If Dwight comes, do we keep Asik?

I think the two can coexist. Asik should work on that midrange jump shot in the offseason, but even if he doesn't get it down he could spell Howard enough so that both are fresh. Against certain lineups they can play side by side. It's not the most optimal use of resources though, so I think you keep him until someone makes an offer for a trade the Rockets can't refuse, like Asik and one of our PFs for a star PF.

 

I rather have Asik shoot free throws to close out games.

 

Asik and Howard can't coexist - they'll clog up the lane which will be very difficult for Harden to attack the rim. No matter what, Harden will still be our bread and butter regardless of what superstar we get except if it's Lebron.
Using Asik as a backup greatly reduces the benefit of keeping his contract. His market value is very high so we might as well trade him, rather than have him waste his talents as a bench player.

 

Omer will gladly come off the bench and he can play 10+ minutes a game with Dwight against teams we need to go big against. Save Omer until his final year when his contract becomes juicy trade bait.

 

They can't play together. The good news is that Asik's play really jacked up his trade value. I doubt we'd have trouble trading him for quality in return.

 

For those of us who have grown fond of Asik's game, I think we'd want to keep him as a back up Center (ironic I know). However I don't want him to feel left out or put in the back seat. If he's willing to play 6th man off the bench, great. If not, then maybe we go for the upgrade at PF.

 

is it that much different when we had an Asik-Smith starting lineup towards the end of the year? That worked out ok...didn't clog up the lanes or am I missing something

 

Trading away a pretty good piece because you acquired a great piece is dumb if your goal is building a title contender. Omer's contract is not prohibitive. If it was, yes, you'd trade him. Otherwise he's elite depth at a reasonable price. His game may be redundant with Howard, but who cares? At worst, it's a fantastic insurance policy.

 

considering the beating both of those guys take down low, it makes a ton of sense to keep them both, at least through the length of Asik's reasonable contract

 

Sounds like you are eager to make Dwight come. What do you plan to do to stimulate his arrival?

 

How much can we pay Dwight Howard if we keep Asik and cut Garcia and Trade Thomas Robinson for a pick? We also need to cut Royce White. But seriously what's the highest pay he can get with us if we do all that? Anybody who's an expert on this please reply. I really want to know.

 

It's okay Carl, Jason came out. You can open the closet now. Just keep the details tell yourself, please.

 

I would only move Asik for a better player.

I might consider packaging him with Parsons and seeing if I could snag LMA or Love.

 

Not an expert but he gets a 35% of the salary cap which is about 20.5 mil.

 

please don't go after dwight houston!! he is a team chemistry killer!!

 

You might be right, but what do you say to the success the Rockets had playing Smith and Asik together? I mean, Howard and Asik together is just a better versions of the Smith - Asik lineup.