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2014 NBA trade deadline date is February 20.

NBA Rumors for Thursday, Dec. 19

InsideHoops NBA rumors updated 1:00 p.m. ET. More NBA rumors stories and other news also appears on the InsideHoops basketball blog.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, "Houston has ended talks on an Omer Asik trade and plan to keep him for now, league source tells Yahoo Sports... Houston has found too many teams leery of Asik's contract next season, and hasn't found a deal it wants... Houston had created a self-imposed deadline of today, but remember: the trade deadline is still two months away."

Luol Deng would like to stay with the Bulls. He has made that clear several times this season and reiterated it before the Bulls’ 109-94 loss Wednesday against the Rockets, saying, “I mean, I never played for anyone else.’’ But 10 years in the NBA hardens a player. It teaches him business over heart. So if Deng wakes up this morning, gets the call that he has been traded, so be it. No hurt feelings, no surprises. Chicago Sun-Times

While a source said last week that general manager Gar Forman had not been making calls on Deng but had received some inquiries, the free agent-to-be is one of several attractive pieces that could be moved if the downward spiral continues. The likelihood of a contract extension is almost nil with the sides $5 million to $6 million per year apart. “The thing is, every game you play, you try to win, but you know every game you lose, you’re behind one,’’ Deng said. Behind one and a day closer to getting that phone call. Chicago Sun-Times

MAIN MORNING NBA RUMORS STORIES

Eventually the Cavaliers will likely have to address their small forward position, but it doesn’t appear as if today will be that day. As Omer Asik prepares to leave Houston in a trade today, the Cavs’ interest has been limited to a three-team deal. The Rockets were previously negotiating with the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, which could’ve created a match for the Cavs since they have varying degrees of interest in both Evan Turner and Jeff Green to fill their needs on the wing. But by Wednesday afternoon, league sources indicated the Cavs weren’t close to a deal for either player and by Wednesday night, Yahoo! Sports reported the Cavs had faded significantly in any deal involving Asik and the Rockets. Akron Beacon Journal

The Cavs were never interested in Asik for themselves and seemed hesitant to move Anderson Varejao in any deal. They have a plethora of future draft picks, which the Rockets wanted in exchange for Asik, but national reports indicated Wednesday evening that the Rockets and Celtics had advanced on a deal without the Cavs. Akron Beacon Journal

Cavs: The lack of productivity out of the ‘3’ spot has forced Brown to use a three-guard lineup more than he expected while Gee plays less than 20 minutes a night. Still, even with a glaring hole in the offense from one of the most offensive-minded positions in the league, the Cavs have improved dramatically in recent weeks, averaging 110 points in their past four games and going 4-3 thus far in December after a dreadful November. Akron Beacon Journal

The day has arrived for the Houston Rockets to live up to their vow to trade disgruntled center Omer Asik. The Rockets have been telling teams for two weeks that they will trade Asik by Thursday, and according to sources close to the process, they gradually continued to move in that direction Wednesday. ESPN.com

ESPN.com reported Tuesday that the Boston Celtics had emerged as the strongest rivals to the Philadelphia 76ers in terms of Asik's likely destination. Entering the final hours before the Rockets' self-imposed deadline, sources said Houston officials spent much of Wednesday weighing the merits of Boston's offer of forward Brandon Bass, guard Courtney Lee and a future first-round draft pick for the 7-footer from Turkey while also remaining engaged in talks with Philadelphia and leaving open the possibility that other teams could still join the bidding. ESPN.com

The Rockets, sources said, have been interested in prying veteran center Spencer Hawes away from the Sixers along with a future first-round pick, but they won't know until Thursday whether Philadelphia is prepared to part with that much for Asik or whether Boston's offer is the best available. ESPN.com

The Hawks, sources said, have been resistant to making versatile forward Paul Millsap available to the Rockets, while Cleveland's interest was said to be as a potential third team to absorb the contract of Celtics forward Jeff Green. But sources say Boston has refused to make Green available in Asik scenarios, offering Bass instead. ESPN.com

Both Bass and Lee played with Howard in Orlando, but there are questions about how well Bass' game meshes with Howard's compared to power forwards with better shooting range. On the plus side, Bass has only one season left on his contract after this one at $6.9 million. ESPN.com

There was some good news at Wednesday for a team that desperately needs some. Injured rookie guard Michael Carter-Williams practiced for the first time in more than two weeks and is expected to play Friday against the Nets. He has missed seven games — all defeats — with a right knee infection. But some frustration was also evident. The Intelligencer

Veteran forward Thaddeus Young didn’t seem like a happy camper once the media was permitted to view the end of the lengthy practice. Coach Brett Brown went over to Young at a side basket and tried to appease the normally easygoing Young. Young was pointing at the court and animatedly talking as Brown mostly listened. Later, Young termed his frustration level as “a bit high sometimes.” The Intelligencer

Ginobili has bounced back with a fury following his Finals meltdown, inserting his name into early discussions for Sixth Man of the Year. He bolstered his claim with another fantastic performance on Wednesday, scoring a season-high 24 points — the most he’s had off the bench over the past three seasons — to go with six rebounds, seven assists and two steals. According to Basketball Reference, it marked only the seventh time in Ginobili’s career that he’s reached those figures in a regular-season game, and the eighth time overall. San Antonio Express-News Blog

Tony Parker will skip Thursday’s game at Golden State before his bruised shin is re-evaluated leading up to Saturday’s home contest against Western Conference rival Oklahoma City. San Antonio Express-News Blog

Lakers guard Jordan Farmar had an ultrasound test and was examined today by Dr. Luga Podesta of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Results show that there is progress in his torn left hamstring, which Farmar injured in the first half of the Lakers game against Portland on December 1, but that the injury is still not healed. Farmar will be out at least another week, and his next evaluation is scheduled for December 24, at which time another update will be issued. InsideHoops

Denver Nuggets forward Jordan Hamilton has been suspended one game without pay for throwing a punch and making contact with the shoulder of Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations. The incident, for which Hamilton was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, occurred with 11:01 remaining in the fourth quarter of Denver’s 105-93 loss to the Thunder on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Pepsi Center. InsideHoops

New York Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills announced today that the team has recalled guard Chris Smith from the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League. Smith, 6-0, 200-pounds, was assigned to Erie on Nov. 18 and has averaged 11.3 points, on 50.0-percent shooting, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 24.7 minutes in six games for the BayHawks. InsideHoops

The Chicago Bulls announced Monday that the team has waived guard Mike James. James (6-2, 188) appeared in seven games with Chicago, and averaged 0.3 ppg, 0.9 apg in 5.4 mpg. He signed with Chicago on Sept. 27. InsideHoops

Michael Jordan is on his way to creating a basketball team of his own ... TMZ Sports has learned he's having IDENTICAL twin girls. Michael's wife, Yvette Prieto, is pregnant, though we don't know how far along. They were married in April. Michael already has 3 kids -- 2 boys and a girl. The kids are all in their 20s. TMZ

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman arrived in North Korea on Thursday to meet with leader Kim Jong Un and put the finishing touches on plans to bring 12 former NBA players to Pyongyang for a Jan. 8 exhibition game marking the leader's birthday. Rodman said the game is on track despite the recent execution of Kim's uncle in a dramatic political purge. His visit comes less than a week after North Korea announced the execution of Jang Song Thaek, an unprecedented fall from grace for one of the most powerful figures in the country. Jang's execution sparked speculation by foreign analysts over the future of the Kim regime. AP

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