I don't think people are saying Asik is better but relative to starting centres salary the figure of worst case 12.5million(see post above) on average for the owner is not that bad If Asik is traded this year, his salary should not be seen as 15 million dollars at all
No, the cash flow hit won't be a major impediment. Yes, but it's not unattractive because of the cash flow implications. It was unattractive to Chicago because if they had matched, their salary cap hit would have matched the payroll schedule -- i.e. Asik would take up $15m in salary cap space in his last year and count as $15m toward the luxury cap. It is only because Chicago did not match that his cap hit is an even $8m per year. In the Ryan Anderson deal they mention, the extra cash is only $3.5m. They can paper that over easily enough with other considerations. And the walking for nothing bit doesn't seem terribly important either. Asik's next contract will be more than the MLE. His Bird rights are important to have. Whoever trades for him will have the inside track on re-signing him -- so long as they have a starting job for him.
As many has point out, Asik is still an attractive starting center even with the balloon payment because of the relatively low cap hit. And the money is not as bad as it looks. That's why Morey is asking a high price and that's why Asik is still on our roster.
Cap is the only thing that matters. Asik isn't going to a team under the cap, so salary is meaningless.
I don't think the Cap Hit or Salary will play much of a roll in trading Asik. Teams will only be charged a little of 8 million next season against their cap even though the actual pay out will be more. I think the only real road block will be how much a team is willing to give up vs what DM is demanding for Omer. At the end of the day if you want a proven elite defensive/rebonding center you will very likely not have a better chance at getting one than right now. Add to the fact that you would get his bird rights, I think Asik is exceptionally attractive to any team looking for a center. I don't think waiting till after Feb 20, will make a damn bit of difference.
Everyone advocating that we should be ignoring the actual salary paid to Omer is either crazy or way wealthier than me. The article correctly points out that: 1) We trade him now, an owner would have to pay him $19+ million for 1 and 7/8th of a season. 2) We trade him after this year and an owner would have to pay him $15 million for 1 year. That is not insignificant. You get rich enough to buy a team (or STAY rich enough to keep a team) by not arbitrarily disregarding $5 million or so that comes out of your (the owner's) pocket. Fans shouldn't care about the actual salary paid because it doesn't preclude your owner from fitting people in under the cap, but there's still an owner on the other end of that paycheck. Most NBA owners (I'm excluding Dot-com wunderkinds and Russian Billionaires) would much rather get a player for almost 2 years at $19 million instead of 1 year at $15 million... regardless of how it effects the cap. Especially when his comps are making roughly $12 - $13 million per year. It is basic math that dictates the following: an owner would more readily approve an Omer Asik deal that is purposed on or before 2/20/14 than one that is purposed after the end of the 13-14 season. Omer is a more attractive asset now because his benefit outweighs his cost. His (actual dollar figure) cost will outweigh his benefit in 2014-15.
But NBA owners usually spend. How often are teams just leaving cap space to be waaaaaay under the cap--unless they are saving it for a particular player? Its not just to save money. Weve seen time and time again- owners seemingly spend money just to spend. If youre rich enough to own an NBA team--the 5 million doesnt maker or break you. Of course that wont prevent GMs from using that extra 5 million as supposed leverage in making an Asik deal
That's what Carl Herrera's post above you was about. Read it carefully. There are plenty of ways to get around this issue or at least mitigate it. At the very least, the Rockets can send $3mil in cash to effectively lower his true salary to $12mil.
