NBA Trade Rumors 2014: Jeremy Lin Could Be Packaged With Omer Asik; Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls Likely Landing Spots

As the Houston Rockets continue to look for the best trade package available for disgruntled center Omer Asik, there are rumors circulating that point guard Jeremy Lin could be included in a package to land a third star or an up-and-coming talent before February's trade deadline expires.

On Wednesday, speculation started to heat up once again regarding Asik's next destination. According to reports, the Rockets are set to trade the Turkish bigman to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee and a future first-round draft pick.  

The trade was supposed to happen by Thursday this week, but the deal reportedly hit a snag. In a report on CBS Sports, one rival general manager believed the Rockets might have had a second thought on the proposed deal, considering the high salary that comes with acquiring "overpaid players" such as Bass and Lee.

Bass is due to pocket $6.9 million next year while Lee will earn $11.1 million over the next two seasons. Bass and Lee both played with Dwight Howard during the Orlando Magic's playoff run.

"No one wants Lee or Bass on a third team or later deal," one executive said, according to CBS Sports. "They make more than their skill set."

Packaging Jeremy Lin with Asik

Some basketball analysts believed the only way for the Rockets to land a third star is to trade both Asik and Lin, who are set to pocket big paydays next year thanks to the backloaded contracts they signed in the summer of 2012.

Lin, who averaged 18 points and 6 assists this season before he went down with a sprained knee and back problems, has reportedly drawn interest from several teams, including the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, according to the International Business Times.

However, a rival executive said a Lin trade is unlikely to happen anytime soon because there aren't many takers for the combo guard on the market.

"Multiple league executives also said the Rockets are open to packaging Jeremy Lin with Asik, but that scenario appears unlikely as well. As one executive said of Lin, "I'm not sure there are many, if any, takers for him right now," reported CBS Sports.