Keep your eye on Paul Millsap. The Hawks are bringing him off the bench in tonight's game. This means that they are experimenting with using Al Horford at the power forward position. My guess is they want to see how he performs at the position to test the waters for a Asik/Horford combo. Bringing Millsap of the bench in favor of starting Gustavo Ayon is inexplicable otherwise.
In order of preference: 1) Trade McHale for two 1sts (one can dream). 2) Trade McHale for a late 2nd. 3) Fire McHale. 4) Trade Asik for Love. 5) Trade Asik for LMA. 6) Keep Asik and just ride out McHale. I don't know why McHale even bothers to "experiment," since he never pays any attention to the outcomes of his experiments. He experimented with the Asik-Howard lineup for many quarters, found something that worked really well for two quarters (screens with Asik-Howard-Parsons-Harden-Lin), then went "Oh oh oh wait that actually works really well let us better never do that again I am still mad at Morey." Just bring Asik off the bench with Lin to sync the Asik-Howard lineup with Parsons-Harden-Lin and set screens for 18 minutes a game. I mean, seriously, it's not that hard. Why does McHale likes to jackass around so much? Does he anticipate his departure and just wants to screw with Morey? Who knows? Who cares? Just fix it.
Miami does not "NEED" a true center. They've been to the finals 3 times and won 2 times without one. Pat Riley would be chased out of town if he breaks up the Big 3 in the middle of a 3-peat attempt. Miami excels at small ball. They only need a center when it's a close play off series against a team with big centers AND the outside shots aren't falling. As a result, they need a veteran rebounding center for maybe 5-6 games in the season. They got that with Odom. Plus, Chris Andersen has risen to the stretch 5 role very well.
I wrote the other day that GM Morey was looking for a 1st Rounder for Asik. That could be one of the things holding up getting a deal done, that & the December trade date. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=8423750&postcount=40
There is only 1 deal that fits what the Rockets need! Asik for Horford Harden / Howard / Horford ---> H-Town Baby!!!
I know asik is a fan favorite here, I like him too, but compare to what Lin has been doing this season, suck it up and try to make the best out of it, still playing 110 every nite, what asik is doing is utterly unprofessional.
That's just Morey being Morey.. keeping his assets inflated I'm sure he would love to get a decent 1st out of Asik, but i think he has no problem settling for less It seems to me he is just setting the negotiation table
