NBA Trade Rumors: Why Houston Rockets Are Not Ready to Trade Jonny Flynn Yet

According to a report by Chris Broussard of ESPN.com Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks have reportedly contacted the Houston Rockets about the trade availability of guard Jonny Flynn.

Flynn was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2009 along with Ricky Rubio (who made his NBA debut this year), but injuries caused him to fall out of the rotation in Minnesota, and a draft night trade brought him to Houston where he is still trying to find his spot in the rotation.

The Houston Rockets recently declined to pick up the contract options for four players on their current roster (Jordan Hill, Hasheem Thabeet, Terrence Williams, Flynn), most likely to keep their salary cap open for the summer of 2012.

The Rockets are looking to hang onto their trade chips as they scour the trade market in hopes of making a splash by acquiring a prime-time player (a center) through a trade or through free agency and as a result do not want to break up their roster just yet.

The Knicks are in need of a point guard, although currently Jeremy Lin has been impressive. The Rockets would ask the Knicks for more assets in exchange for Flynn, although the reported offer would be veterans Mike Bibby and Renaldo Balkman.

The Rockets would most likely want better quality assets (a big man or a near-expiring contract to use in the near future) if they do trade Flynn, while the Knicks may have to find a third team to get involved to make moves up until the trade deadline.

The Los Angeles Lakers are also looking to bolster their guard depth and it is unknown at this time what they could offer the Rockets outside of a center. The Lakers would most likely offer an expiring contract and a future draft pick, which would give the Rockets some long-term flexibility with the upcoming 2012 NBA draft (supposedly being a deep draft).