Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey has earned a reputation for being one of the most aggressive

Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey has earned a reputation for being one of the most aggressive, think-big executives in the NBA. Preston Brown Jersey . And its impossible to think any bigger than LeBron James. The Rockets took the first big step toward making a run at James by agreeing to trade Omer Asik and cash considerations to the New Orleans Pelicans for a protected future first-round draft pick, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday night. The person requested anonymity because the deal cannot be completed until July due to rules in the collective bargaining agreement and salary cap issues. James informed the Miami Heat earlier this week that he is opting out of his contract and will become a free agent when the new league year begins on July 1. Carmelo Anthony did the same with the New York Knicks, meaning two of the most dynamic players in the league are available in the same summer. Morey, whose Rockets were eliminated by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs this season, wants to bring a third star to Houston to team with James Harden and Dwight Howard. To do that, Morey has to free up cap room by trading Asik, a disgruntled big man who requested a trade last season after Howard took his starting spot, and point guard Jeremy Lin to give him about $19 million to throw at James. Many across the league expect James to remain in Miami, where Pat Riley is trying to retool a roster that won two championships and made four straight NBA Finals but was beaten decisively in five games by the San Antonio Spurs to end this season. But Morey can offer James a younger roster with two supporting cast members who are much closer to their primes than Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. If they swing and miss on James, Morey is expected to turn his attention to Anthony, perhaps the games best pure scorer. He could also look at trading for Minnesota All-Star Kevin Love, who can opt out of his contract next summer and has told the Timberwolves that he will not sign a long-term contract with the team. If anyone wondered about Moreys willingness to go big again this summer after winning the Dwight Howard sweepstakes last year and trading for Harden in 2012, he answered that emphatically on less than 24 hours before the NBA draft was scheduled to be held on Thursday night. The Rockets also avoid having to pay Asik a $15 million balloon payment in the final year of his contract, but it will count just over $8.3 million against the Pelicans cap next season. But the Rockets arent the only potential winners in this deal. Getting Asik is a significant move for the Pelicans, who got one of the leagues best interior defenders to pair with rising star Anthony Davis. Asik only averaged just over 20 minutes per game in 48 games last season. But his unhappiness with his situation behind Howard and a few nagging injuries certainly played large roles in his relative lack of production. He averaged 5.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and shot 53 per cent from the field last season. But in a starting role the previous season, Asik averaged 10.1 points, 11.7 boards and 1.1 blocks in all 82 games. Asik will have a much more prominent role in New Orleans next season, and his presence should allow the super-athletic, ultra-instinctual Davis even more freedom to roam on the defensive end and create havoc for opposing pick-and-roll tandems. New Orleans has missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, and GM Dell Demps didnt hesitate to give up a first-round pick to acquire a big building block that will make life easier for Davis and help the Pelicans try to make a jump in the powerful Western Conference. Mark Walton Jersey . "We cannot stay the same way the whole season long," said Reyes. "This is not acceptable. Something needs to change because were a better team than what were showing right now. Its a long season and we just need to continue to push." Its been a frustrating week for the ballclub. Custom Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys . They probably ruined Tim Duncans hopes of a career change, though. Duncan wants to be a point guard, coach Gregg Popovich revealed Saturday, a wish that wont be granted. http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengals-Cordy-Glenn-Jersey/ . Osasunas Alvaro Cejudo drove the ball onto the crossbar in the fifth minute and his team squandered several long-range strikes before he was denied one-on-one by goalkeeper Jaime Jimenez in the 50th.Bridgeview, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of club at the bottom of the Eastern Conference will clash on Saturday as the Chicago Fire welcome the Montreal Impact to Toyota Park. Its been a difficult season for Chicago as the club hasnt risen above eighth place in the East since April and has set a new MLS record for draws in a single season with 17 following Thursdays last-gasp 1-1 stalemate with the Philadelphia Union. The match against Philadelphia offered little in the way of scoring chances for most of the 90 minutes, but the Fire went behind two minutes from time when a right-wing cross from Danny Cruz was knocked down inside the box by Brian Brown, allowing Amobi Okugo to fire the ball past goalkeeper Sean Johnson from 12 yards. However, Chicago made the most of a gift from Union goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi, whose poor clearance in stoppage time was hit straight to substitute forward Robert Earnshaw, allowing the striker to get in on goal and send a delicate chip over the netminder and into the back of the net. I think that the game itself wasnt a particularly great game. Both sides felt a little bit cagey until the second half. We werent very good in the final third for us. But I thought Philadelphia had some good chances. Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys. Were happy to get the tie, Chicago head coach Frank Yallop said following the match. But we found a way to come back into the game and get something out of it. We could play better and do all these things, but were finding ways to at least get a point. But we cant find a way to win a game. And thats a little bit disappointing. Montreal. meanwhile, is coming off a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium. The Impact were behind the eight-ball almost immediately as Columbus found the back of the net after just two minutes through a goal from Ethan Finlay, who latched on to Wil Trapps through