The Boston Celtics failed to acquire center Omer Asik as their trade deals with the Houston Rockets fell.

According to reports from CBS and ESPN, the deadlock arose from an impasse regarding draft picks. The offer from the Boston Celtics comprised of Courtney Lee and power forward Brandon Bass. The Rockets wanted a first round pick and Boston was willing to surrender the 2015 first round pick it acquired from the LA Clippers when they took coach Doc Rivers.

Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey refused this. For one, the LA Clippers will continue to improve until next year, which means the draft pick will be a late on. Also, he was very specific that he wants a first round pick for the incredibly talented 2014 Draft Class. Something Boston would never even think of surrendering.

The Rockets have been desperate to try and gain some leverage for Omer Asik. When a player makes a trade request public, that spells disaster for the mother team as rival GMs would see them in a position of weakness.

It is speculated that the various trade rumors that involved Asik was created by Rockets GM Morey himself to create a 'fake market' for Asik and encourage other teams to throw their hat in. Even the self-imposed deadline was not really bought by other teams.

Now, the Rockets have declared that they will stop entertaining trades for Asik and just integrate him back into the team. Most of the execs know that it's not possible since it is Asik itself that wants out. That position has never changed.

CBS Insider Ken Berger has said: "The simple fact is that there is no such thing as ending trade talks on Dec. 19. There are only two things that end trade talks: 1) a trade, and 2) the trade deadline."

The official trade deadline is on February 20, 2014. Until that day Asik will always be on the table. Asik has placed himself as the main course.