Stacked Celtics need a Center - Asik's Value

[Michael Anthony]

This team is pretty SWOL from my perspective. All-world point guard, strong wings, skilled bigs and great depth. Only gap is starting center, and I think Asik is the way to go. Dude is grimmy.

Rondo - Dooling - Moore
Bradley - Mayo - Pieturs
Pierce - Green
Garnett - Sullinger - Johnson
Asik - Stiemsma - Melo

Great mix of old and young, production and potential. Our eight man rotation is silly.

Is Asik worth the full MLE?

[theswitch]

If we can pull in a guy like Mayo without breaking the bank, then Asik gets really interesting. Always depends on the price tag. I'm interested in how much more he goes for than a guy like Camby.

[FrDrake]

I think Asik is the best young big man available.  Sign him up Danny!

[snively]

Hmmm... I'd probably bump Asik to the bench in that squad.  As good of an offensive rebounder as he is, I worry that the lack of speed, spacing and finishing ability that comes with him is a net negative offensively with that starting unit, while KG has shown he can protect the rim well enough on his own not to require another defensive specialist alongside him (other than for brief "prevent" line-ups).

Start Sullinger instead - his superior hands, finishing ability and range will be much more useful playing with the starters.  Use Asik to keep the defense elite when KG rests. Try JJJ in the Taj Gibson role - if that doesn't work, let Green see minutes at the back-up 4 with Asik to help cover for him.  I'd also like to bring back Wilcox as a veteran alternative to the two young PFs as well as a completely different look.

Not crazy about the reliance on Mayo for bench offense.  I'd much rather bring back Ray's elite shooting and pair him with a defensive guard who can slash and help out more in the non-scoring categories - either Dominique Jones or Roddy Beaubois from the Mavs would be appealing (offer them Moore, Williams and the Charlotte pick for Jones, say).

So this would be my line-up:

Rondo/Jones/Dooling
Bradley/Ray
Pierce/Green/Pietrus
Sullinger/JJJ/Wilcox
KG/Asik/Stiemsma/Melo

[Celts Fan 92]

Asik sucks SOOOOOO bad why the hell does anyone want him here? rofl I'd rather have Steamroller back he's WAY betta

[j804]

Asik sucks SOOOOOO bad why the hell does anyone want him here? rofl I'd rather have Steamroller back he's WAY betta

No way Steamer is better

[StartOrien]

Asik sucks SOOOOOO bad why the hell does anyone want him here? rofl I'd rather have Steamroller back he's WAY betta

No way Steamer is better

Greg Stiemsma is remarkably incompetent in the pick and roll. He's an end of the bench guy, who could play a decent role on teams that go to a 2-3 zone.

[Celtic#9]

Camby on  1 year deal . We keep flexibility for next year and get a great rebounder and shot blocker.

[Fafnir]

Asik sucks SOOOOOO bad why the hell does anyone want him here? rofl I'd rather have Steamroller back he's WAY betta

No way Steamer is better

Greg Stiemsma is remarkably incompetent in the pick and roll. He's an end of the bench guy, who could play a decent role on teams that go to a 2-3 zone.

He did well enough as a backup C for most of his run with the C's, though his playoff play was worrying.

Third string C for now along with Melo, we should acquire a more solid backup option to play behind KG.

[Snakehead]

Asik sucks SOOOOOO bad why the hell does anyone want him here? rofl I'd rather have Steamroller back he's WAY betta

No way Steamer is better

Greg Stiemsma is remarkably incompetent in the pick and roll. He's an end of the bench guy, who could play a decent role on teams that go to a 2-3 zone.

I think he's just a good 3rd string C no question but yeah, Asik is a better player for sure.  Much better rebounder and man defender.

[StartOrien]

Asik sucks SOOOOOO bad why the hell does anyone want him here? rofl I'd rather have Steamroller back he's WAY betta

No way Steamer is better

Greg Stiemsma is remarkably incompetent in the pick and roll. He's an end of the bench guy, who could play a decent role on teams that go to a 2-3 zone.

He did well enough as a backup C for most of his run with the C's, though his playoff play was worrying.

Third string C for now along with Melo, we should acquire a more solid backup option to play behind KG.

I'm not sure what happened, but he became frankenstein on pick and rolls. There was one play in particular where he just plowed through the ballhandler that was outright shockingly bad. Ballhandler tried to get wide and he just kept coming at him like Jason.

[Who]

Asik would be terrific but there is no way that Chicago doesn't match.

Big men have too much value as trade assets. Chicago will do the same as Orlando did with Gortat. Match the offer. Keep him for the short term and then move him on in a trade to fill an alternative need.

[ausbacker]

Asik sucks SOOOOOO bad why the hell does anyone want him here? rofl I'd rather have Steamroller back he's WAY betta

No way Steamer is better

Greg Stiemsma is remarkably incompetent in the pick and roll. He's an end of the bench guy, who could play a decent role on teams that go to a 2-3 zone.

Steamer would be a fantastic NBA player if he was allowed to stand in the paint for 48 minutes. Unfortunately, that isn't possible and his lack of basketball intelligence is found out. You can't fault his intensity.

[KCattheStripe]

Asik sucks SOOOOOO bad why the hell does anyone want him here? rofl I'd rather have Steamroller back he's WAY betta

No way Steamer is better

Greg Stiemsma is remarkably incompetent in the pick and roll. He's an end of the bench guy, who could play a decent role on teams that go to a 2-3 zone.

He did well enough as a backup C for most of his run with the C's, though his playoff play was worrying.

Third string C for now along with Melo, we should acquire a more solid backup option to play behind KG.

I'm not sure what happened, but he became frankenstein on pick and rolls. There was one play in particular where he just plowed through the ballhandler that was outright shockingly bad. Ballhandler tried to get wide and he just kept coming at him like Jason.

Hmmmm... an unathletic guy who spends non-game hours in a boot simultaneously has trouble with aspects of the game that involve keeping pace and changing directions with smaller and quicker players. Hmmmmmmmm.

[Dchuck]

Signing Asik would make up for the disappointing draft, for sure!