The idea of the twin towers only works if one of the bigs can actually step outside the paint and knock down a mid-range jumper. Our spacing would be shot to hell. We'd have two 55% FT shooters in the 4th quarter instead of just one. And why we want to pay 8.3 million for a big coming off the bench? Asik deserves to start, and if its not with us, we should at least give him the chance to start with another franchise. Pelicans get: Asik, Robinson Rockets get: Anderson, Lopez, 2nd Round Pick Both teams benefit. Hornets get a legit starting C to form a defensive duo next to Anthony Davis (who CAN hit a mid-range jumper) and we get the best stretch 4 in the game along with a 7 foot back-up.
We lose WAY too much value. Just way too much value there. I get the jist of an Asik-Anderson giving Dwight's co-existing with Anderson, and Asik and AD can be great up front but we don't give up the better value and THEN add Thomas Robinson for Lopez and a 2nd round pick. We get a 1st rounder, or two with one being the rights to swap, in this. We still maximize value in every damn trade.
They can only see tiny bit of court time together. Asik playing backup is surely good. The best thing is that we don't know if Howard has fully recovered yet, it'd be great to have Asik so Howard doesn't have to play so many minutes, or could rest quite a bit. I think Asik isn't going to go Gortat since their restricted free agency were completely opposite.
I think Anderson fits the role we want perfectly; a shooting big man. He's the best at what he does. He's only 24, and that leaves him room to grow. It's not out of line to say McHale can teach him a move or two. Neither were exactly athletes back in the day. But yes, I'd rather get a first rounder for giving up a top 5 picked player.
Depends on what is offered for Asik in trade. I figure we keep Asik and start them both but stagger their minutes, unless Portland is looking to trade LMA or Minny is looking to trade Love or something along those lines.
Wasn't Asik a back up to Noah when with the Bulls? With the contract Asik signed, that's an expensive price for a back up.
Its not harden being the key with howard, its lin....lin is a great pick and roll player....they will be very tough...
I think Harden is better at PNR than Lin, but Lin is pretty good in his own right and will be an asset with Howard. That's why this centers on Asik and what to do with him if howard comes. Its not a matter of cap space because they have enough. Its a matter of fit and system. I think they can play together at times, making the twin towers and then stagger their minutes at other times. Howard 35min. Asik 30min (and finish games) With about 15-20min together depending on the opposition. If you start them off at the start of each half together for 7-8min. and you make shure our perimeter D is aggressively closing-out then teams could really struggle to get going. I'd like to see them give it a go for a year. McHale - Parish anyone?
Also that must be remembered, I think, is that by keeping both centers means that they'd both get less wear and tear. Howard would probably be recovering from whatever surgery to fix his shoulder and perhaps still needs his minutes managed due to his back. And Asik's already played on a broken leg for Thibs and basically lost whatever hops he had. I don't know about ya'll, but I don't want another Yao situation. As for playing them together, Greg Smith showed that he and Asik can play together; who's to say Asik can't rove around the perimeter setting punishing picks to get the shooters open and keep Howard in the center to finish PNR's or post up? Hell, they can even switch off if Howard needs a break, or to keep the defense on it's toes. Even perhaps have Asik set a pick and both (or either) Asik and Howard rolling and how will the defenses have to compensate for that? :grin:
To everyone who doesn't want Dwight... those Asik pick and rolls which have been so deadly at times? Now imagine that, except with a guy who can catch and finish 2x as well.
I've been watching Dwight highlights. OMG! I didn't realise how fast, agile and athletic he is. The best PNR big man in the history of the game. I think its the other way around, Dwight play PF and Asik C. Asik sets up post positions and Dwight set the picks around the outside and rolls... Dwight is not a post up guy (although he can learn from McHale. Howard looks more like a PF BEAST that hasn't got an outside shot. Damn he's fast and can jump... just get him the ball moving to the basket and the defence better GET THE HELL OUTTA THE WAY!
I don't think he would be a backup, I think he would be a starter @ ~28 minutes a game, playing about 10 mins a game alongside Dwight and the rest with the bench crew.
i honestly dont know how the Rockets can keep Asik and Howard...love Howard being here as well as Asik, but dont know if it feesible...And there is a strong chance that the team we fell in love with wont be the same team if Howard moves to Houston... The Rockets will most likely sell parts high when they can...Remember, when the Celtics got Howard, they had to part with a solid player in Al Jefferson... The Rockets may be in a very similar situation if Howard is interested...
After next season: Harden: $14M Dwight: $18M Asik: $8M Lin: $8M Parsons: $8M(?) That puts us right at the cap, then we still have vet minimum/rookie contracts/MLE to sign bench players. So no. I don't think we'd have to break up the core. Unless one of Lin/Asik/Parsons blossoms into a star level player.
What plan do you have to make sure that he doesn't come to Houston? I do see his drawbacks but if is willing to work hard under McHale,it could be beneficial for us.
It's scary to think of that, which is the reason that I would welcome Dwight even though I don't like him (yet ).
No, that's wrong. We got Parsons at 900k for two more years. And Dwight max is 20.5m You are right though, and requires a little bit of fiddling around. Check out these sites: http://hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2013/05/rockets-qa-a-fans-guide-to-the-offseason/ http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8589693/nba-free-agents-2013-2014 http://samcelt.forumotion.net/t4174-2013-2014-nba-salary-cap-luxury-tax
Would love to see them keep Asik, but I'm guessing Morey's sales pitch to Dwight will be that after he signs, the next move is to trade Asik and another salary or two to Atlanta for Josh Smith in a max salary sign and trade deal. So the pitch is that he can finally play with his long time friend, and that he also holds the keys to his friend getting a max deal.
