asik to New York trade could work, if the Knicks throw in Tim Hardaway Jr and Tyson Chandler in exchange for taking Jeremy Lin back - bad contract and all. While this seems like an amazing deal for Houston, New York would be taking back two of the Rockets most outrageous contracts, albeit ones that are nearing expiration," FanSided noted.
Trading Asik for Chandler will not solve the shortage of quality frontline players in New York, but Asik could do some damage as proven by his performance last season when he was the main option at the center spot in Houston.
The Turkish center averaged 10.1 points and 11.7 rebounds in 30.0 minutes of playing times last season. However, in six games this season, the fourth-year center averaged just 4.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 18.3 minutes a game
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