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HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets have their centre of the immediate future. Emmanuel Sanders Youth Jersey . No, its not Dwight Howard. The Rockets announced Tuesday that Turkish big man Omer Asik is headed to Houston after the Chicago Bulls decided not to match their three-year, $25 million offer sheet. The 7-foot Asik averaged 3.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and one block in 66 games last season. He helped Turkey earn the silver medal at the 2010 FIBA world championship. Turkey didnt qualify for the 2012 OIympics in London. "A defensive presence in the middle, a 7-footer that we havent had for some time," general manager Daryl Morey said. The Rockets have needed a solid big man since Yao Ming retired last summer, his career derailed by foot injuries. Houston has reportedly been in the mix to land the All-Star Howard, but so far, Orlando seems content to keep him for now. Asik averaged 14.7 minutes per game last season, playing behind Joakim Noah for the Bulls. Hell be Houstons starter heading into training camp, barring another acquisition, and Morey is confident that he can smoothly make the transition to that role. "Free agency is very hard to find players to add in and have them fit into the overall structure of what were trying to do," Morey said. "One way to do it is to find a guy, who hasnt played much, that we really believe in, and then add him to our team. We think hes a 10-plus-a-night rebound guy, one of the best defensive bigs in the league." Morey concedes that Asik needs to show improvement on the offensive end. Asik is averaging only 2.9 points in his two NBA seasons. "Hes right now, a one-way defensive presence," Morey said. "We think thats the most important thing for your 5 man (centre) to be. Obviously, he has upside to his offensive game, because its limited right now." Asik was a second-round pick by Portland in the 2008 draft, and he was immediately traded to Chicago. He played in Turkey until joining the Bulls before the 2010-11 season. He broke his left fibula in Game 3 of the 2011 Eastern Conference finals against Miami, but recovered in time to play the entire 2011-12 season. "Im really looking forward to working with Omer," Houston coach Kevin McHale said. "Ive admired his physical style of play over the past two seasons as hes made the transition to the NBA. In his limited minutes, he has proved himself to be an exceptional defensive post player and we will be working with him to continue his progress. Omer has a great understanding of how to play defence and how to move without the ball and I know he will fit in very well with our needs in the low post." The acquisition of Asik is the latest in a flurry of moves for Houston this off-season, headlined by the acquisition of Jeremy Lin. The Rockets have missed the playoffs three straight years, and Morey has virtually reconstructed the roster. Along the way, Morey has drawn the Rockets well under the salary cap as he continues to build toward the major move that could turn Houston into a legitimate contender again. Before last season, Houston wouldve nabbed Pau Gasol before last season in a three-team deal that wouldve sent Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Goran Dragic and a first-round pick to New Orleans, but commissioner David Stern nixed the deal on behalf of the league-owned Hornets. "Our goal is always to take the next step forward, if we can," Morey said. "You dont know when thats going to happen, you dont know when those opportunities will come about. Last year, one of those opportunities we felt came about, and it didnt happen for the various reasons it didnt happen. You cant force it. Youve just got to be prepared and ready and when it happens, make the move." The Rockets started making moves a few days before the draft, trading Chase Budinger and Samuel Dalembert in separate deals. The initial goal was to collect draft picks and other assets to entice Orlando to consider trading Howard, a six-time All-Star widely regarded as the best centre in the game. Houston couldnt pull off a deal on draft night, and used their three first round picks on Connecticut guard Jeremy Lamb, Iowa State forward Royce White and Kentucky forward Terrence Jones. Morey opened free agency by getting Asik, a restricted free agent, to agree to the offer sheet. Dragic, an unrestricted free agent, signed with Phoenix, so Morey turned to Lin, who was in Houstons training camp for two weeks in December before joining the New York Knicks. Houston traded point guard Kyle Lowry, waited for the Knicks to make their decision, then introduced Lin at a packed press conference on the practice court at the Toyota Center. Houston also decided to waive the popular Scola, using the amnesty clause, and dealt guard Courtney Lee to Boston via a sign-and-trade. Also Tuesday, the Rockets announced they waived guard ETwaun Moore, who was acquired in the Lee trade to the Celtics. Joe Greene Jersey . You can see all the action on TSN2 beginning at 8pm et/5pm pt. The Rangers rebounded from a loss in Fridays opener to even this series on Saturday, as Adrian Beltre smacked a three-run home run and Colby Lewis tossed six innings of one-run ball in a 7-2 win. Franco Harris Jersey . Hyon-Hi Yun scored in the 78th minute to give North Korea a 2-1 victory over Canada on Monday in the final round-robin game. http://www.pittsburghsteelersprostore.com/lamarr-woodley-jerseys . From winless ace Josh Johnson to struggling closer Heath Bell, the Miami Marlins have major issues. "Theres a lot going on," Guillen said. L.C. Greenwood Jersey . The 40-year-old Hollywood actress tells the magazine that she feels more comfortable today than she did in her twenties or early thirties. Im healthier, Aniston is quoted as saying. Im more at peace in my mind and with my body. Hines Ward Jersey . Barcelona had 62 per cent of possession but failed to score in a Champions League match for the first time in 2 1/2 years. When the Spanish side did create chances at San Siro, it was thwarted by Milans experienced defence, goalkeeper Christian Abbiati and some lenient refereeing from Jonas Eriksson. EDMONTON -- Although it was familiar sight, Grant Shaw could hardly believe his own eyes. The Eskimos kicker missed a last-minute field goal for the second straight game as the Calgary Stampeders won the Labour Day rematch in Edmonton 20-18 on Friday. Shaw, who missed a 48-yard field goal in Mondays loss in Calgary, was lined up for a chance for redemption at Commonwealth Stadium, but missed again from 42 yards out with time expired. "The nightmare continues," said Shaw, who was part of the return from Toronto in the Rickey Ray trade. "I felt good about the kick. I just pushed it a little bit right and unfortunately it hit the upright. I have to be better. "It is not a good feeling right now. It feels terrible to let the team down. I cant believe this happened." It was the third straight win for the Stampeders, who moved into a tie for first place with the B.C. Lions in the CFLs West Division at 6-4. With both their victories on the week coming off missed last-second field goals by the Eskimos, the Stampeders were forced to admit they were a little fortunate. "When stuff like that happens, its by the grace of God," said Calgary QB Kevin Glenn. "We had the football gods on our side on that play. It was a hard-fought game on both sides. You have to give the credit for coming back and having a chance to kick to win. But at the same time, we fought hard too and stayed in the game and came from behind at the half." Stamps running back Jon Cornish, who scored the winning touchdown with five minutes to play and had 185 yards rushing on the night, was relieved to see his huge 59-yard scoring play stand up. "Its funny. You can go from being the hero to just another dude in one play," he said. "If they hit that field goal at the end, I had a good game, but we lost. It was just nice to contribute to the win. Thats the CFL. You have games that come down to the wire like that. In both cases this week we lucked out." Edmonton, with the two heartbreaking losses in a row, fell to third with a 5-5 record. "Im not happy," said Eskimos head coach Kavis Reed. "Im not happy that we did not execute at the level that we are accustomed to executing at. Im not happy that we did not take advantage of opportunities given to us. Im not happy that we had the penalties. Im not happy that we did not tackle well. Im not happy." The Stampeders had an impressive start with a touchdown on their first possession as Glenn passed 37 yards to Johnny Forzani for an early 7-0 lead. Edmonton responded with a punt single on its first drive. Calgary came flying back late in the opening quarter with a 50-yard passing play to Romby Bryant, but were forced to accept a 28-yard Rene Paredes field goal. The Esks started the second quaarter with a 22-yard Shaw field goal to cut Calgarys lead to 10-4. James Harrison Camo Jersey. Midway through the second quarter a pass interference call took the Stampeders down to the Edmonton two-yard line, but the Eskimo defence got the ball back on a Chris Thompson interception in the end zone. The first half had a wild finish as the Eskimos bobbled a field goal snap with time expired and holder and third-string quarterback Matt Nichols passed to linebacker Corbin Sharun, who bounced off a pair of Stamps defenders to score a 35-yard touchdown. Edmonton took an 11-10 lead into the dressing room at the half. Calgary got down to the Edmonton 15 with two minutes to go in the third quarter and looked about to regain the lead, but once again Glenn was picked off in the end zone by Thompson, who took the ball out to the 29. The Stampeders were able to inch back in front early in the third quarter on a 13-yard Paredes field goal. Calgary padded their lead with five minutes remaining as Cornish made a great cutback and ran 59 yards to put the Stamps ahead 20-11. The Eskimos came back with a long drive of their own to close to within two points. Veteran quarterback Kerry Joseph hit Fred Stamps with a 22-yard touchdown pass with just under three minutes to play. Joseph, who has not won a start in eight tries dating back to 2009, threw 275 yards in the game. Glenn was 19-for-30 with 254 yards, one touchdown pass and two interceptions. Edmonton got the ball back near midfield with just over a minute to play and pushed to the Calgary 35 on a third and 18 gamble that was caught for 31 yards by Marcus Henry. Shaw, who missed a 48-yarder in the loss to Calgary, came out to try and give Edmonton the win, but once again missed the mark. Coach Reed said the team will simply have to pick up the pieces right now. "This team will not quit," he said. "They are not built that way. There is disappointment, but this football team has character and we are not going to surrender the season. Next week is a new season in itself." The Stampeders return home to face Winnipeg next Friday, while the Eskimos hit the road to play the Ticats in Hamilton next Saturday. Notes: It was the second of four games to be played this year between the Alberta rivals... The Stamps also swept the Labour Day two-game home and away series in three of the five previous years ... Calgary receiver Nik Lewis played in his 150th career CFL game and has caught at least one pass in every one of those games... With the Eskimos trading wide receiver Greg Carr to the Saskatchewan Roughriders earlier this week, Edmonton started rookie Shamawd Chambers at wide receiver. Fellow receiver Marcus Henry was activated from the nine-game injured list and made his 2012 debut... The attendance at the game was 39,363. ' ' '
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