FORGET THE FIREWORKS - Sources: Rockets trade Omer Asik to Pelicans

YAHOO SPORTS
 By Adrian Wojnarowski

The Houston Rockets have reached agreement on a trade to send center Omer Asik to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for a future first-round draft pick, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

For the Rockets, this is the first step in clearing salary-cap space to pursue LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony in free agency. Houston has to move Jeremy Lin next to create space for a third maximum contract on the roster. Dwight Howard and James Harden are already on max contracts for the Rockets.

The Rockets will acquire what will likely be a late lottery pick, possibly as soon as 2015, from the Pelicans, sources said.

Asik gives the Pelicans a rim protector and defender to pair with star forward Anthony Davis.

Asik, 27, had asked for a trade a year ago, wanting out of Houston after the team signed Howard to become its starting center. Asik was injured for parts of the past season and averaged 5.8 points and 7.9 rebounds. As Houston's starting center two years ago, he averaged 10.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.

112288

IF true, no wasted energy.  Prepare the offer to Gortat.

Sam

I DON'T GET IT. FOR A DRAFT CHOICE? ARE YOU KIDDING!

112288

112288 wrote:I DON'T GET IT. FOR A DRAFT CHOICE? ARE YOU KIDDING!

112288

Daryl Morey is trying to clear cap space and this is the first and easiest move for Houston to make.

SO WHERE IS DANNY? WHAT ABOUT OUR PICK?

112288

112288 wrote:SO WHERE IS DANNY? WHAT ABOUT OUR PICK?

112288

Maybe Danny low balled Morey and thought he could get Asik with just using the TPE.

Maybe Danny didn't want Asik.

swish

It's interesting that Houston chose to do this deal with a team not only in the same conference, but in the same division. Considering that they gave Asik away for just a first round pick, you'd think that half the teams in the league would've been willing to meet that price.

It will be interesting to see if New Orleans can make this version of the twin towers work. If they can add some depth and avoid the injuries they had last season -- Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson both had season-ending injuries -- the Pelicans could be a very good team.

swish wrote:Maybe Danny didn't want Asik.

There's always that possibility, but I don't see how Danny wouldn't take him for a draft pick when he has them stacked outside his door like a cord of wood for winter.

Outside wrote:

swish wrote:Maybe Danny didn't want Asik.

There's always that possibility, but I don't see how Danny wouldn't take him for a draft pick when he has them stacked outside his door like a cord of wood for winter.

Outside
Perhaps he has someone else in mind to spend that 15 mil on.

swish

swish wrote:Perhaps he has someone else in mind to spend that 15 mil on.

Yep. Good point.

swish wrote:

Outside wrote:

swish wrote:Maybe Danny didn't want Asik.

There's always that possibility, but I don't see how Danny wouldn't take him for a draft pick when he has them stacked outside his door like a cord of wood for winter.

   Outside
Perhaps he has someone else in mind to spend that 15 mil on.

 swish

Spencer Hawes?

LOL

Well Sam, there goes your favorite "should be a Celtic".

has my head scratching I must say. Seemed like an easy deal for Ainge to make to match NO's offer. We may have had to release Bogans for cap space to make it work though.

Since Ainge almost made the deal for Asik before the trade deadline, they obviously have something else In the work for Center.

As I said above, no time for regrets.  On to Danny's next move.....which would also be his first move.

Sam

Outside wrote:It's interesting that Houston chose to do this deal with a team not only in the same conference, but in the same division. Considering that they gave Asik away for just a first round pick, you'd think that half the teams in the league would've been willing to meet that price.

It will be interesting to see if New Orleans can make this version of the twin towers work. If they can add some depth and avoid the injuries they had last season -- Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson both had season-ending injuries -- the Pelicans could be a very good team.

Maybe Asik was not worth more than a first round pick. All the mindless chatter about the Celts needing to give up picks and a front line player was based not on reality.

Dboss

Dboss,

I have a hard time accepting that assessment of Asik. This is a guy who averaged 10.1 points and 11.7 rebounds the only time he was given the opportunity to play as a starter, and he plays a position that is decidedly lacking (and therefore in demand) around the league.

Maybe Morey didn't want to take on players in trade because he's leaving cap space for Carmelo, LeBron, or whichever star(s) they want to pursue, but I'd think he could squeeze two or more picks from Ainge instead of the one he got.

Outside wrote:Dboss,

I have a hard time accepting that assessment of Asik. This is a guy who averaged 10.1 points and 11.7 rebounds the only time he was given the opportunity to play as a starter, and he plays a position that is decidedly lacking (and therefore in demand) around the league.

Maybe Morey didn't want to take on players in trade because he's leaving cap space for Carmelo, LeBron, or whichever star(s) they want to pursue, but I'd think he could squeeze two or more picks from Ainge instead of the one he got.

Outside,


Yeah, you know, my first impression of this was that Morey just slapped Danny in the face. He knew Danny was interested, he knows he has draft picks up the ying yang AND a trade exception that fills the bill perfectly (so he could still get salary relief AND draft picks) and yet he trades him to a team, not only in the same conference but in the same division, for a single draft pick.

I don't understand it, I really don't. Part of me wants to say that Danny already has something set up and he waved Morey off, so Morey took an offer that was still on the table even if it was inferior to the one Danny originally offered, but that's 100% pure speculation at this point.



bob


.

This makes no sense, unless Danny has another center locked up for less money. Otherwise incomprehensible.

Time to move on from Asik.

Sam

Hi,
I believe there is something else, not fireworks, is cooking in DA's kitchen.
The fact that DA didn't get Asik is an indication of him getting all draft picks and letting Love go elsewhere, IMO.

AK

and who is to say that he will sign a long term deal there anyway?

Originally what Ainge had offered for Asik was better than the offer they received six months later...

This was more a salary dump than anything else.


KJ

k_j_88 wrote:Originally what Ainge had offered for Asik was better than the offer they received six months later...

This was more a salary dump than anything else.


KJ

KJ,

I forget what the rumor was at the time, but I thought it was a 1st round pick, Bass and another player.
I think they wanted to keep Asik for a playoff run and not take on the salary of Bass and other Celtics.
If Houston signs LeBron or Carmelo, Morey will look like a genius for how he built the Rockets.

UNLESS OF COURSE THERE IS A NEED BY NEW ORLEANS TO FILL ANOTHER POSITION AND PLAYER THEY NEED WE HAVE AND DANNY HAS PUT OFF THE TRADE WITH NEW ORLEANS BECAUSE OTHER PIECES HAVE TO FALL THE CELTICS WAY FIRST DURING THE DRAFT AND WE DO NOT WANT TO TIP OUR HAND.

112288

If New Orleans has a need, it is for player #7 or later.
Their starting lineup is set along with their 6th man.
PG - Jrue Holiday
SG - Eric Gordon
SF - Ryan Anderson
PF - Anthony Davis
C - Omer Asik
6th Man - Tyreke Evans

112288 - crafty. Very crafty.