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

Fruck centers than.

McHale can continue to pull his bullshet of putting Scola and Patpat at 5 and 4 during that long ass losing streak that destroyed the playoff hopes.

 

I could have phrased the question as- Who do we run out there to defend Bynum (assuming no Asik, no Howard and no Camby)?

None of Smith, Patterson or Leur has much of a chance and I suspect he will destroy Donuts. Will our strategy to be to just hope he gets tired?

Next on my list of Western Conference bigs we cannot defend is LaMarcus Aldridge. He may not really be a center but he does play the 5 alot and kills us on the inside no matter where he lines up.

After those two, I begin to feel better about of chances of Smith/Patterson/Donuts/Leuer being able to defend the next group in the West -- Love, MGasol, Duncan, Bogut, Gortat, Nene, Jefferson, Jordan, Perkins (did I miss anyone?). But maybe I am just dreaming?

This is not some far-fetched hypothetical, this could very well be the group we break the season with. What does the rest of the class think?

Bueller?

 

John Hollinger ‏@johnhollinger
Bulls apparently using taxpayer MLE on Hinrich, via @KCJHoop report, which is sign they likely keep Korver and may even match Asik.

 

That's great news!

 

You know, it just occurred to me - every one of these poison-pill contracts that Morey throws around out there in the EAST, every one of them helps Orlando, if they match.

Orlando is going to be in rebuilding mode no matter what, and hamstringing at least two of their conference foes into salary-cap purgatory in a couple years, again, maybe actually signing these guys was only secondary to the havoc these moves will cause down the line.

And yes, I know it's silly.

But still, Morey should at least bring it up when talking with Orlando, as in, Oh yeah, by the way, you're welcome. Do a Brother a solid?

Gah is it July 14th yet??

 

Not sure if correct. If they let Asik go, they can actually avoid tax payment now.

 

Exactly. If they match Asik, than they will be completely over the tax line.

 

They will also likely be repeat offenders come 2014-2015. That Asik contract will hurt them big time.

 

I would assume they are figuring they can either trade Boozer after the 2013/14 season since he will be an expiring contract the next year, or amnesty him that Summer if they have to since the "poison pill" year doesn't kick in till 2014/15.

I dont think its totally clear whether the Bulls will or will not match at this point. I think they are probably working the phones pretty hard right now to see what kind of deals they could get in return for Noah and Deng first before they let him walk for nothing.

 

I'm pretty sure the Chicago Bulls value retaining Joakim Noah at $12M per season than they do of bringing back Omer Asik for an average of $8.37M per season.

 

Im referring to their ability to get in the Dwight Howard talks or the ability to chase a secondary star to pair with Rose in the future. Obviously they wont dump either player just to retain Asik, but this seems like a good time to see what exactly the market value is for those two players in trade + explore options of gaining financial flexibility.

 

I doubt the Bulls match. I think this is just a poker game. It makes no financial sense for them.

I can see how upset the Bulls are about the possibility of losing Asik for nothing in return. They are trying to scare Morey into a sign and trade.

Morey's on record as saying how much top centers are valued in the league. He's been on the short end of the stick year after year looking for a serviceable center. And the Bulls know they had this golden bullet which they'd of gotten a 1st round pick if they'd gotten off their high horse. The Bulls wanted "A LOT" for Asik, even more than Daryl Morey's over the market price for Asik - now they may get nothing. In an irony if The Bulls manage to keep Asik, they'd be paying over the market value to keep him, because Morey's only offered 25.1 million; the Bulls have to pay the salary plus the luxury tax :grin:.

I think that the Bulls are claiming they will resign Asik, hoping that Morey get's scared into a sign and trade. For any people who say the Asik signing is dumb, what would you think about Chicago signing Asik for so many more millions

 

I do not care either way. I think it would be great to have Asik but at the same time if we really are tanking, (plus now that Bynum has interest in us for next season) it would be good to NOT have him guarding the paint.

and...lets forget about Dwight.

 

The Bulls were at a minimum of 8 players at $64.8M if they are to waive Korver ($5M, $500K guaranteed), Watson ($3.2M, nonguaranteed) and Brewer ($4.7M, nonguaranteed) and let Asik go.

Adding Hinrich at $3M brings them to $67.8M on 9 guys, roughly $2.5M below the luxury tax limit. You can squeez 4 minimum wage guys into that salary figure without incurring tax if you include a couple of rookies and a couple 2nd year guys (or 3 rookies and a vet).

However, if you bring Asik back, his $5M this year brings them up to $72.8M on 10 guys, 3 more FAs would cost them between $1.4M-$2.6M (depending on experience level of the players), so we are talking about being $3.9M to $5.1M over the tax limit.


The only way they can get under the tax this year without dumping salary on another team while retaining Asik is to waive Boozer, which they can do, but they'd be paying Boozer, a pretty good PF, $47M to go away in order to keep their backup C-- Noah and Asik didn't play a single minute together last season so I doubt Thibodeau likes how they mesh (probably too little offensively).

 

The Bulls are fishing for a sign and trade, so they can get some of our "assets." Morey's staring across the table.

 

But if a 'reasonable' basketball deal were offered for Noah and Boozer, say - - Martin and Scola, maybe Lee; do they listen? Who says 'yes'; no?

 

Thibs is going to struggle to find offense so letting Boozer get cut...might not be the most prudent thing for the Bulls...

 

As I have said, the best for CHI may be to tacitly agree to not match Asik if HOU will do a S&T of Lee (signed to a, say, $4.5-5M/yr salary) for Rip Hamilton (old, owed $5M next year).

They lose Asik but gains Lee while dumping the contract of the guy he'll be replacing. They get to bolster their perimeter rotation and staying under the tax threshhold. I wonder if HOU will agree to take Hamilton's money, though, without a draft pick as part of the compensation and would rather just dare Chicago to match.

 

Teams arent really thinking down the line as much as our Rockets...for chicago...all they want to do is stay float till Rose gets back...and who knows if he will be the same player...Either way...the Rockets really did a number on the Bulls. A Lee Sign and trade might be nice, but lots of indications that he may rather go with the Celtics...

I see Asik being matched..and Look for a trade from the Bulls soon after...still in the heart of the offseason.

 

SnT with C's looks great, except - - who do you want, Stiesma? Actually a nice developmental 5 who Minny supposedly will offer $3m to. He's got plantar crapitis and is Asik on O. I'd happily accept him but for 3 mil in our situation? No thanks.

Who else makes the $$$ work on that roster? So, a draft pick means nada without something to affix to it.