Remember when John Lopez said this about Rafer and everyone rolled there eyes and then he had a really great season the year of the 22 games streak. Well I am not sure even at his best and a team around him that statement was true but I 100% believe Asik is our guy moving forward. I would have no issue attempting to upgrade the 1 or 4 with a max player but even though Howard at the max if his head is screwed on straight is NOT a better value than Asik. If he can continue to improve his offensive game and fix his free throw shooting than we really have a guy who is all you need. I would be more concerned about pg considering how important it is in the league these days and if we can get good Lin more consistently than great but if not I would start there because a team of C-Asik SF-Parsons SG-Harden just needs 1 star a depth and it is on OK City's level right away. Hell I think we are finishing 6th and winning two rounds and going to the WCF's this year anyway. Point is it's now time for Morey to ease off the pedal and realize our team is very close right now and we have 3-4 key pieces in place and outside of Harden Asik is the most valuable of them all
I dont believe a pg upgrade like CP3 will mesh well with Harden at their current playing style. Not sure Harden wants to take a back seat to anyone, you know what I mean? Upgrade at PG doesnt seem as effective as an upgrade to PF. Just my honest opinion though.
lol dude CP3 could mesh well with any player. He shares the backcourt with another PG in LA right now.
CP3 and Harden both like to have ball in their hand 90% of the time. Obviously CP3 will trump Harden. Will he be the all-star that he is now if he doesnt have the ball in his hands? That is my question/concern. Billups is past his prime, so I am sure he has no problem being on a contender with a limited role.
My dream scenario would be to keep the roster as is and then land a true star PF and then somehow get Vic Oladipo. Lin/Beverley Harden/Oladipo Parsons/Delfino Star PF Asik Obviouly we would probably trade D-Mo and T-Rob and Smith (for VO) and then add some froncourt depth.
Don't get me wrong, I love this team, but a few significant improvements have to be made in order to go from fringe playoff contender to NBA Championship contender. Some of that improvement can come from the players we already have getting better, but it's unlikely that the players we currently have, although young, improve enough to get us there. Asik has probably exceeded everyone's expectations, but a healthy (mentally and physically) Dwight Howard is still leaps and bounds better. Think of all of those easy shots where Omar either bobbles that ball, or can't finish. Howard is great at catching the ball, and excellent as a finisher. While he struggles at the line, so does Asik. Defensively, Howard can cover a lot more ground and recover quicker. I think this team might be able to get by with Asik at center and still win a championship, but if that's the case a big time player will need to be added at the 4 and maybe elsewhere. Preferably, that guy would have a strong low post game (which Asik lacks) and be able to shoot from the outside (which we need to space the floor). Kevin Love seems like a great fit, but getting a player like him is easier said than done.
I have no qualms with having Asik as our anchor for the title...I am willing to wait for one more season to see how his offensive game improves... What irks me is that fans look at players like Howard and Smith and think that it is an automatic for a title...There are no guarantees on anything...I thought the Rockets would be bottom dwellers for this year, and next...but some how we got Harden and our future has instantly turned brighter...But the trio of Smith Howard and Harden better get to the finals...or its a bust...so im just not getting my hopes up too high...and just enjoying the current journey/moment. The Rockets have pleasantly been a surprise to every one. I am willing to trust Morey's statistical work and Les' financial gambles..Im just concerned if our coaching would be upto par...
Considering it's just Asik's first time and first year as starter and first time playing considerable minutes, this means that Asik is only just getting started. As he gets more seasoned as a player, he'll even get much better. It would be a big mistake to swap him for a "win-now" type of player that may eventually not meet the high expectations. I second the motion of keeping with the solid and reliable Omer Asik. He may not be glamorous or flashy but he gets the job done night in and night out.
old article...but i still think Asik and Love would actually be a really effective combo...But what could we trade??? Someone like him would cost us a player like Parsons, but I would pull that trigger... Now does Asik, Love, Harden, Lin and filler make us more a contender or a middle pack team???(I wouldnt want to be a Memphis like product, or what we were like a few years back) http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1333090-can-kevin-love-be-the-best-player-on-a-championship-contenders-roster
This team has all the pieces except PF. The players just need time and as long as they improve yearly then the Rockets will be contenders. Look at all the recent champs they all have very good PF. Spurs-Duncan Celtics-Garnett Lakers-Gasol Heat-Bosh
Thread title is true, if the rest of the team is different. As-is, Asik is probably our third best player. He's not a good enough third best player, imo, and that gap is made even bigger given we only have 1 really really good player. Parsons, Asik and Lin are freaking awesome to root for, and certainly above average, but they are never going to turn into Bosh and Wade, or Westbrook and Ibaka. Add in our PF rotation, and it's amazing the team has done as well as it has. That said, I would be perfectly happy, and my preference probably would be to upgrade at the 4 and 1 positions first. but if you have to trade Asik to get any 2nd best player that is on a 2nd best player like the Heat (Wade), Lakers (Dwight), Spurs (Duncan, age aside), Clippers (Griffin) level, then you ABSOLUTELY do that. Kevin Love would be that trade bait. Unfortunately, the Wolves have their Asik-esque player already in Pekovich. Now Pekovich is going to get a bigger contract that Asik, perhaps meaningfully, and Asik might hold some interest as a cheaper replacement, but if the Wolves were to trade Love, they'd want more back. So the question becomes, are you comfortable trading Asik + Parsons type deal for a Kevin Love? That's a real tough one, but I say yes. Because you've got to have that 2nd best player that's great, and when healthy, Love is a top 3 PF no doubt, if not the best in the game. Harden + Love is as awesome a young backcourt/frontcourt combo as you could dream of. If you did something like: Asik, Parsons, Delfino, draft pick for Love you'd be offering Minnesota 2 young players that would fit really well in Adelman's system, a draft pick, and the ability to cut Delfino's salary. The Rockets get Love, and keep cap space. Maybe then you sign a Josh Smith. Lin, Harden, Smith, Love, [ ] Morey would have a lot of work to fill out a roster, but of course you move Asik for the right player. They key with Asik, Lin or Parsons, if they are willing to move, is to move them in a way that maintains cap space, and doesn't trade them for one of those assets you'd want the cap space to sign. In other words, don't "sign and trade" for Howard. That eliminates any ability to get better by both signing Howard outright and trading Asik for another piece.
We can win a title with Asik just not now maybe in a year or 2 or at least till he picks up an even better offensive game
I don't get why people's love Love so much. He's a great all around offensive forward but he sucks at defense. Parson's D might not be the best but is certainly much better than Love's. We don't need another defensive liability with Love. You'll think Wolves record would be much better with both Love and Rubio. Granted, this season both were out long stretches of games because injure and that's also one of Love's problems.
I really think Josh Smith will be the answer to are problems... Not at the price. But hey.. I just want Morey to do his magic again.
Thats where the draft becomes so important...have to get guys that fit the need of the team... Minnesota would be interested in trading for Asik(wouldnt have to reup on Pekovic...could trade to get more value back...) Asik Parsons Dmo plus picks could get the job done. But the Rockets would have to start back at square one in addressing the center position... If the Rockets could out right sign Smith via FA... A line up of: Center:___ PF: Love SF: Smith SG: Harden PG: Lin Sounds quite exciting...
Nobody denies that Love isnt a defensive stalworth, but it is his ability to give a scoring post presence with Harden...That has value, bc the Rockets could go back to being a half court team, and Harden and Love can share the weight of carrying a team...
