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Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey has earned a reputation for being one of the most aggressive, think-big executives in the NBA. Chad Williams Cardinals 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. Andre Smith Cardinals Jersey .Y. - Islanders forward Anders Lee has been fined $2,286 by the NHL for elbowing St. Benson Mayowa Cardinals Jersey . On Wednesday, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas hit back. In a passionate defence of himself and the London clubs medical staff, the Portuguese coach rebuked the "incompetent people" who have attacked Tottenham for allowing Lloris to continue playing after being briefly knocked unconscious against Everton on Sunday. http://www.officialauthenticcardinalsshop.com/authentic-justin-pugh-jersey.html . -- With Tony Allen back, the Memphis Grizzlies were able to turn up their defence pressure and hold off the Los Angeles Clippers down the stretch.AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Australia coach Ewen McKenzie denies he is "poking a bear with a stick" by challenging New Zealand to play at its best in Saturdays Rugby Championships test at Eden Park. Australia drew confidence from last weekends 12-12 draw with New Zealand in Sydney and McKenzie epitomized their bullish attitude when he baited the All Blacks at a news conference Friday. McKenzie said "its not about poking a bear with a stick. Its a competitive game. We want them to bring their A game because we are going to bring ours." The All Blacks have vowed to produce a much better performance at Auckland as they defend a 20-year unbeaten record on Eden Park. In 2008, Australia won in Sydney but were well beaten in Auckland a week later. "Over the years theres been occasions where a week apart things change a lot," New Zealand captain Richie McCaw said. "Back to 2008, when we got put to the sword in Sydney, there was a fair bit of edge that week." The Wallabies have been unable to win at Eden Park stretching back to 1986, but now believe they have the personnel and the form to break that hoodoo. "We know weve improved a lot from last week, we have been focusing on that," McKenzie said. "We know what we are capable of. We were off the pace at key moments last week, there were key decisions we didnt get right. We expect to do better this week. Mason Cole Cardinals Jersey. " McKenzies comments are likely to further incite the All Blacks team that felt a significant factor in the Sydney draw was referee Jaco Peyper, who sin-binned two All Blacks, blew 14 penalties against them and prevented them asserting their superiority in scrums. Head coach Steve Hansen said Peyper later admitted making errors, and hoped for a more even performance on Saturday from French referee Roman Poite. McCaw said the All Blacks cannot blame the referee alone, and should recognize other shortcomings. "In the first quarter of an hour we did all right, but we certainly let the Wallaby pack get back into it," he said. "Perhaps they had the edge in the second half, so you can imagine telling the big boys that on Monday, they werent that happy. But its all words, its about putting it into action tomorrow night. Weve got to supply our backs with better ball than we did last week." New Zealand has been forced to make three changes to its lineup for a match in which victory would retain the bi-lateral Bledisloe Cup for the 13th-straight year. "There was plenty of criticism that was warranted last week," Hansen said. "We just didnt play well enough. We have to be honest about that, and if we want to retain the Bledisloe Cup we have to go up 10 or 12 notches and get on with it." Cheap Heat Jerseys Cheap Bucks Jerseys Cheap Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Pelicans Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap Magic Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Cheap Suns Jerseys Cheap Blazers Jerseys Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys Cheap Spurs Jerseys Cheap Raptors Jerseys Cheap Jazz Jerseys Cheap Wizards Jerseys ' ' '