This thread.
Omer Asik at his very best is a great role player. Even a solid sixth man (in the form of a big man who rebounds), but nothing beyond that. Him being the third star in a Big 3 is out of question.
I'd imagine a perfect lineup (or at least a great one) being as follows: Rondo-Someone who can shoot-Carmelo-Love-Asik, where Asik is your solid big man who is underrated, but actually helps the team in big ways.
Of course, that is if we can get Love and Carmelo.
My lord, somebody who actually understands!
As mentioned above I'm not by any means saying Asik is a terrible / useless player. Of course he has strong aspects to his game and contribute to a team in ways beyond what his stats may show.
BUT the fact remains that he is a pure role player, and makes WAY too much money for what he offers. Bringing in Asik at the $15M he's due next season would be equivalent to the Thunder signing Perkins to that $10M+ salary when they go him in the trade. If not for Perk, they might have had the cap space to keep Harden...and tha twould have completely changed their team dynamic. Now they are somewhat crippled because they are paying 'good starter' money to a guy who is nothing more than a role player.
If Boston gets Asik at $15M they are playing All-Star money for a guy who is an overglorified role player and barely good enough to be a starting center. The idea of getting Love and then brigning in a third star in addition to Asik isn't an option, because with Rondo/Love/Asik Boston would have no cap space to sign another star.
He's not the third in the big 3, but he is a very good player that will make our team better. If we are going to have a third great player, it will probably come later on when we have cap space or by using the picks we have left.
You talk about signing Asik as if there is no Salary cap in the NBA. "Who cares if he's due $15M, he can defend and rebound and will help the team!". Fact is that he woudl take up almost 1/3 of Boston's salary cap, and in no world/universe/galaxy/dimension is Asik good enough to justify that type of financial commitment. With Asik on this team, there would be no cap space...and there would been third great player.