Reports: Blazers Not Interested In Trade For Rockets C Omer Asik

The Portland Trail Blazers are not interested in pursuing a trade for Houston Rockets center Omer Asik, according to multiple reports.

Sam Amick of USA Today Sports reports on Twitter...

Re: Omer Asik & rumored Portland involvement, I'm told Blazers "not even remotely involved." Yahoo! reporting Boston making progress.

Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com reports...

The Portland Trail Blazers are not involved in any talks centered on acquiring Houston Rockets center Omer Asik via trade, a league source informed CSNNW.com.

Those reports followed a Wednesday report from Andrew Perna of Real GM that indicated Portland might be involved.

The Portland Trail Blazers have been identified as the 'Wild Card' team in on a trade for Omer Asik, a league source told RealGM's Andrew Perna. The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers are also pursuing a trade with the Houston Rockets for Asik, according to a report on Tuesday by Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski. Wojnarowski added that there was an unidentified 'Wild Card' team.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported on Twitter Wednesday that the Boston Celtics could land Asik.

The Boston Celtics are gaining traction in talks to acquire Houston center Omer Asik, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

Serious talks on Boston-Houston package for Asik have included Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee and a 1st round pick, sources tell Yahoo.

Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported 10 days ago that the Blazers were "not planning" to pursue an Asik trade that involved starting center Robin Lopez.

The concept of a Lopez-for-Asik swap was first raised by Bill Simmons of Grantland.com in mid-November, and Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reported that the two sides were talking.

Last season, Asik was Houston's full-time starting center but he has been supplanted by Dwight Howard. Asik opened the season by starting alongside Howard but coach Kevin McHale moved him to the bench in November, a shift that reportedly caused him to request a trade. He hasn't appeared in a game since Dec. 2.

Blazers coach Terry Stotts has repeatedly praised Lopez, saying "I love Robin" after one November game.

Lopez, 25, holds career averages of 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds. The six-year veteran is averaging 9.6 points and 8.5 rebounds so far this season. He is under contract through the 2014-15 season.

Asik, 27, holds career averages of 5.4 points and 7 rebounds. The four-year veteran averaged a career-high 10.1 points and 11.7 rebounds last year but is averaging just 4.4 points and 6.8 rebounds this season. He is under contract through the 2014-15 season but his deal is back-loaded; Jason Patt of SB Nation lays out the details here.

Dave opened up a trade season discussion earlier this week.

PS Thanks to TheOdenator52 in the FanShots.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter