Rockets seek deal for Omer Asik

[kozlodoev]

I said DEFENSIVE rebounder for a reason, and the reason was that the Celtics deemphasized offensive rebounding as a team. On a per-minute and rate basis, Perkins and Asik were very similar at identical ages, and without Perk's knee injury it's anyone guess who the better player is.

Perkins shot ~60% from the field for three consecutive years at the height of his career. Asik shot 54% in his best year. Of course part of this is Rondo passing Perk the ball, but I don't think there's much room for comparison regardless. At some point, we had designated post plays for Perk.

Yeah, and it's still completely false. Asik has been a far more effective defensive rebounder by every measure unless you just want to claim "it was the system!" for all 7 years of Perk in Boston.

I like Perk and happen to think he was worth in the $5M-$10M range in his prime, but you are just making stuff up when you claim he was a better rebounder. On offense I admit it's a bit more subjective, but it's not like Perk was ever considered a good offensive player. He just got less awful after 7 years of playing in the same town.

I am not making stuff up because I never claimed he was a better rebounder.

[kraidstar]

biggest difference between asik and perk is that i've seen several playoff games where, late in the game, asik was the best player on the court. never seen that before from perk. asik has an incredible motor and a good feel for the game.
asik can be a legit game-changer. with that being said, asik needs to be on a team with scorers, so he can focus on what he's best at. i wouldn't give up any assets to bring him to the rebuilding c's. but if i were OKC, golden state, the knicks, pacers, even the spurs... i would do whatever it takes.
it should also be mentioned that asik has been a massive malcontent this year. he was playing on a decent team with title hopes, and he's done more damage than good due to his own ego. that's not celtics basketball. i want nothing to do with him.

[LooseCannon]

When it comes to rebounding, Asik is at the Kevin Love-Dwight Howard level, not the non-injured Perkins level.

[byennie]

I am not making stuff up because I never claimed he was a better rebounder.

I misspoke. You claimed he was a "comparable defensive rebounder", which has been debunked by several people here. The point is, you "made that up" based on your subjective memory but have nothing to back it up with.

[rondoallaturca]

However ...

While strong rumbles persist that the Philadelphia 76ers are the team most likely to go along with such an arrangement, given the close ties between Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and Philly counterpart Sam Hinkie, there's fresh talk in circulation about another potential co-conspirator.

The Boston Celtics.

The advice offered to us on Sunday was stern: Keep an eye on Boston. The Celtics possess two players in different salary ranges that would presumably fit in useful ways next to Dwight Howard: Jeff Green and Brandon Bass. The Celts also have a spare first-round draft pick or two to plug into any trade equation to sweeten the deal for Houston, amid rising suspicions around the league that Morey’s Rockets are going to find a way to come out of the Asik saga with at least one future first.

The same Rockets who happen to have a GM (Morey) and coach (Kevin McHale) who have long-standing relationships with Celts president Danny Ainge.

So, yes, I’d say you should keep an eye on Boston.

http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/post/_/id/779/omer-asik-talks-progressing

[j804]

However ...

While strong rumbles persist that the Philadelphia 76ers are the team most likely to go along with such an arrangement, given the close ties between Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and Philly counterpart Sam Hinkie, there's fresh talk in circulation about another potential co-conspirator.

The Boston Celtics.

The advice offered to us on Sunday was stern: Keep an eye on Boston. The Celtics possess two players in different salary ranges that would presumably fit in useful ways next to Dwight Howard: Jeff Green and Brandon Bass. The Celts also have a spare first-round draft pick or two to plug into any trade equation to sweeten the deal for Houston, amid rising suspicions around the league that Morey’s Rockets are going to find a way to come out of the Asik saga with at least one future first.

The same Rockets who happen to have a GM (Morey) and coach (Kevin McHale) who have long-standing relationships with Celts president Danny Ainge.

So, yes, I’d say you should keep an eye on Boston.

http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/post/_/id/779/omer-asik-talks-progressing

lol who do they think Asik is? so we await the decision

[nostar]

lol who do they think Asik is? so we await the decision

I completely agree with this. Who exactly is swinging for the fences to get a mediocre center on a bloated deal. Asik is a good defensive center but honestly his FT% is garbage and his offense is put backs. He's basically an unathletic Deandre Jordan. Oh and he averages $9M/yr. If they want a first round pick for that they might be waiting a while. What I can see happening is an exchange for a more complementary player to Howard. A pick-and-pop guy maybe. Brandon Bass comes to mind!

[BleedGreen1989]

However ...

While strong rumbles persist that the Philadelphia 76ers are the team most likely to go along with such an arrangement, given the close ties between Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and Philly counterpart Sam Hinkie, there's fresh talk in circulation about another potential co-conspirator.

The Boston Celtics.

The advice offered to us on Sunday was stern: Keep an eye on Boston. The Celtics possess two players in different salary ranges that would presumably fit in useful ways next to Dwight Howard: Jeff Green and Brandon Bass. The Celts also have a spare first-round draft pick or two to plug into any trade equation to sweeten the deal for Houston, amid rising suspicions around the league that Morey’s Rockets are going to find a way to come out of the Asik saga with at least one future first.

The same Rockets who happen to have a GM (Morey) and coach (Kevin McHale) who have long-standing relationships with Celts president Danny Ainge.

So, yes, I’d say you should keep an eye on Boston.

http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/post/_/id/779/omer-asik-talks-progressing

I'm not sure what direction this team is going now, but it makes a ton of sense on paper.

Brad Stevens is heralded as a huge analytical guy who would likely value Asik a great deal. Not to mention Brad hired Ron Adams as his assistant out of Chicago, so he has an obvious connection with Asik and coached him for his forst couple seasons in the league. Boston already has an above average defense (10th in efficiency last I checked) and Asik would only catapult that higher.

Ainge has useful veterans and picks. I wouldn't be shocked to see the LAC first in play (hopefully with some sort of protection).

[PhoSita]

The Celtics as constructed are far too lacking in offensive weapons to invest trade / salary resources in a largely one-way player like Asik, even if he is really good on the defensive end.

Asik would probably make this team a few wins better this year, but unless you're somehow going to replace Green with a star wing player in the near future without giving up more talent elsewhere, I don't see how it sets the team up to be really competitive in the near future.  Trading Bass for Asik would be a somewhat different story, though I'm not sure I see the incentive for Houston.

Keep in mind, Asik is already 27 years old and he's basically a finished product.

[PhoSita]

Idea I posted in the other Asik thread:

Celtics get: Turner + Asik
Rockets get: Green + Brooks
Sixers get: Bass + Casspi + 2015 LAC 1st + 2014 HOU 1st


On the other hand, then the Celtics would basically be setting themselves up to commit to Evan Turner after this season, so I dunno.

[Roy H.]

Idea I posted in the other Asik thread:

Celtics get: Turner + Asik
Rockets get: Green + Brooks
Sixers get: Bass + Casspi + 2015 LAC 1st + 2014 HOU 1st


On the other hand, then the Celtics would basically be setting themselves up to commit to Evan Turner after this season, so I dunno.

Is Green worth Asik + a #1 from Houston's perspective? I don't think he is, especially with Parsons already there.

[kozlodoev]

I am not making stuff up because I never claimed he was a better rebounder.

I misspoke. You claimed he was a "comparable defensive rebounder", which has been debunked by several people here. The point is, you "made that up" based on your subjective memory but have nothing to back it up with.

Except it hasn't been debunked. At similar ages, Asik and Perkins were similar players. Perkins got hurt when he was supposed to go into his prime, and Asik had a career year.

If you want to pretend I'm imagining this, that's not my problem.

[Moranis]

Idea I posted in the other Asik thread:

Celtics get: Turner + Asik
Rockets get: Green + Brooks
Sixers get: Bass + Casspi + 2015 LAC 1st + 2014 HOU 1st


On the other hand, then the Celtics would basically be setting themselves up to commit to Evan Turner after this season, so I dunno.

Is Green worth Asik + a #1 from Houston's perspective? I don't think he is, especially with Parsons already there.

You are correct.  Houston laughs and hangs up the phone.  Boston is probably giving up at least 2 and maybe 3 firsts in that trade.

[JBcat]

Bass and a protected first round pick is as far as I will go for Asik.

[CFAN38]

Bass and a protected first round pick is as far as I will go for Asik.

I would be willing to include Vitor. He would be a nice backup for howard and the Cs would be hard pressed to find him minutes with Asik, Sully and KO as the big man rotation. I also think that rotation needs a more athletic 4th. Humph could fill that role this year.

Interesting thing is that this trade would create a team with a similar makeup to last years western conference final 56-26 Memphis team.

Celtics      Grizz
Asik         Gasol
Sully        Randolph
Green        Prince/Gay was traded mid season
AB           Allen
Rondo        Conley

Where gasol and randolph are better than Asik and Sully they are a very similare combo. I think TA and AB are a was and Rondo+Green are better than Conely and Prince/Gay.

I also think that a bench of Wallace, Crawford (who i would trade),Lee, Humph and KO could be a deep solid unit moving forward. Chemistry will obviously be an issue.