After spending two years collecting assets in an effort to replace Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets GM Darryl Morey appears ready to strike as the NBA free agent rumor mill heats up:
SpearsNBAYahoo Marc J. SpearsRetweeted by WojYahooNBA
Paul has been linked to big market teams like the Lakers and Knicks since the lockout ended, but a rebuilding team like New Orleans doesn't have much interest in a 31-year old Pau Gasol.
The Rockets have a bounty of draft picks, including New York's first-round pick in 2012, as potential trade sweeteners.
Nor is Gasol the only big man Houston has been linked to in free agency, as they are reportedly in the running for LA Clippers restricted free agent center DeAndre Jordan:
WojYahooNBA Adrian WojnarowskiThe bidding to sign Clips' DeAndre Jordan to an offer sheet Friday likely to include G-State, Houston, New Orleans and Denver, sources say.
However, with NBA free agency set to begin with a flurry on Friday, nothing is official until it actually is.
For the most up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Rockets free agency plans, head over to The Dream Shake.