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Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Image 2 of 12 Hakeem Olajuwon Even the most recognizable player in team history had a beef with the Rockets. In the twilight of his career, he rejected an offer from the Rockets and requested to be traded. They granted him his wish. "Hakeem's decision is disappointing for the entire Rockets organization,'' Rockets owner Les Alexander said at the time. ''Hakeem Olajuwon has meant more to this franchise and this city than any other athlete in Houston history. We desperately wanted to keep him in a Rockets uniform for the remainder of his career and made every attempt to do so. It is with a heavy heart that we have agreed to his request.'' less Hakeem Olajuwon Even the most recognizable player in team history had a beef with the Rockets. In the twilight of his career, he rejected an offer from the Rockets and requested to be ... more Photo: Houston Chronicle file photo Image 3 of 12 The Rockets disagreement with Hakeem Olajuwon resulted in a strange sight - Olajuwon wearing a jersey that wasn't the Rockets. After 17 years as a Rocket, Olajuwon played his 18th and final season for the Toronto Raptors. Both sides have made nice since the bitter breakup, as Olajuwon has been hired by the Rockets as a special assistant. less The Rockets disagreement with Hakeem Olajuwon resulted in a strange sight - Olajuwon wearing a jersey that wasn't the Rockets. After 17 years as a Rocket, Olajuwon played his 18th and final season for the ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 4 of 12 Tracy McGrady T-Mac's tenure started with promise and ended in a trade. A severe back condition hindered McGrady's career. After returning from a prolonged absence, coach Rick Adelman and McGrady disagreed on playing time. He was eventually traded to the New York Knicks in 2010 in a deal that brought Kevin Martin to the Rockets. less Tracy McGrady T-Mac's tenure started with promise and ended in a trade. A severe back condition hindered McGrady's career. After returning from a prolonged absence, coach Rick Adelman and ... more Photo: James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle Image 5 of 12 Image 6 of 12 Scottie Pippen Michael Jordan's legendary sidekick was never a good fit with the Rockets. The Rockets traded for Pippen in the lockout-shortened 1998-1999 season in hopes of him being the final piece to a championship with Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon. But there would be no postseason glory. Pippen and Barkley didn't get along very well, and he was dealt the following offseason to the Portland Trail Blazers. less Scottie Pippen Michael Jordan's legendary sidekick was never a good fit with the Rockets. The Rockets traded for Pippen in the lockout-shortened 1998-1999 season in hopes of him being the ... more Photo: Houston Chronicle file photo Image 7 of 12 Kyle Lowry After a series of injuries in the 2012 season, Lowry returned and split time at point guard with Goran Dragic. Unsatisfied with the change, Lowry expressed his desire to be moved. The Rockets traded him to Toronto for Gary Forbes and a future draft pick. less Kyle Lowry After a series of injuries in the 2012 season, Lowry returned and split time at point guard with Goran Dragic. Unsatisfied with the change, Lowry expressed his desire to ... more Photo: Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle Image 8 of 12 Vernon Maxwell 'Mad Max' played a crucial role in the Rockets' first NBA championship in 1994, but he was prone to trouble. He had an incident with a fan in Portland among other legal woes. When the Rockets acquired Clyde Drexler it disappointed Maxwell and signaled the end of his time in Houston. He was waived by the team and picked up by the Philadelphia 76ers. less Vernon Maxwell 'Mad Max' played a crucial role in the Rockets' first NBA championship in 1994, but he was prone to trouble. He had an incident with a fan in Portland among other legal ... more Photo: Houston Chronicle file photo Image 9 of 12 Royce White The Rockets drafted White No. 16 overall in the 2012 - but the forward will likely never play an NBA game. He has a highly-publicized fear of flying as a part of an anxiety disorder. He demanded the NBA institute a protocol for players with his condition, initially refused an assignment to the Rockets' D-League affiliate and was a general headache for the franchise's management. White was traded to the 76ers the same day Houston reached an agreement with Dwight Howard. Philadelphia cut White after an inconsistent preseason, and it's unlikely any other organization will take a risk on him. less Royce White The Rockets drafted White No. 16 overall in the 2012 - but the forward will likely never play an NBA game. He has a highly-publicized fear of flying as a part of an anxiety ... more Photo: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle Image 10 of 12 Image 11 of 12 Omer Asik The Turkish center's days are numbered in Houston. Asik's feelings have been hurt ever since the team signed Dwight Howard after he had the best season of his career. Asik requested a trade in the aftermath of the Howard signing, but his wish was not granted. The Rockets tried a lineup with him and Howard but chose to make Asik a bench player. Television cameras caught him sulking on the bench and he missed two games because of his diminished minutes. It's not a matter of if but when Asik is sent to another team. less Omer Asik The Turkish center's days are numbered in Houston. Asik's feelings have been hurt ever since the team signed Dwight Howard after he had the best season of his career. Asik ... more Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 12 of 12 Rockets GM Morey speaks on Asik, Royce White 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey spoke on an array of topics in a Q&A discussion with season ticket holders before Friday’s game against the Grizzlies.

First on the agenda was disgruntled center Omer Asik.

Despite numerous trade requests from Asik, Morey said he expects him to finish off the remainder of his contract in Houston.

The Rockets attempted to trade Asik away and established a self-imposed deadline of Dec. 20. The right offer never came and Morey decided to hold off on shipping him.

Asik has been battling a thigh injury since Dec. 4 and hasn’t played in more than a month.

“We pushed to trade Omer in December. We felt we had to make a fair and aggressive effort to do that. Obviously, he’d prefer to be a starter. At this point, Omer is very likely going to be here until the end of his contract at the end of next season, not this season. The window to trade him was (in December), and teams weren’t aggressive enough to get him, so we’re excited about him being a part of our future.”

Morey also did not hesitate to admit past mistakes.

After drafting Royce White No. 16 overall in 2012, Morey said it was one of his least successful decisions.

The Rockets took a risk on White who is diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and has a phobia of flying on planes.

White was not satisfied with how the NBA handled players with his condition and called for better protocol. He missed several weeks of practice, refused an assignment to the NBA Development League and was fined. He eventually joined the Vipers in the D-League for part of the season.

The White saga ended for the Rockets when they traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers, the same day Dwight Howard announced his intentions to sign with Houston as a free agent.