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

Nope, statistically he has one of the biggest impacts defensively of all the centers in the league.

 

Well......it seems most of you are happy.

We'll just have to wait and see whether his guy is worth the 8.5 million PER.

 

Pleased with this signing. Even his bloated $$ year is pretty easy to stomach. The Pick and Roll defense is the key.

 

But his comment could still be valid. In the sense that Asik likely plays against backups more than starters. He doesn't play a ton as is in the first place. basically, i think this is one of those situations, ala Gortat, where it will be hard to tell statistically, because the sample demographics are so different. I don't think it is fair to compare someone playing 15 mpg with someone play 30 mpg. Efficiencies can and will change, and the two players are likely playing against different competition.

Has there been any in depth analysis that takes these factors into account?

Just curious...

Bima, etc. would know better than me, but i thought I read that from a cash basis certainly the salary will be the higher poison pill amount, but from a cap basis they could be traded and the cap hit would be the same as on the Rockets.

I don't dislike the Asik signing. I mean it seems expensive, but this is the going rate. When Kwame Brown gets $5+ million, this seems like a smart move. That said, I do have a number of concerns:

- Limited, or zero, offensive game
- No history of playing large minutes
- Isn't meaningful better as a starter. In fact, in limited starter action, he's played worse, especially on a per minute basis
- Played very blah in the post-season
- Horrible FT shooter
- Completely made-up comment, but he appears to just be on the cusp athletically. Meaning he has some of that Yao, Deke, Thabeet in him. This is not always a negative (Yao, Deke), but certainly can be. For one, he just looks like a 7 footer waiting to get hurt. For two, especially as the league gets increasingly athletic and speed/guard oriented, you have to be really exceptional to overcome athletic deficiencies. Asik has yet to prove he can be exceptional.

Clearly his numbers have been dictated by his minutes somewhat. But Gortat always showed in Orlando when he got the chance to start that he had meaningful upside in him. Asik has not done that. This is a guy who didn't score more than 11 points in any single game last year, and has never even attempted more than 8 field goals in a game.

Basically, I think he can have a somewhat expanded role, but is honestly ideally suited to give you 20 minutes off the bench.

 

I thought the cap hit for whoever we trade would be also 8.3 mil? The 5/5/15 on the cap is only if Knicks matched.

What didn't you like about the Lin deal? I see zero risk.

 

Certainly nobody struggled with Budinger.

 

How many mInutes does he average a game again? Not being sarcastic I know it's not that much. I like Asik as a center and player on this team i just think the Rockets front office get caught up in statistical analysis too much to the point where they miss out on the natural point of just plain talent that could be right there evident in their face. Glad we got Lin back stats or not Asik is not a better rim protector then Dwight Howard I mean c'mon. I literally remember watching a game and seeing Russell Westbrook embarrass Asik by dunking on him as if he wasn't there but I know I have underestimated the guy a bit but I will definite not hype him up more than what he is. If he was so great this team would be a contender with him signing.

 

It's a good question to which i don't kow the answer.

As far as Lin goes i don't see much risk either. We needed a PG and we got one. He will be a solid player at the very least with all star potential. The Asik contract is the risky one. We have no idea how this guy will translate when given big minutes.

 

Stop trying to quantify his game. He will do things defensively that won't show up in the box score.

 

Getting Asik without giving anything up for him was already a huge victory. $8 mil is probably market value for 25 year old 7 footers that can defend, rebound, and block shots reliably. I'm already on the bandwagon, and think he's gonna fill his role exceedingly well.

 

I researched stats vs role with team vs pay and I found these guys to be the most similar in all aspects to what the Rockets are going to be projecting the role Omer will fit into-

Andris Biedrins - 9Mil(expiring)
Anderson Varajeo- 9Mil average(2 years, team option 3rd)
Kendrick Perkins- 8.5Mil average(3 years)
Emeka Okafor- 14Mil average(2 years)


Obviously Biedrins and Varajeo's production hasn't necessarily been up to par with their salary given injuries, but you look at what they were brought in and paid to do and this is the kind of money you will get.

Omer is right there where these guys are, and still has the potential to be more with him being younger in his development.

These kind of players, while they are expensive, still hold value if healthy. The Celtics had no problem trading Perkins, and Okafor(even at the highest of these rates) has still managed to be moved several times.

Omer Asik is a quality investment.

 

What surprised me is how little interest Asik generated around the league.

 

Also consider that Kwame Brown played on a 1-yr deal for $7 last year. KWAME FREAKING BROWN!

also, Darko signed a 4-yr $20 mil per year deal the season before last. That's $5 mil per year for freaking DARKO.

Hell, remember what Brad Miller made the year before last? $5 mil.

bad centers make $5 mil. As long as Asik performs as expected, it will be hard to call him over-paid at $8. All centers are over-paid.

 

To me, this seems like a "house cleaning" type of off season for most of the teams in the NBA. The Rockets were one of the few teams that had a perfect situation to take on a player like Asik in free agency. In years past, Asik would have been getting what is now max dollars coming out of a rookie contract, or very close to it.

 

Trading Lin and Asik... maybe if we get Dwight, the Clippers bomb, and CP3 wants out. That would be the ideal scenario for us.

 

Will the President of the Omer Asik fan club be there?

 

Bulls fan here.

Losing Asik is a huge blow to the Bulls, and a nice addition to the Rockets. He is truly an elite defender- there is no doubt about that. And yes, his offense is abysmal, but at least he can power dunk the ball. He was underutilized in Chicago simply because the Bulls already have Noah.

The thing I will be most curious about is how he handles the minutes, because he tired very quickly in Chicago. Regardless, he's a quality pickup for you guys, and he'll be missed in Chicago.

 

All these people crying about, "Asik played against packups" and "we overpaid" need to be reminded of the last 3 years and the "Backups" Morey has turned into starters in the league.

Lowry and Dragic both played against backups and now?

Give Morey credit in his analytics when it comes to bench players becoming starting contributers!

Asik is YOUNG and entering his PRIME. He's a defensive force and can only get better. For the first time in YEARS we have a young defensive center and not an old one. Deke, Camby and Dalembert were old and past their prime while Asik is fresh!

 

don't forget about Brad Miller ...and David Anderson.