Ideal Trading Partners for Asik (Assuming We Get Howard)

Look, I understand that people love certain players, but this is business. If you can get guys that'll be holding up that trophy in a few years, I think you'll learn to love them too. Just for example, Parsons is my favorite player, but if we have to move him to get an All-Star PF, then that's alright by me. It's more about the Rockets than it is about any specific player.

If you look purely at what Howard gives us, this was his "terrible" season, and he still put up 7 more points, 1 more block, and one more rebound a game. Honestly, that's a ton. The thought of Howard in our pick and roll is really exciting, and overall, I think the notion that Howard is some head case is completely overplayed. People called Lebron all kinds of names when he left Cleveland the way he did, but he got back on track. If the Heat had as old and over-the-hill of a roster as the Lakers, then I think Lebron would have been in the same place after a season. Maybe that's a weak comparison, but I just don't buy all the "locker room cancer" stuff. That disappears when you're winning games. (And not near LA media)

 

I voted Other:
First, for the official record, I would rather keep Asik and spend our cap space chasing an elite/all star/borderline all star power forward. That said, OP said assuming we get Howard. We can't keep them both because paying your backup center $8M is not "economical". Before you flame, Chandler parsons is my favorite Rocket. I think he is almost as untouchable as Harden.

But.... Trade machine says we can trade Asik, TRob, and Parsons to Portland for Aldridge. Portland gets to start over. They get a whole starting front court under 25. Aldridge gets a winning situation nearing the end of his prime. Houston gets a scoring, back to the basket, mid range shooting Power Forward. Decling the option on Garcia and sign him back on the cheap or keep Delfino.

Lin
Harden
Garcia
Aldridge
Howard

 

Ever imagine what Rockets' (i.e. Asik) reactions would be if they visit CF for some playoffs encouragement only to see themselves already being traded away by their fans? lol
We're still in the feckin playoffs. Plenty of time for this stuff in the offseason, folks!

 

If Lin is traded does the acquiring team have to pay him 15 million in the 3rd year of his deal?

 

So by trading Asik and Lin for Love and Ridinour you made us 3 games worse.

 

But why would you want to do this?

Lin/Asik > Reddick/Love

+ the risk that Love cannot play at the same level after coming back from serious injury. and he is injury prone.

 

Yes they do but he only counts as an $8.3m cap hit per year.

 

I've posted this in another thread, but I think it's worth a look:


Considering the roster, salary position, and what players are actually— or presumably— available, I think Morey is going to surprise us again this summer. Here, IMO, are the most glaring needs going into next year (2013-2014) and some realistic types of moves we could be making.

Guaranteed (G) players and team-optioned, or non-guaranteed, contracts (Option amount*- % likelihood of retaining rights- % being on 13-14 active roster, IMO) for next season, based on current active roster:
*If player has option, 13-14 salary will be listed

PG: Lin (G- 85%), Beverley ($788,872- 85%- 80%)
SG: Harden (G- 100%), Anderson ($916,099- 30%- 25%), Garcia ($6,400,000- 5%- 5%)
SF: Parsons ($926,500- 85%- 80%), Delfino ($3,000,000- 70%- 65%)
PF: Motiejunas (G- 70%), Robinson (G- 65%), Jones (G- 60%)
C: Asik (G- 80%), Smith ($884,293- 50%- 50%), Ohlbrecht ($788,872- 20%- 10%)

Note: Tyler Honeycutt has a team-option for ~$900,000. Royce White is guaranteed for ~$1,700,000.

Also: Though a player's option may be picked-up (first %), I am also indicating (second %) the odds of them remaining on active roster to start 2013, as oppose to traded or waived.


The projected salary cap for the 2013-2014 season will be about $60 mil. and, as it stands, the Rockets will have nearly $40 mil. guaranteed on the payroll and that number will increase to ~$46 mil. if Houston guarantees Parsons, Delfino, and any two of Smith, Beverley, and Anderson.

Now the question remains: what do the Rockets do with all that spare change?...


...The most realist off-season scenarios (IMO):


Type of move number one: Acquire a veteran star via free agency

The bold and audacious will suggest offering ~$12-$20 mil., annually, to Howard or J. Smith for a chance to play with Harden & Co.; however, bringing in a player for ~$14-$18 mil over two years would fit nicely into how how our salary situation looks. This player would be a sort of "filler"; not in the sense of a mere role-player, but a "filler" as in a good-to-great player to fill a spot until a star— as Morey states, from "within the organization"— is born.

Potential Target: David West, PF, Indiana Pacers

West is not young, but he's also not on his last leg— yet. He is a 9-year vet coming off a $10 mil. year, that he is certainly proving to be worth. The 6-8, 250 lb. forward is averaging 17/8 per clip and could produce at a similar level for another two years. With the recent trades of Patterson and Morris, Morey has effectively removed the stretch-4 from McHale's repertoire. However, West would provide an interior and mid-range presence that would compliment Asik's low-post game nicely. I believe West could be the perfect "filler" at PF for a front-loaded contract (2-year, $15 mil.) that would allow enough flexibility to potentially target a max player in 14-15. Further, by offering a two year deal, the Rockets will be able to see who pans out as the heir-apparent to the PF position, as I can only imagine one— Robinson, Motiejunas, or Jones— actually signing a second contract with the Rockets, as they will all be facing their first team-options.

Type of move number two: Build up the bench

This is a lot easier said than done. If the Rockets sign a player comparable to West (salary-wise), then the team will have between ~$3-8 mil. to spread around, depending on if Delfino and others (Smith, Beverley, Anderson, Ohlbrecht) are kept on or are casualties. There are very formidable veterans and bundle young talent available this summer to suggest that the Rockets could essentially scramble their bench, unless of course they choose to stick with what they currently have. If not, there are a couple names that pop into mind:

Potential Target(s): Tony Allen, G, Memphis Grizzlies; Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, New Orleans Pelicans; Kyle Korver, SF, Atlanta Hawks; Earl Clark, F, LA Lakers; Randy Foye, PG, Utah Jazz

In an ideal world, the Rockets could bring in two of these players for a combined ~$8 mil./year. However, to sign two key bench players, along with a star (see above), Houston would almost certainly have to part ways with Delfino. I just threw out the type of contracts that I can envision the Rockets finding attractive: Foye could be had for Houston's "Room" exception ($2.5 mil.) and would provide depth at point, thus making Beverley more expendable if need be (or, you could commit to Beverley as the back-up PG for <$1 mil.); Allen would command around $6-7 mil over two years but would provide the backcourt defense that is vital in tight games; Aminu and Clark are each rising talents who will both likely make ~$4-5 mil./year, each will also want a mid-length contract. I would have no problem with carving out $15 mil. for Aminu over the next three years, especially with Parsons coming up for big money. However, this begs the question: why not just extend Parsons (which I am in favor of up to $8 mil/year)?


Personally, I doubt that we land Howard, Smith, Bynum or any "marque" free agents this summer. Perhaps Morey will decide to ship Jones, or any other assets, for a first round pick and sit on it. Who knows? In 18 months Houston could finally see the moment where Morey plays the big-hand— maybe a S&T involving any/all of Motiejunas, Robinson, Parsons, and any picks that we acquire between now and then, for someone huge... *seriously not trolling*

To some all of this up, I believe that if Houston sees a line-up, similar to below, for the 2013-2014 season, then this team will have few worries for the next 2-3 years:

13-14 Line-up:

PG: Lin/Beverley/FA
SG: Harden/Allen (or similar)
SF: Parsons/Delfino
PF: West (or similar)/Robinson or Motiejunas
C: Asik/Motiejunas or Smith


14-15 Line-up (after the wishful-thinking/mega-bullish S&T):

PG: Lin/FA/Beverley
SG: Harden/Allen (or similar)
SF: LeBron/FA
PF: West/Motiejunas
C: Asik/FA


Mind you, this whole post was hypothetical and is supported by only a few hours of salary/CBA research— so try not to grill. Thoughts?

 

Howard is an absolute game-changer. We are in love with Asik now. But the favor of Clutchfans is a fickle thing. If we lose this game because of Asik fumbling a pass from Harden, or because he bricks FTs, we will al be furious.

Howard was hurt half of this year, and still put up a better year than Asik. We cannot hope to play them together; how would Lin or Harden find the space to drive into the paint? Asik came here to start, not to be sent to the bench again. He's paid like a starter, and the least we would owe him is to send him somewhere where he would get that PT.

Rockets Trade:
Omer Asik, Thomas Robinson

Pelicans Trade:
Ryan Anderson, Jason Smith

The Pelicans get an improving big man to go along with their developing core. Anthony Davis and Omer Asik would be a frightening defensive duo, and one I can't see the Pelicans balking from. Thomas Robinson would once again be shipped off, as his contract needs to be taken off our books. Maybe he can find a niche with them, but we have too many PFs already. The Pelicans get even younger.

We do it, of course, to sign the best 3 point shooting big man in the game. With him, we'd have 4 guys in our proposed starting line-up able to knock down the 3 once Howard passes it out. Jason Smith has proven to be a reliable, 7'0 back-up at the 4 or 5 spot.

As far as FA signings go, we should look into a wing who is a certified 3 point threat. I think Randy Foye would be a great, and cheap, fit; shooting 41% from behind the 3 point line. Reddick is an option, also, but will be far more expensive. If we want defense, Tony Allen and Corey Brewer are options as well, though their shooting is atrocious.. We need a player who has some combination of defense and 3 point shooting. Basically, we need a 'New Age Battier'. Is there a site that has advanced stats on defense?

This would put us at a line-up like this.

Lin/Beverley
Harden/ Free Agent('New-Age Shane Battier')
Parsons/Delfino OR Garcia
Anderson/Jones/Motiejunas
Howard/J. Smith/Olbrecht

Howard would be an absolute defensive anchor, and would likely shut the paint down. He would attract so much attention on the offensive side that there -will- be somebody open. We would -actually- have a PF who can knock down threes, and not just in the corner. Not to mention he's young and still has room to grow. I think Terrence Jones is going to improve a lot next year, and become our 'Junkyard Dog', so to speak. Rebounding, dunking, and being a brute on defense. An opposite to Anderson. Jason Smith can step in to give DH12 a respite, and he has a lot of hustle and heart. Motiejunas and Olbrecht are around in the chance that Howard gets into foul trouble. Having quality big men is never a bad thing.

We NEED to keep either Delfino or Garcia. Their veteran experience, defense, and three point shooting are a necessity. Parsons will no doubt take the next step on both defense and offense; we certainly need him to. We definitely need a legitimate back-up for Harden; one who can play defense and guard both 2s and 3s while not being a liability on the offensive end. Any ideas? Harden, well, is Harden. He will be the top shooting guard next year, bank on it. He and Howard will thrust us into contention.

Lin and Bev are our duo of the future. Bev hustles hard, rebounds, and plays tenacious defense. Lin can handle the ball and make the plays we need, drive it in for a layup or dish it out to an open shooter, and he plays a more cerebral type of defense. Both need to work on their 3 point shooting, especially Lin, but both will be a force to be reckoned with.

Thoughts?

 

Trust me, GMs recognize Asik. At 8.3 million a year, he'd have a lot of suitors.

I'd like Ryan Anderson, but I'd love Gibson. I do not know if that is legal with dealing Asik back to Chicago, and if they'd even accept it.

If we get Dwight in the off-season, move Asik for someone like Anderson, and pick up perhaps a combo swingman/forward like Stephen Jackson we'd have some serious ability.

Dwight
Anderson
Parsons
Harden
Lin

Jackson
Beverely
Smith

That's a very strong 8-man rotation.

 

Why trade Asik for Smith when we can just sign him outright in the offseason. I know its bleacher report but in an article I read Houston could get Howard and another top tier free agent if they declined some options on players like Delfino and Garcia. Trade Lin and some young pieces, one or two of (Robinson, Motiejunas, Jones, White) for a legit bench player. Sign some cheap vets and we are set...assuming it all works under cap.

Beverely/?
Hardern/?
Parsons/?
Smith/?
Howard/Asik

 

That is incorrect. Houston would have to clear some additional salary just to be able to offer Howard the max. No way could they sign Howard AND another top free agent outright.

 

I believe yo gotta sell high while you can. The only problem with that is you assume the player can't keep up his production. With asik I believe his hustle will always allow him to get boards and with more time he can refine himself offensively as well. Other players we held on too long such as brooks after amazing year we waited to trade him after no one wanted him or his value had dropped. At the moment asiks value is tremendous, he's getting playoff exposure and showing he's a beast but if we can use him to unload Lin or any of our unproductive rookies to get more cap space I'm all in.

 

JJ Redick would be an ideal 6th man
Backup PG Options-Daniel Gibson, Nate Robinson
SG-Kyle Korver, Leanardo Barbosa, Marco Belinelli,
SF- Cory Brewer, Mike Dunleavy
PF-JJ Hickson, Andrey Blatche, Elton Brand

The majority of these are pretty cheap contracts. Pick a 6th man and two position backups and this team is set:
Beverely/Robinson
Harden/Redick
Parsons/Brewer
Smith/Hickson
Howard/Asik

 

You will be fired the 1st day.

 

Maybe trade Asik and Lin for Smith in a sign and trade

 

Wishful thinking, but Nate will get ~$5 mil., as will Hickson (if not more).

 

Sounds to me like we already have a New Age Shane Battier.

And his name is Francisco Motha****ing Garcia.