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Potential trade options for Omer Asik

Roar Guru
17th December, 2013
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Since Omer Asik signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Houston Rockets in 2012, designed to ensure the Bulls wouldn’t match it, things have turned sour for the big Turkish centre.

Last season he was the Rockets starting centre for all 82 games and put up some solid numbers – 10.1 points on 54 percent from the field and 11.7 rebounds. Things changed, however, when the Rockets finally got their way and signed Dwight Howard in free agency.

The initial plans were to have Howard play power forward while Asik was playing centre, but this was anything but successful.

When it became apparent that having two close to the rim players with questionable offensive abilities was not working, Asik was moved to the bench while Kevin McHale figured out how to make it work.

The result was Asik losing his minutes and subsequently pouting and demanding a trade, which the Rockets have only just begun to get serious about.

Daryl Morey’s dream is to surround Dwight Howard with an army of three-point shooters like he had in his successful years in Orlando, so he’d like a stretch PF in return for trading Asik.

Below are some potential teams that Asik could go to – and who the Rockets could get back in return – now that the December 15 deadline for trading free agents signed in the summer is over.

Philadelphia 76ers (Target: Thad Young or Spencer Hawes)
Both Thad Young and Spencer Hawes are reliable big men with three-point range so fit the mould perfectly. The Rockets would prefer to get Young as he is a better fit in the starting line-up.

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Philly, on the other hand, may not want to give up Young for a 10/10 guy with limited offensive skills given they have Nerlens Noel waiting to make his NBA debut next season.

Hawes makes more sense for both teams but still doesn’t address the Rockets’ needs at PF unless Hawes plays as a floor-spacing perimeter big.

Boston Celtics (Target: Brandon Bass or Jeff Green)
The Celtics are still in their rebuilding phase and have plenty of cap space next season to absorb Asik’s albatross contract. They are also in need of a young centre who can protect the rim and rebound.

In return the Rockets could either get Brandon Bass – a mid-range jump shooter and solid rebounder – or Jeff Green, a small ball PF with the required range who can provide another ball handling option.

Atlanta Hawks (Target: Paul Millsap)
Millsap is everything the Rockets needs and the Hawks might be willing to let him go for the right price.

One advantage the Rockets have is that Asik would actually fit in nicely with the Hawks. His acquisition would allow Al Horford to move to the PF position where he can do more damage and not have to guard the bigger centres he does now.

Cleveland Cavaliers (Target: Anderson Varejao)
The Cavs love Varejao and he isn’t really a stand and deliver long-range shooter, so the Rockets won’t be keen on this trade unless there is a draft pick involved.

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With Andrew Bynum starting to show improvement I don’t see the Cavs wanting to pay $15 million next season – plus give up a draft pick for a backup centre – when they already have a cheaper (and better) option in Varejao.

New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are in this group because they have the league’s best three-point shooting power forward in Ryan Anderson.

Obviously the Rockets would love Anderson waiting in the corner while Dwight operates in the post (just like in Orlando), but this makes little sense for the Pelicans.

Justifying losing a critical floor-spacer who is key to their offense for a guy who will provide minimal offensive assistance is going to be hard. I don’t think Dell Demps is going to bite on this one.

Conclusion
Asik will be moved sooner or later by the Rockets and it may involve more than one team.

If they can get a player that can provide more floor spacing and some sort of usefulness on defense then they will be laughing all the way to the bank – possibly to tell the bank manager that they aren’t spending $15 million on a reserve centre next season.

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