Am I The Only One Who Doesn't Want Howard If It Means Losing Asik

This is a talent vs heart question....

Howard has all the talent, but Omer has the heart. In all actuality it comes down to chemistry and which player can help accomplish the ultimate goal.

Yes Howard has the greater talent, but how has he developed... The TNT boys discussed this on one of their shows. Howard has not improved any in the last 5 years and to me that's a problem. Too be great you have to heart to go along with all that talent and Howard doesn't have that. When Howard doesn't get his way or get what he wants he will quit on you. A winner will find ways to win and contribute to help their teammates, they will work hard on the off-season to improve their game; Howard doesn't have that. He has all the talent in the world, but that's about it.

Omer, is a modern day version of Kurt Rambis. He may not have the talent but he has the heart of a giant and will give you a 100% every night. No his hands are not as good as Howard, No he can't jump as high as Howard, No he doesn't have the talent that Howard has; but when it's time to go to battle he will be right there in your corner. Omer is the ultimate team player and it takes a team to win, not just a bunch of superstars.

Now with that said I will take the guy with the heart..

T_Man

 

If Asik learned a go-to post move and block a couple more shots a game, I would wholeheartedly agree. But Howard is more dominant and can affect the game more than Asik and not always in a bad way. I think in the right environment, Howard would return to some of his former glory.

 

I would take Howard.

Regardless I think the biggest thing Asik needs to do in the offseason is work on his catching. He needs to get in the gym and have someone throw some bullet passes at him and practice catching and dunking.

 

I'm not saying I'd root against the dwight howard rockets,

 

agree 100%

 

Look I like Asik as much as the next person but their are a few things about him that irritate me. He can't catch a simple bounce pass. His hands are below average at best and he is not athletic or has lateral quickness, something dwight has and is clearly superior at. If you get a chance to acquire D12 you do everything in your power to sign him then trade Asik for a legit 4 like Paul milsap

 

Here's a scenario I could go for. Before you read it, remember that our best trade asset is probably Omer Asik (or Parsons). Omer is great, but can be replaced adequately with a FA signing. A player like Love is much harder to get our hands on and should be gone after when possible. (Especially because he might not choose us when he is a free agent, not to say that lesser guys will but it's more likely)

Not the end-all-be-all, but I like just thinking of possible trade scenarios.

Trade 1: T-Rob and somebody else (if necessary) for a 1st rounder. Should be some interest there.

Trade 2:
HOU - Asik, Lin, future 1st rounder, traded for 1st rounder. Is that too much or not enough in your opinion?
MIN - Love, Ridnour

Sign Pekovic: $12 million
Decide what to do with Garcia and Delfino. Depending on that, sign Jarrett Jack for about $7 million or another FA dependent on need.
Not sure how much that leaves us, but I'd like us to have room to resign Parsons without much trouble when that comes up, which may mean not getting Jack or another FA near that level.

If we can't get Pekovic, we sign a stop-gap defensive center short term for the year or maybe two (not a big fan of Hickson and Bynum is too big of a risk) and wait it out until Cousins is a FA since we'd still have plenty of cap room sitting around.

Correct me if I'm wrong (I usually am), but I think we could pick up Garcia and Delfino's team options if we wanted to carry us to next summer, and then their contracts would expire to free up the rest of the needed space to sign someone like Cousins to a max if he's worth it in Morey's opinion.

 

I'm not buying that argument. Kevin Garnett came straight out of high school too. He's still thriving. Tim Duncan has been in the league a long time. He's still playing at an all-star level. Until his recent injury, Kobe Bryant has been one of the most durable players in the league having had played almost twice as many seasons as Howard. All of those guys are 34 or older. Dwight Howard is 27 years old.

Howard's health is a concern for certain. He didn't seem to be 100% all season. But I'll leave that up to the team doctors.

 

You always take a superstar.

 

I would rather have Asik.

 

I'll come about this in a numbers way folk. This will make it easier for you to digest.

Asik may be a very good center. He may grow into a great center but is it fair to say he will never become Dwight Howard (not his fault)?

With that in mind Morey has said the best contracts in the NBA are Superstar contracts. Why? Because you can't overpay a superstar. They are worth more than thier share.

Signing Howard for a Max would be worth what? 4 years $88 million right? Asik currently makes $8.5 million until 2015 correct?

What makes you think someone wont offer Omer a near max contract in 2015? If you guys believe in him then you'll have to face that fact.

Howard would be controlled for a longer period than Asik. He'd make more more but he's a better player. Not to mention that fact that Asik will not attract free agents that will sign for less money because we have 2 superstars. Look at Miami, people are taking pay cuts to join their team.

You can't deny the impact socially of having a Superteam. It helps Morey get cheaper role players and it brings the spotlight. It's a business within a business.

BTW, Asik has had two knee surgeries.

 

You're not alone OMR.

 

me too!

 

Marc Gasol > Howard. If Memphis had Dwight instead of Gasol Clips would have swept them already.

 

Another note is that it's not like the Rockets can do anything better than Howard with the money they "save" by not signing him. Yes, if CP3 wants to come here, that would be fine. I'd still prefer Howard to a slight degree(we need defense badly), but I'd still be doing cartwheels.

However, assume For for the sake of argument we can spend it on someone like Josh Smith, Millsap, etc. What's our marginal wins added? Maybe 5-6 wins? 50 win team instead? Maybe 52-53ish like our old Yao/T-Mac teams? Add some growth, and we're talking about 55 wins and still going to be dumped on by OKC every year. Possibly not even beating the Memphis/Denvers of the world.

Seriously, Morey will be at Dwight's doorsteps on the eve of FA and if Dwight wants max, he'll get it from us. And Morey will have my support on this 100%.

 

Asik is amazing. For the working ethnic alone, I will take him instead of DH. Asik is dunking the ball! Can you believe he is the same person we saw at the beginning of the season.

What until he develops a post game. He could be our second star!

 

I am more than happy with Asik. He is this team's defence. Spare me Howard and give me a a stretch four and a perimeter guard who can shoot and play defence

 

I agree. If we can get Howard without losing Lin, Harden, Parsons, Asik - fine. But I would not give up any of the above four (maybe Lin) for him.

 

I feel you brother. I love Asik.
But you gotta take Howard. You just do.