Asik has requested, again, to be traded.

 New Orleans seems like the obvious choice. I think most of us agreed that an Asik-Ryan Anderson makes sense for both teams. But one of the teams didnt want to pull the trigger (I think it was New Orleans correct me if I’m wrong). 

 New Orleans seems like the obvious choice. I think most of us agreed that an Asik-Ryan Anderson makes sense for both teams. But one of the teams didnt want to pull the trigger (I think it was New Orleans correct me if I’m wrong). 

 Asik for Millsap?  I don’t understand that at all.  And if I remember correctly, New Orleans said they weren’t interested in Asik.

Not really too sure where he would fit.  They should have tried harder this off-season to deal him, it was pretty obvious that him and Howard weren’t going to co-exist.

 Asik for Millsap?  I don’t understand that at all.  And if I remember correctly, New Orleans said they weren’t interested in Asik.

Not really too sure where he would fit.  They should have tried harder this off-season to deal him, it was pretty obvious that him and Howard weren’t going to co-exist.

 Well Asik has that poison pill of a final year where hes getting 15 mill a year while Anderson is getting paid 8 mill a year for the next two. If im N.O id rather pay Anderson that then try and make up some feasible trade to match salary. Between Gordon, Reke, and Holiday and Asik that would be 51 million between the four of them add in Davis’s 5 million and they would only be 2 mill away from the cap.

 Well Asik has that poison pill of a final year where hes getting 15 mill a year while Anderson is getting paid 8 mill a year for the next two. If im N.O id rather pay Anderson that then try and make up some feasible trade to match salary. Between Gordon, Reke, and Holiday and Asik that would be 51 million between the four of them add in Davis’s 5 million and they would only be 2 mill away from the cap.

 Anderson is the guy everyone wants to see going to Houston, but Milsap would work too. I don’t see many other options out there, maybe Thad Young if Philly wants to bring Noel along slowly and think he’ll take a year or two to contribute. I think next year is the last on Asik’s contract so I don’t think think Noel will be playing 30 minutes a game by then because he needs time to put on weight so I don’t see them having the problem that Houston is having now. Maybe Boston just because who knows what they might do with their roster and they don’t have a good defensive big but I’m not sure what Boston could really offer that would match up salary wise.

 Anderson is the guy everyone wants to see going to Houston, but Milsap would work too. I don’t see many other options out there, maybe Thad Young if Philly wants to bring Noel along slowly and think he’ll take a year or two to contribute. I think next year is the last on Asik’s contract so I don’t think think Noel will be playing 30 minutes a game by then because he needs time to put on weight so I don’t see them having the problem that Houston is having now. Maybe Boston just because who knows what they might do with their roster and they don’t have a good defensive big but I’m not sure what Boston could really offer that would match up salary wise.

Doubt Atlanta would trade Millsap for Asik.  I would LOVE that as a Rockets fan.

Asik has to be traded before we lose any leverage we currently have with him, and that could happen if he decides to go public with any issues.

The Pelicans are 24th in rebounding and 14th in opponents PPG.  Asik would be a great fit and is definitely an upgrade over Jason Smith for the Hornets.

Doubt Atlanta would trade Millsap for Asik.  I would LOVE that as a Rockets fan.

Asik has to be traded before we lose any leverage we currently have with him, and that could happen if he decides to go public with any issues.

The Pelicans are 24th in rebounding and 14th in opponents PPG.  Asik would be a great fit and is definitely an upgrade over Jason Smith for the Hornets.

I quite like Asik but here is were it gets tough. He is not good enough to start for alot of contending teams so he will likely have to see limited minutes with a contender or get good minutes or even possibly start for a weak non play off team. The only problem is most of these non playoff teams are building young teams through the draft meaning they prob don’t really want his contract.

I quite like Asik but here is were it gets tough. He is not good enough to start for alot of contending teams so he will likely have to see limited minutes with a contender or get good minutes or even possibly start for a weak non play off team. The only problem is most of these non playoff teams are building young teams through the draft meaning they prob don’t really want his contract.

 The first idea to pop into my head was the Asik-Anderson  swap with the Pelicans.

If Houston felt comfortable making Miamo better, they could pull off a trade for for Haslem and Joel Anthony. Haslem would play well with Howard in Houston, and Asik could start at center for the  Heat allowing Bosh to slide back to power forward. He’d also help defend the stronger front courts for Miami.

Boston could use someone to block shots. A trade for Bass and Brooks would work out as well.

The trade with New Orleans makes the most sense in my opinion. I’m not sure which other teams would trade for Asik and give him starter minutes that he’d want.

 The first idea to pop into my head was the Asik-Anderson  swap with the Pelicans.

If Houston felt comfortable making Miamo better, they could pull off a trade for for Haslem and Joel Anthony. Haslem would play well with Howard in Houston, and Asik could start at center for the  Heat allowing Bosh to slide back to power forward. He’d also help defend the stronger front courts for Miami.

Boston could use someone to block shots. A trade for Bass and Brooks would work out as well.

The trade with New Orleans makes the most sense in my opinion. I’m not sure which other teams would trade for Asik and give him starter minutes that he’d want.

 I think everyone has suggested Asik for Anderson throughout the Summer. The rumor is that the Pelicans were not interested in this deal, and I don’t blame them. Think about it,  Anderson to Rockets makes them a real championship contender for years while Asik to Pelicans only makes the Pelicans a playoff contender. In a few years,  hopefully the Pelicans improves, but they’ll have the Rockets to always be one of their roadblocks to the finals.  I think I rather pass if I’m the Pelicans. 

Another deal that pops into my head is Asik to Portland for Robin Lopez and Joel Freeman. Portland has been trying to get a real center next to Aldridge while Leonard develops.  Houston,  gets a backup center in Lopez and Freeman is another potential pf to play alongside Howard. He plays like a big while having a decent mid range jumper. Both contracts expires next year as well if it doesn’t work out. 

 I think everyone has suggested Asik for Anderson throughout the Summer. The rumor is that the Pelicans were not interested in this deal, and I don’t blame them. Think about it,  Anderson to Rockets makes them a real championship contender for years while Asik to Pelicans only makes the Pelicans a playoff contender. In a few years,  hopefully the Pelicans improves, but they’ll have the Rockets to always be one of their roadblocks to the finals.  I think I rather pass if I’m the Pelicans. 

Another deal that pops into my head is Asik to Portland for Robin Lopez and Joel Freeman. Portland has been trying to get a real center next to Aldridge while Leonard develops.  Houston,  gets a backup center in Lopez and Freeman is another potential pf to play alongside Howard. He plays like a big while having a decent mid range jumper. Both contracts expires next year as well if it doesn’t work out. 

His contract looks terrible, but it’s not… at least cap-wise. I think he could give 9 pts, 11 reb, 1.5 blk (pretty much what he did last season as a starter) and solid post defense on most teams.

His contract looks terrible, but it’s not… at least cap-wise. I think he could give 9 pts, 11 reb, 1.5 blk (pretty much what he did last season as a starter) and solid post defense on most teams.

 Honestly, I’ve been trying hard to figure out a good trade for both teams, and I can’t come up with anything. Anyhting at all. WIll the Rockets trade Asik for a Power Forward to start? Or will they be searching for a backup Center? I have no idea.

I wanted Askik and Howard to work, but Asik just doesn’t look comfortaable on the court to me. Not even that, he doesnt even look happy on the court. Not really running hard nor hustlling at all. I think they are going to try and convince him some more though. He and Howard are both Centers so there will understandably be rough areas. However, Asik must realize that that lineup will be more suitable and deadly for playoff basketball, when its time to matchup with Splitter and Duncan, or Griffin and Jordan, or ZBO and Gasol. When teams go small, you’ll matchup and go to your quicker and more favorable matchup of the shooters on the floor with Howard. 

At least that’s my opinion.

 Honestly, I’ve been trying hard to figure out a good trade for both teams, and I can’t come up with anything. Anyhting at all. WIll the Rockets trade Asik for a Power Forward to start? Or will they be searching for a backup Center? I have no idea.

I wanted Askik and Howard to work, but Asik just doesn’t look comfortaable on the court to me. Not even that, he doesnt even look happy on the court. Not really running hard nor hustlling at all. I think they are going to try and convince him some more though. He and Howard are both Centers so there will understandably be rough areas. However, Asik must realize that that lineup will be more suitable and deadly for playoff basketball, when its time to matchup with Splitter and Duncan, or Griffin and Jordan, or ZBO and Gasol. When teams go small, you’ll matchup and go to your quicker and more favorable matchup of the shooters on the floor with Howard. 

At least that’s my opinion.

 As a Hawks fan I would have loved to see Asik next to Horford, but that was before we got Milsap. I hope Horford and Milsap hold down the PF and C in Atlanta for a long time. 

 As a Hawks fan I would have loved to see Asik next to Horford, but that was before we got Milsap. I hope Horford and Milsap hold down the PF and C in Atlanta for a long time. 

 I’m no salary cap expert but they both have 2yrs and ~$20M left on their deals, feel like they both would fill the immediate needs of each others teams, thoughts?

 I’m no salary cap expert but they both have 2yrs and ~$20M left on their deals, feel like they both would fill the immediate needs of each others teams, thoughts?

 There is another thread out there about Afflalo being dealt, and I thought there could be a three team deal that also adds Asik. So here it is:

Houston trades Asik, Motiejunas, Smith, and a pick for Deng and O’Quinn. Lineup would be Beverley (Lin), Harden (Garcia), Deng (Casspi), Parsons (Jones), and Howard (O’Quinn). This way they can play their small ball. 

Orlando trades Afflalo and O’Quinn for Asik, Teague, and a pick. Lineup would be Nelson (Teague), Oladipo (Price), Harkless (Harris), Vucevic (Davis), and Asik (Nicholson). Would be a great rebounding team and Vucevic can play next to Asik because he can shoot, unlike Howard. 

Chicago trades Deng and Teague for Afflalo, Motiejunas, and Smith. Lineup would be Rose (Hinrich), Afflalo (Dunleavy), Butler (Snell), Boozer (Gibson/Motiejunas), and Noah (Smith). Afflalo brings defensive, outside shooting, and he can somewhat create his own shot. Plus young bigs help with all the injuries.

 There is another thread out there about Afflalo being dealt, and I thought there could be a three team deal that also adds Asik. So here it is:

Houston trades Asik, Motiejunas, Smith, and a pick for Deng and O’Quinn. Lineup would be Beverley (Lin), Harden (Garcia), Deng (Casspi), Parsons (Jones), and Howard (O’Quinn). This way they can play their small ball. 

Orlando trades Afflalo and O’Quinn for Asik, Teague, and a pick. Lineup would be Nelson (Teague), Oladipo (Price), Harkless (Harris), Vucevic (Davis), and Asik (Nicholson). Would be a great rebounding team and Vucevic can play next to Asik because he can shoot, unlike Howard. 

Chicago trades Deng and Teague for Afflalo, Motiejunas, and Smith. Lineup would be Rose (Hinrich), Afflalo (Dunleavy), Butler (Snell), Boozer (Gibson/Motiejunas), and Noah (Smith). Afflalo brings defensive, outside shooting, and he can somewhat create his own shot. Plus young bigs help with all the injuries.

I’d be interested to know how Asik’s contract counts capwise as Tongueout points out, if so then the cap hit next year would not be too bad. I still honestly think that the Anderson trade is the most logical one but would NOH want to give up Anderson’s 3 point range to acquire Asik as they already have Robin Lopez at C. They would improve defensively but would lose Anderson’s scoring and his game compliments Davis and Lopez nicely.

It is strange that teams are always after good quality defensive guys but it’s hard to find other logical trades regarding Asik. The only other team that came to mind was Boston perhaps with some deal involving Crash Wallace.

I’d be interested to know how Asik’s contract counts capwise as Tongueout points out, if so then the cap hit next year would not be too bad. I still honestly think that the Anderson trade is the most logical one but would NOH want to give up Anderson’s 3 point range to acquire Asik as they already have Robin Lopez at C. They would improve defensively but would lose Anderson’s scoring and his game compliments Davis and Lopez nicely.

It is strange that teams are always after good quality defensive guys but it’s hard to find other logical trades regarding Asik. The only other team that came to mind was Boston perhaps with some deal involving Crash Wallace.

 Broadly speaking Asik’s contract is $5M, $5M and $15M. It counts toward cap by adding the whole thing together and dividing by three. So $25M divided by the three years of the contract is about $8M per year. That is what he counts toward as a cap. I think there is a little more to it but that is basically it. 

He is arguably one of the top ten defenders in the league based upon his total impact to team defense (which is very hard to judge, but the difference last season between him on the court and off the court for the Rockets was huge). I can see why he wants to get more PT because with further development he could easily be looking at a four year $40M contract after this contract expires. As of right now, as a cap hit, he is fairly paid. From a cash flow though, $15M next year is going to be a bite. Small market teams who actually have to worry about the actual cost of players as opposed to just worrying about cap hit might not want to pay that next year for a player who doesn’t score a lot of points. 

 Broadly speaking Asik’s contract is $5M, $5M and $15M. It counts toward cap by adding the whole thing together and dividing by three. So $25M divided by the three years of the contract is about $8M per year. That is what he counts toward as a cap. I think there is a little more to it but that is basically it. 

He is arguably one of the top ten defenders in the league based upon his total impact to team defense (which is very hard to judge, but the difference last season between him on the court and off the court for the Rockets was huge). I can see why he wants to get more PT because with further development he could easily be looking at a four year $40M contract after this contract expires. As of right now, as a cap hit, he is fairly paid. From a cash flow though, $15M next year is going to be a bite. Small market teams who actually have to worry about the actual cost of players as opposed to just worrying about cap hit might not want to pay that next year for a player who doesn’t score a lot of points. 

 My mistake that Robin Lopez was still with the Pelicans, I typed the response quickly.

 Thanks to Tallman for explaining the contract thing, it must be a bit more involved as otherwise teams with little cap space would sign a guy for below market value in the first year of his deal and then beef up the later years to make the contract balance out. But Houston were under cap when they signed Asik and Lin so the chances of teams doing that too often are limited.

On a slightly different note, the likes of David West in 2011 and both Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson took shorter contracts than they might have done. Could teams signing major FA’s look at this and the player’s agent "suggest" the player signs a short term deal then can get a big 5 year deal down the line? Teams would have to be very careful after the Joe Smith Minny incident but there is a prescedent for these shorter contracts now. 

 My mistake that Robin Lopez was still with the Pelicans, I typed the response quickly.

 Thanks to Tallman for explaining the contract thing, it must be a bit more involved as otherwise teams with little cap space would sign a guy for below market value in the first year of his deal and then beef up the later years to make the contract balance out. But Houston were under cap when they signed Asik and Lin so the chances of teams doing that too often are limited.

On a slightly different note, the likes of David West in 2011 and both Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson took shorter contracts than they might have done. Could teams signing major FA’s look at this and the player’s agent "suggest" the player signs a short term deal then can get a big 5 year deal down the line? Teams would have to be very careful after the Joe Smith Minny incident but there is a prescedent for these shorter contracts now.