NBA Rumors: Latest on Kenneth Faried, Omer Asik and More Buzz
As teams around the NBA prepare to open the new season the rumor mill is also beginning to heat back up after a quiet couple of months. General managers are in the process of finding out whether they can bolster their roster before opening tip.
Ultimately, most decisions at this point in the calendar tend to depend on if a team believes they can get more value by making a deal now or waiting for awhile. Sometimes a signing would be more logical than a trade, at least for the time being.
With that in mind, let's check out some of the latest buzz with the regular season now less than a week away, forcing teams to make some final roster decisions.
Faried is far from the most talented player in the league, but he makes up for that lack of natural ability with a strong work rate and athleticism in the post. The result was a solid stat line highlighted by over 11 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 55 percent from the field last season.
The Denver Nuggets forward is the type of player who can bring an entire frontcourt together. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the team is demanding top dollar if it's going to move him, which Zach Lowe of Grantland states is an option on the table:
"Multiple sources around the league have reported in the last month that Denver has put out targeted feelers on Faried, gauging his value and demanding very good return. The Nuggets, for their part, deny they've put Faried's name out there at all.
"
Whether Faried could take his game to another level with more minutes is key. He's been able to put up solid numbers while averaging 26 minutes throughout his career. A team that thinks he can become a legitimate star if given more than 30 minutes per night could get great value in a deal.
Omer Asik
The arrival of Dwight Howard has created a logjam at center for the Houston Rockets. Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld reports that has led to talk of Asik being moved so the team can upgrade in another area, but it could take some time to find a trade partner:
"Too early to speculate on what Houston could get… but there continues to be talk that Omer Asik is the major chip that goes out, either for an elite Small Forward or a big power forward. I don’t think you’ll see anything with Houston until January/February unless the wheels fall off for someone and they get desperate to salvage a season.
"
After making a minimal impact with the Chicago Bulls, Asik moved to Houston and averaged a double-double last season. But trying to fit him and Howard into the same lineup would be tricky because both players are true centers.
Knowing that, it makes sense for the Rockets to see what they could get in return for Asik. He does carry solid value because of his production last season and the lack of reliable big men around the league. Finding a team willing to pay fair market value could prove difficult, though.
Richard Hamilton
Hamilton remains on the market, waiting for an opportunity to come along. He averaged less than 10 points per game for the Bulls last season, which was the first time since his rookie season he didn't score in double digits.
Yet, he can still serve as a secondary scoring option off the bench while also providing some veteran leadership. Nate Sandell and Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com reported the Minnesota Timberwolves are one team that's considered adding Hamilton:
"The 35-year-old Hamilton would fit the Wolves' desire to add depth on the wing, especially with swingman Chase Budinger out for at least the first month of the season after undergoing surgery Sept. 30 to remove a quarter of his left meniscus.
"
Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio mentioned the Denver Nuggets as another possibility. Hamilton still possesses the ability to make an impact, albeit not at the same level as in the past. He should eventually get a chance somewhere, though.
