Asik wants out - Trade for Lopez/Freeland?

[e_blazer]

Okay, the thread title pretty much says it all. Since Asik isn't willing to play backup behind Howard, what about moving Lopez along with Freeland to the Rockets in exchange for Asik? I see him as significantly better than Lopez.

In case you're wondering, yes the Blazers are free to move Lopez immediately upon completion of the 3-way trade. Larry Coon's FAQ says a player can't be moved:

For two months after receiving the player in trade, if the trade aggregates the player's salary with the salaries of other players. However, the team is free to trade the player immediately, either by himself or without aggregating his salary with other salaries. This restriction applies only to teams over the salary cap.

The Blazers aren't over the cap.

Houston could use a solid backup C. Maybe Houston can find a better return, but Asik's backloaded salary is going to be a bit of a hindrance to some NBA teams taking him. I don't see PA as blinking at spending the money. I think it would be pretty nifty bit of GMing if Olshey could pull it off.

Thoughts?

 

[shamelessblazer]

Asik's backloaded salary is going to be a bit of a hindrance to some NBA teams taking him. I don't see PA as blinking at spending the money.

+1!

They commit to less money for less years on a guy who's only going to play 15 minutes a night anyways. I would think that Lopez would be a great backup center.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think this would be a very good move. Maybe I'm just not a "Sideshow Rob" fan (at least as a starter) but I think Asik would be a very good starting center, acting as a true defensive anchor and good defensive rebounder who wouldn't get in the way of LaMarcus.

I gotta think Morey would want us to sweeten the pot though.

 

[illmatic99]

Asik's backloaded salary won't mean anything to our cap, only Chicago's. Hence the term, "poison pill." It will still only be like 8.3mil on our cap or any other team outside of CHI.

 

[1eyejack]

Lopez and Asik are a lot closer statistically than people think. MM showed comparison and here are some great points

Asik 27
Lopez 25

per 36
Asik 12/14/ 1.3blks
Lopez 16/8/ 2.2 blks

Per
Asik 16.9
Lopez 18.9

Ft%
Asik .562
Lopez .778

And Lopez contract is a hell of a lot better.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I like it but would the Rockets do this insted....Lopez, Freeland and Mathews to the Rockets for Asik and Parsons?

 

[B-Roy]

I don't see the Rockets agreeing to take Freeland....

 

[Blazinaway]

I don't see the Rockets agreeing to take Freeland....

agree, no way they take Freeland

 

[Further]

Lopez and Asik are a lot closer statistically than people think. MM showed comparison and here are some great points

Asik 27
Lopez 25

per 36
Asik 12/14/ 1.3blks
Lopez 16/8/ 2.2 blks

Per
Asik 16.9
Lopez 18.9

Ft%
Asik .562
Lopez .778

And Lopez contract is a hell of a lot better.

It's even worse, asik's PER is not 16.9 last year,but 14.9 http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/asikom01.html

Lopez is the better player and most importantly the better rim protector.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I don't see the Rockets agreeing to take Freeland....

Why not?

 

[Blazinaway]

Why not?

cause he has negative value an Asik is recognized by most as having greater trade value than most

 

[illmatic99]

Lopez isn't even close to being the better player in the skills we desperately need.


ORB%: Asik: 13.4% Lopez: 11.5%
DRB%: Asik: 27.8% Lopez: 14.3%
TRB%: Asik: 20.7% Lopez: 12.9%

DRTG: Asik: 99 Lopez: 109

DWS: Asik 8.2 Lopez: 4.1

Robin is serviceable but I'll take Omer over him every day of the week

 

[BigGameDamian]

agree, no way they take Freeland

Ya like he's got a huge contract.

 

[B-Roy]

Why not?

Why should they take neg value when they're giving up the better player?

 

[BigGameDamian]

Why should they take neg value when they're giving up the better player?

Well they are getting Lopez and Mathews as well

 

[1eyejack]

Lopez isn't even close to being the better player in the skills we desperately need.


ORB%: Asik: 13.4% Lopez: 11.5%
DRB%: Asik: 27.8% Lopez: 14.3%
TRB%: Asik: 20.7% Lopez: 12.9%

DRTG: Asik: 99 Lopez: 109

DWS: Asik 8.2 Lopez: 4.1

Robin is serviceable but I'll take Omer over him every day of the week

So basically the only numbers you are looking at are rebounds. I'm not saying Lopez is better but he might not be as far apart as some claim. He's a better shot blocker, ft shooter and has better per. He also has a better contract and we already have him and don't have to trade assets to get a different player. He'll if all we need is rebounding keep Hickson.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Lopez isn't even close to being the better player in the skills we desperately need.


ORB%: Asik: 13.4% Lopez: 11.5%
DRB%: Asik: 27.8% Lopez: 14.3%
TRB%: Asik: 20.7% Lopez: 12.9%

DRTG: Asik: 99 Lopez: 109

DWS: Asik 8.2 Lopez: 4.1

Robin is serviceable but I'll take Omer over him every day of the week

Interestingly, 82games shows that although Asik has better individual rebound numbers, Lopez actually has better team rebound numbers. Asik's opposing centers also get more rebounds than Lopez' do.

Easy to cherry pick stats to show one as being better than the other. I agree that Asik is clearly the better defender (both individually and team), but I think Lopez is probably the better offensive player. For the cost difference, I don't know that Asik is necessarily worth it.

 

[B-Roy]

Well they are getting Lopez and Mathews as well

And they're giving up Parsons, who has the most value in the deal especially with his cheap contract.

 

[B-Roy]

Interestingly, 82games shows that although Asik has better individual rebound numbers, Lopez actually has better team rebound numbers. Asik's opposing centers also get more rebounds than Lopez' do.

Easy to cherry pick stats to show one as being better than the other. I agree that Asik is clearly the better defender (both individually and team), but I think Lopez is probably the better offensive player. For the cost difference, I don't know that Asik is necessarily worth it.

Lopez boxes out his man better. Sometimes I think people get caught up with raw numbers. Kevin Love is a great rebounder for sure, but even his numbers are inflated because he'll go for the rebound over the right play, ie. leaving guys open so he can get a rebound, taking rebounds away from teammates.

 

[illmatic99]

Interestingly, 82games shows that although Asik has better individual rebound numbers, Lopez actually has better team rebound numbers. Asik's opposing centers also get more rebounds than Lopez' do.

Easy to cherry pick stats to show one as being better than the other. I agree that Asik is clearly the better defender (both individually and team), but I think Lopez is probably the better offensive player. For the cost difference, I don't know that Asik is necessarily worth it.

Ya I was cherrypicking for rebounding and defensive stats, the skills we need out of our C. Lopez is the better offensive player-- he doesn't have stone hands like Asik.

 

[BigGameDamian]

And they're giving up Parsons, who has the most value in the deal especially with his cheap contract.

If the Rockets really want to win, Having a player like Mathews will hold more value to them than having a player like Parsons.The Rockets have enough offensive\scoring power without Parsons. If you really want to win you can't always be a tightwad about money.

 

[B-Roy]

If the Rockets really want to win, Having a player like Mathews will hold more value to them than having a player like Parsons.The Rockets have enough offensive\scoring power without Parsons.

...?

Parsons is a better player NOW than Matthews.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

You can't trade Lopez with any other players.

Asik will get them better than that. They want a stretch 4. Someone will give them one.

 

[BigGameDamian]

...?

Parsons is a better player NOW than Matthews.

Not on defense he's not.

 

[B-Roy]

Not on defense he's not.

He's a better overall player, has a better contract, and is younger. You go asking to trade Matthews for Parsons and Morey laughs you off the phone.

 

[RR7]

You can't trade Lopez with any other players.

Asik will get them better than that. They want a stretch 4. Someone will give them one.

You can trade him with other pieces, since we acquired him while under the cap. That rule only applies if over the cap.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Ya I was cherrypicking for rebounding and defensive stats, the skills we need out of our C. Lopez is the better offensive player-- he doesn't have stone hands like Asik.

Yes, you were cherrypicking for the specific stats you wanted to point out, ignoring other skills that we also need out of our center (such as the ability to hit free throws, pass the ball without turning it over, block shots, etc.). I'm glad you recognize that. Repped.

 

[illmatic99]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9...wake-dwight-howard-add-houston-rockets-say-no

Houston Rockets center Omer Asik has formally asked the team to trade him in the wake of the team landing Dwight Howard in free agency. But the Rockets have no plans to grant Asik's wish, sources told ESPN.com.

Is there still a chance for us to land him? Hickson S&T? Leonard + Wes? I like Lopez a lot more as a backup to Asik.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'd see if Houston would bite on a Hickson sign-and-trade deal. Maybe we could add Leonard to the Robinson deal if Houston sent us some filler.

Pairing Asik with Lopez as our two bigs would solidify the center position for years to come. They're both fairly young, and they would compliment Aldridge well.

Hickson/Leonard for Asik/Robinson would be pretty good value I think. That would give us two young defensive bigs that could protect the paint and block shots, while Houston gets a young center to backup Howard and a decent power forward to start alongside him.

Anyway, just my take. I don't think Houston will keep Asik. I think they're trying to stop the bleeding on Asik's value. Everyone knows the guy wants out, everyone knows Houston will have to trade him at some point. They can say they won't be dealing him, but they can't keep him on their roster. He doesn't make sense starting next to Howard, and he obviously doesn't want to come off the bench. Hickson and Leonard would make a lot of sense for them.

 

[illmatic99]

If Neil can pull off a Hickson/Leonard/scrub combo for Asik/TRob deal in addition to the Lopez deal, I'd be thrilled as hell. That would make us a 50 win team.