to injuries, remained three points above the relegation zone alo

Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey has earned a reputation for being one of the most aggressive, think-big executives in the NBA. 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. Shoes UK Online Cheap .com) - There may be a debate in Philadelphia about who should be the starting quarterback of the Eagles. 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BARCELONA, Spain -- Cristiano Ronaldo scored two long-range goals to help Real Madrid rout Osasuna 4-0 on Saturday and stay in the Spanish league title chase while resting several first-choice players for its European clash at Bayern Munich. With Gareth Bale recovering from the flu and Karim Benzema on the bench, all of Madrids attack went through Ronaldo on the left flank. And the Ballon dOr winner didnt disappoint by unleashing two similar blasts after cutting inside to put the ball on his right boot and lift his league-leading tally to 30 goals through 35 rounds. Madrid provisionally closed to within three points of leader Atletico Madrid before it visits Valencia on Sunday, when Barcelona, one point behind Madrid, hosts Villarreal. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti also gave valuable rest to defender Pepe and midfielder Xavi Alonso to prepare for its visit to Bayern on Tuesday in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal. Madrid won the first leg 1-0. "Everything he tried turned out well for us," Ancelotti said about Ronaldo. "We could rest some players and played a good game, even if it wasnt a very intense one." Elsewhere, Getafes 1-0 win over Malaga condemned last-place Real Betis to relegation even before it fell 1-0 at home to Real Sociedad, while Rayo Vallecano scored three times in the second half for a 3-0 win at 10-man Granada. Osasuna lined up to provide Madrid a guard of honour before the match as the hosts paraded their recently won Copa del Rey trophy at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Ronaldo then went to work chalking up his 29th league goal in the sixth minute when he unleashed a trademark blast from outside the area that took a slight deflection off defender Damia Abella before falling just inside the far upright. He looked to get his teammates involved, and set up scoring chances for Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Alvaro Morata. But it fell to Ronaldo to start the seconnd half as he had the first, with Osasunas outclassed defence letting him again dribble to near the elbow of the area before he launched a shot into the top corner of the net in the 52nd.dddddddddddd "Both goals came at the start of each half and that complicated things for us," Osasuna coach Javi Gracia said. "They are both more merit of Ronaldo than my defences fault. Its true Damia touches the first strike and that gives it an effect, but the second shot is unstoppable." Sergio Ramos headed in a third goal in the 60th and Ronaldo went to the bench seconds later to an ovation from the crowd. Dani Carvajal headed home Isco Alarcons lobbed pass to cap the lopsided victory in the 83rd. Osasuna, which lost Raoul Loe and Emiliano Armenteros to injuries, remained three points above the relegation zone along with Getafe. Forward Adrian Colunga scored what proved to be the winner seven minutes into the game at Getafe from a pass by Ciprian Marica, who left his side a man down from the 37th for a second yellow card. But Malaga couldnt take advantage of the extra man and itself lost a player when Marcos Angeleri was sent off for a second booking in the 76th. "This victory is huge," Getafe coach Cosmin Contra said. "You saw team spirit today. We are still alive." Sociedad added to Betis misery by winning thanks to Carlo Velas 54th-minute penalty kick after Juan Carlos Perez fouled him in the area. Sociedad strengthen its hold on sixth place and cemented its Europa League berth for next season. Rayo rose into ninth place with only one loss in its last 10 matches. Rayo held Granada in check in the first half before Yacine Brahimis dismissal for a second yellow card in the 51st turned the match in the visitors favour. All the matches observed a minute of silence before kickoff for Barcelonas former coach, Tito Vilanova, who died on Friday after a battle with cancer. ' ' '