Asik is only under contract for another year. Why use a #10 on him? A rookie at at ten is still a pretty good pick and he'd be locked into a longer and cheaper deal.
Agreed. At #10, Julius Randle might be there with his foot injury. If he isn't, Embiid may fall that far. If he isn't there, Nik Stauskas definitely will.
First dibs how? Asik will be unrestricted and can go wherever he wants. If Noel comes into his own and starts playing 30 minutes a night then there's no way Asik would want to ride the pine again. And Philly getting a year to "really work with him" is not really worth anything. At this stage of his career and with his physical limitations, it's not like Asik can become a 20/10 center all of a sudden. We all know what his ceiling is, and granted it is a very good ceiling, but I wouldn't call it top five for his position at all.
Where exactly did I say that Harden played better defense than Afflalo? I said that Affllalo didn't play good defense and I gave you examples of some of his numbers. Why do you think that Afflalo plays good defense? Just because Chicago might be interested in him, that means that he plays good defense? Jimmer Fredette is on the Bulls roster and he's generally regarded as the worst defensive player in the entire league.
Now you're thinking OP. Let me raise you though. Trade Asik for the pick (#9, #10, maybe #11). Send the pick plus Jeremy Lin plus #25 to Orlando for Afflalo. Afflalo goes to Minny along with Terrence _ones, and some non-guaranteed salary and a couple future unprotected firsts (2016, 2018). Rockets get Love, Martin, Mbah A Moute, Shved, and Barea. Minny then signs Pau to a 4/40 or 3/30 deal. Rubio/Afflalo/Chase/Pek/Pau And of course Bev/Harden/Parsons/Dwight/Love w a bench brigade of Canaan/Troy/Martin or Covington/#42 or MLE signing or trade (Brendan Haywood)/DMo/etc. -------------------------------------------- Sidenote: Whoever says Afflalo isn't a good defender isn't and hasn't watched the games for the past several years. Afflalo is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.
