Yes, you're right that you're assuming they didn't talk. Back when Dwight was acquired, McHale said that he would indeed talk to Asik. I assume he said something like "You're an important contributor. Playing a significant role on a contender is going to be better for you than starting for the Sixers." But who knows? Come on now: you think any of us has "found out the facts" better than McHale? He knows the situation better than every poster on this board. We're all just BS'ing with no knowledge of anything Asik and the Rockets have said to each other in private.
Asik is a starting center in the league and him asking for a trade is just a player looking after his career; no one will and can do that for him except himself. He could have went about it like the countless divas in the NBA who are always b****ing in the press about their coaches, their team mates and their jewellery but instead he chose the diplomatic and respectful way and went through the proper channel (his agent undoubtedly speaking with Morey behind the scenes).He is most likely a goner. As for McSuccess being once again snarky and a smart ass... well, old habits die hard.
Sums it up well for me. NBA is a players league, and the best coaches today are "personality managers". Old school doesn't fly anymore, ask Jerry Sloan. Asik is an incredible asset (more so than McHale who is easily replaceable) and it might be a good idea to keep him motivated.
He is an asset this year, but I think he is a liability the next. I like Asik, but paying 15mil for a guy who plays 15 minutes is crazy. Heck 15 mil for a guy who gets you 10-10 is a lot.
Of course we have no knowledge what they said in private. The only possible reason that McHale should diss Asik in public was if Asik had displayed a bad attitude in private and/or in public. That I find it difficult to believe. That's my opinion. I have no hard fact to support my opinion, although I think most people would be with me to believe that Asik was not the kind of guy who would display a bad attitude.
The poison pill contract is practically 8-8-8, not 5-5-15. It has been pointed out a lot of times about the contracts of Asik and Lin.
So basically you are assuming "Asik must be nice therefore McHale must be mean." It wasn't a diss. A diss would be "A player of that skill level has no right to complain" or "Obviously we were hurting at the center position last year." "Asik is not the GM" is a statement of fact.
read between the lines, put two and two together. Of course it was a diss, albeit said in a subtle passive aggressive joking manner. It certainly wasnt a compliment.
Look at how asik answered questions yesterday. He never even publicly demanded a trade. "sources" came out with that news, right at the same time as when "sources" said Dwight was changing his mind. Mchale was being a jackass and he knows it.
A diss how? Meaning what? He's not a good player? He's a cry baby? Explain what the diss is. Maybe you think he should have say, "Yes, it is reasonable for Asik to be upset. He had a great season last season. Unfortunately, he will not be starting. But he is the best second-string center I have ever seen. I hope he will accept our praise and apologies in lieu of a trade."
Coach is right, if he doesn't want to stay theres plenty of teams that would take him, he's not as much as a priority to our success as he was last year, its just the truth.
So has Asik literally ever said anything to suggest that he's unhappy? All I've seen on the subject was the twitter posts earlier explicitly saying otherwise. We trust the media over Asik... why?
About freaking time these people are standing up against these over grown babies. If they don't like being paid millions to "play" basketball, then give that money to some of the peoplewho work twice as hard year round just to survive. They get millions to play on or off the bench. Shut up already. Asik should be happy if his job were to scrub toilets with his guaranteed salary. Much less worry whether or not he's coming off the bench. Goes the same with everyone under a Rockets contract.
