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General manager Daryl Morey insists he is not looking to deal guard Jeremy Lin and center Omer Asik in the wake of signing Dwight Howard

He has cited Lin’s ability as an attacking guard as a good fit with Howard. He has talked about the value of Asik’s defense off the bench.

On Saturday, he added another reason.

“The reality is James (Harden) and Dwight (Howard) want to play with Jeremy and Omer,” Morey said. “I’ve been kicked down to assistant GM. They’re going to be here.”

With Howard to supplant Asik as starting center, Morey was more specific about what Asik can bring.

“When we didn’t have Omer out there last year, we (stunk),” Morey said. “I mean, we were terrible. That was where we lost games. When we had Omer out there, we were a top-10 defensive team. Now we have a defensive player of the year and Omer. That position is so important if you’re going to have a solid defense. Now we have two of the best in the league. I’m very excited.”

Said Howard: “Omer might not really see the total big picture right now, and I totally understand. He’s a young guy and he wants to really be respected. I would tell him when I see him, ‘You’ve done a great job on this team. I’m going to help you and this team get better.’ He’s a big piece to us winning a championship if we’re going to make that run. He and Jeremy Lin will be very good playing with me. I’m going to do whatever I can to make those guys’ lives better. I realize how much they mean to this team.

Dwight Howard might not have replaced Daryl Morey as Rockets general manager, despite Morey’s claim that Howard and James Harden had demoted him to their assistant, but Howard did have strong feelings about the Rockets keeping the Rockets’ previous starting center, Omer Asik.

Asik had told the Rockets he wanted to be traded, rather than to return to the backup role he had with the Bulls. Morey has said he does not intend to trade Asik.

“Omer might not really see the total big picture right now and I totally understand,” Howard said. “He’s a young guy and he wants to really be respected. I would tell him when I see him, ‘You’ve done a great job on this team. I’m going to help you and this team get better.’ He’s a big piece to us winning a championship if we’re going to make that run. Him and Jeremy Lin will be very good playing with me. I’m going to do whatever I can to make those guys’ lives better. I realize how much they mean to this team.”

“Omer might not really see the total big picture right now and I totally understand,” Howard said. “He’s a young guy and he wants to really be respected. I would tell him when I see him, ‘You’ve done a great job on this team. I’m going to help you and this team get better.’ He’s a big piece to us winning a championship if we’re going to make that run. Him and Jeremy Lin will be very good playing with me. I’m going to do whatever I can to make those guys’ lives better. I realize how much they mean to this team.”

Zubby wrote:Dwight Howard... dat maturity, dat leadership, dat foresight and understand.
Rest of the league? they scared yet?


We finally got our BBG and beast reserve center... how many years have we wanted this?

inquisitive wrote:It was really nice of Howard to say this....

“Omer might not really see the total big picture right now and I totally understand,” Howard said. “He’s a young guy and he wants to really be respected. I would tell him when I see him, ‘You’ve done a great job on this team. I’m going to help you and this team get better.’ He’s a big piece to us winning a championship if we’re going to make that run. Him and Jeremy Lin will be very good playing with me. I’m going to do whatever I can to make those guys’ lives better. I realize how much they mean to this team.”

summary wrote:It seems a little condescending for a guy the same age as Asik to say he doesn't see the whole picture as a young guy.

summary wrote:

inquisitive wrote:It was really nice of Howard to say this....

“Omer might not really see the total big picture right now and I totally understand,” Howard said. “He’s a young guy and he wants to really be respected. I would tell him when I see him, ‘You’ve done a great job on this team. I’m going to help you and this team get better.’ He’s a big piece to us winning a championship if we’re going to make that run. Him and Jeremy Lin will be very good playing with me. I’m going to do whatever I can to make those guys’ lives better. I realize how much they mean to this team.”

It seems a little condescending for a guy the same age as Asik to say he doesn't see the whole picture as a young guy.