Asik trade rumors (deal reportedly off)

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it almost seems like the deal has been dead for a week, but b/c the rockets' self-imposed deadline is coming up, it keeps coming up in talks (as, seemingly, nobody had a better offer). if the pick can be lottery-protected and is one we think won't be too high (ideally, the clippers pick next year), then i have no qualms with this deal (its a great one). it might even work out well for the rockets, b/c lee and bass are good role players, and could help houston out. if its our own pick and/or not lottery-protected, i hope we just walk away.

[lon3lytoaster]

If Houston traded Asik for bass and lee, they would be laughed out of the nba.

  What's the rest of the nba going to say if he's still on the roster next year, making $15M sitting on the bench and complaining about his role?

As crazy as it may sound, I think the league would think better of Houston if they kept Asik on the bench than if they traded him for bass and lee.

I don't agree. Think your underselling the usefulness of both Bass and Lee to Houston compared to an Asik who won't play. He could even demand a buyout at that point and not be on the roster period potentially.

and I don't think Morey cares what other teams think of his dealings. It's not grade school.

[j804]

Final word on Omer Asik trade talks. I'm told Boston #Celtics in the lead but D.Morey still talking to other teams. Should go down tomorrow.

https://twitter.com/sheridanhoops/status/413503359199371264

Chris Sheridan a few hours ago said we're in the lead, so what is it on off? On?

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Maybe they just wait to move him in the actual trade deadline

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Must be like one of those Ebay auctions where you put in a for the sake of it bid on something you fully expect will be  outdone by the 4:30 am (your time) expiry. Then you wake up the next day and BAM! You are the proud owner of...

[colincb]

If Houston traded Asik for bass and lee, they would be laughed out of the nba.

  What's the rest of the nba going to say if he's still on the roster next year, making $15M sitting on the bench and complaining about his role?

As crazy as it may sound, I think the league would think better of Houston if they kept Asik on the bench than if they traded him for bass and lee.

You're right, it sounds crazy.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Maybe they just wait to move him in the actual trade deadline

Then I'd have wasted the past 2 days following this dang trade so closely.

[j804]

UPDATE:

@cluthcfans
Source: Rockets have been informed by league that the deadline is 12/20 (not 12/19) to make trade & still be able to trade received players.

@clutchfans
Just the same, Omer Asik is getting traded tomorrow. Rockets have a deal now they are willing to do, just waiting on best offers.

I saw this on hoopshype pretty sure we're the team with the deal in place putting two and two together with the Herald story. It looks like if nobody steps in with a better offer Asik will be a Celtic tomorrow or Friday.

[clover]

Maybe Asik is better than Bass or Lee but not by much. The Pick is what this is all about Houston wants it. That pick could be someone more valuable than Asik (who was taken in the second round). So if the one who gets be best player wins the trade, I say it is not a slam dunk by any means. Just a step in the rebuilding process.

A 7 footer who can make a defensive impact like Asik is worth a lot more than Bass and Lee.

Asik could be a DPOY candidate if he gets a starting gig and is able to play 30+ minutes a night.

Yep. He was basically on the Ty Chandler trajectory until getting benched by the Howard trade this year.

[j804]

Also from Marc Stein posted just about 15min ago

Sources said the quality of the draft pick that the Celtics are willing to surrender from their stash of nearly 10 future first-rounders over the next half-decade will be a key factor in determining whether the proposed Asik-to-Boston deal goes through.

Most sources connected to the talks, however, expressed belief Wednesday that the Rockets ultimately will go through with a trade, since Asik's demotion from the starting lineup and desire to be dealt following Dwight Howard's arrival in July have hung over the team for the past month.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10163639/houston-rockets-move-omer-asik-trade

[clover]

Final word on Omer Asik trade talks. I'm told Boston #Celtics in the lead but D.Morey still talking to other teams. Should go down tomorrow.

https://twitter.com/sheridanhoops/status/413503359199371264

Chris Sheridan a few hours ago said we're in the lead, so what is it on off? On?

It's that Boston made what is still the best offer and Houston's trying its best to get more, but it's looking like they'll have to settle for the Boston deal.

[crimson_stallion]

Maybe Asik is better than Bass or Lee but not by much. The Pick is what this is all about Houston wants it. That pick could be someone more valuable than Asik (who was taken in the second round). So if the one who gets be best player wins the trade, I say it is not a slam dunk by any means. Just a step in the rebuilding process.

A 7 footer who can make a defensive impact like Asik is worth a lot more than Bass and Lee.

Asik could be a DPOY candidate if he gets a starting gig and is able to play 30+ minutes a night.

The advanced statistics suggest that Bass has been an elite defensive player this year, and Lee is a decent (if not spectacular) defensive player himself.

On the other hand both Bass and Lee are far more skilled offensively than Asik is - Omar is practically useless offensively and would barely be an upgrade over Perk in that regard.

In fact I seriously question whether Asik is much (if any) more of an impact player for us right now than Hump is.  Hump has defended reasonably well, has blocked some shots, has a decent jumper, and has been an absolute beast on the boards. 

The problem with this deal is that the Celtics last I checked were a top 10 defense in the NBA...but one of the absolute worst offenses. 

Lee has probably been our most consistent scorer off the bench and one of the few guys who has been able to hit the three with consistency, while Bass has developed his offensive game this year with a better post game and more aggression driving to the basket.  For a team as bad as we are offensively, losing Bass and Lee would hurt us on that end of the floor without a doubt.   

On the other hand, gaining Asik does nothing to help us on that end of the floor.  He has zero offensive presence.  We would probably get about 10 points, 8 rebounds and a block from either Hump or Faverani if we played either one of those guys 30 minutes a night...

So as far as pure talent goes, we really aren't getting much more back with Asik than we are giving out with Lee and Bass. We're giving up two borderline starters (Lee) for one slightly better borderline starter (Asik).

So does this mean I would say no to the deal?  Not at all, I would say yes.  Why?  Because of the contracts.

Asik is only earning $8M this season which is not too bad considering his production...even if he turns out a mediocre producer for us (quite possible) he's not being paid enough to make it a massive deal.  His contract is heavilly back-loaded though, so next year he earns almost double that money...and suddenly he becomes a relatively young, relatively skilled 7 footer on a $15M expiring contract.  Suddenly our situation becomes a little like this...

2014-2015:
Kris Humphries ($12M), Bogans ($5M), Crawford ($5M) and Brooks ($3M) can all expire...up to $25M coming off the books

2015-2016:
Omar Asik ($15M) comes off the books

2016-2017:
Gerald Wallace ($10M) comes off the books

This means we have the ability to:

* Sign at least one (maybe two) max contract players in the 2014-2015 season, along with acquiring multiple draft picks in that loaded 2014 draft

* Sign one young max contract player (max contract for younger guys is only $12M - $15M) in the 2015-2016 season plus a draft pick in the 2015 draft

* Sign one very good support player (or a couple of midlevel guys) in the 2016-1017 season along with adding draft picks

That is a LOT of potential talent that we can add to this team in the relative short term, and making this move for Asik could give us the cap room (combined with existing young talent and draft picks) to make us contenders again within two seasons.

[aporel#18]

Bass+Lee+Clippers pick for Asik+Motiejunas is fair value.

It would be helping the Rockets now (Morey and McHale) and them helping us with our future.

Of course Morey wants to abuse every GM, but he respects Danny and they'll end getting a deal done.

[aporel#18]

TP to crimson_stallion. Good post.

I think any trade Danny Ainge is making has to put the Cs in a better position not now, but next season. Asik can be a good trade piece in february 2015 to get a guy like Marc Gasol, but if we're giving up on the Clippers pick, I want Motiejunas so we get another asset and another way to improve our team.

That said, in Danny I trust. He won't be fleeced by Morey.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Actually its only Grousebeck and Co. that are a forking out 15m and appaently they are cool with it. All the paperwork for cap space, luxury tax, etc says 8.2 million