OFFICIAL: Omer Asik a Houston Rocket (3 year/$25.1 million)

No one is expecting him to win a championship for us, we just want him to be a piece of the puzzle.

 

Is he officially ours yet?

 

We won't know until July 14th. Just like Lin, he is a RFA.

 

cool, thx. I thought there was 3 days we had to wait, does that 3 days start on the 14th or 11th?

 

3 days after the 11th

 

Eh, I somewhat disagree on this. The Magic lose a lot of leverage if they don't do a deal by free agency. So many trades - especially with the NJ option - are dependent on S&T guys. Guys like Brook Lopez aren't just going to stay in limbo all summer. He'll sign shortly after the 11th, and if a deal isn't there to send him to Orlando, he's sticking with the Nets through December, at the earliest. And if the Nets are off the table, Orlando loses some leverage. Likewise, a team like the Rockets interested in Dwight as a rental would likely offer more if they have a full free agency to try and build a team around him.

My guess is that Dwight either is traded next week (most likely) or the Nets decide to wait until after December 15. I don't see the benefit of waiting until August/September/October.

 

Hope is a dangerous thing...it's something that worked out for them last year when they took a trade of Howard up until the last minute, quite literally and it paid off for them (at least for the year).

If Orlando is deluded enough into thinking that they can still keep him, then they might try to do the same thing and risk losing him, just as any other team not-named-Nets would be doing in trading for him. They could try trading for other pieces to put around him, not that they have many trade options, but hey...we said the same thing about the Nets when they agreed to trade for JJ, and yet somehow they're still in the mix for Howard.

Hope is dangerous.

 

So, what are we going to do if the Bulls match, and assuming Camby leaves as it appears, and assuming Howard does not magically appear?

Neither Donuts nor Patterson are centers, although they can play there against certain teams and certain line-ups. But they would be destroyed trying to defend against many teams. Leuer is a backup at best, if he is even going to on the opening roster.

What exactly is our plan? I am sure they have game theoried it to death, but I dont see alot of great options.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/2012-nba-free-agents

 

If we lose out on Asik and Camby isn't coming back, I say start Greg Smith. Throw him out there and let him get first-hand experience. He's a wide body with big hands that can man the paint, block shots, and plays above the rim.

A lot of people including myself were excited that we locked him up on the cheap. He's still very young, has potential, and has been here during the offseason working with the coaching staff. I'm excited to see him develop. He doesn't have much of an offensive game right now, but neither does Asik. However, Asik is a 7 footer with experience so he's still the better option, but don't forget about Smith.

 

^ Good idea, but if there are no other centers, Motiejunas should start. I have a feeling Greg Smith is too foul-prone.

 

Hamed Haddadi as a better alternative to Smith?
He is older but has the size advantage at 7'2, 254 and 27 years old
Has averaged only 5-6 mpg for Griz as a part-time back-up center.
I remember watching him one game and he quickly blocked 3 shots.
His 2012 per 36 shows up as 12 ppg, 12.4 rebs, 4.5 blocks.
Might be able to play a Bull's Ashik type role.
He is an UFA.

 

Scrub.

 

Gets get the Prince of Persia and make Iranian money!

 

Haddadi, Omer Asik and Lior Eliyahu in the frontcourt together may have started WWIII.
(or prevented it?)

 

If Asik is matched and the Rockets do not have a starting center-

-Greg Smith is an option for 10 to 15 minutes, but shouldnt really be considered a true starter in the NBA.

-Nenad Kristic is rumoured to be interested in coming back to the NBA next season. He is serviceable, and a good fit for the Rockets system given his shooting ability. We all know that McHale likes going small ball at the end of the 4th so Im not too concerned with having more than 2 or 3 serviceable and cheap centers on the roster next season if this is truely a rebuilding year. He is a journeyman big who would most likely be open to a one year pay day rental fee most likely. Seems like a good fit.

 

you have a sense of well, Drama.

 

Why are we worried about having a starting center when Dwight Howard is ours?

 

After next year?

 

Is there any way Asik and Dwight could play at the same time?

You know, just in case we run out of power forwards and have too...

 

I honestly feel really good anout this Asik signing, certainly much more comfortable we'll nab our man compared to the Jeremy "We'll give you a faint glimmer of hope before we match LOL" Lin offer sheet. Chicago has nothing to gain by matching the sheet for a 15 min player, and everything to lose if they match it. At the very least, they have to get rid of Noah, someone who is probably a better player and would be making 50% of Asik's salary on the third year.

A front court of Asik and DMO would be pretty good, esp. if we manage to convert White to SF and he can be the point forward while DMO can hang back and shoot open jumpers.

Lin
Parsons
White
DMo
Asik

*not a lot of superstars in that starting 5, but it could be pretty deadly since everyone's skillset complements one another.