Omer Asik Trade - Updated link pg.109

[CelticFaninLBC]

Morey intimating that one of the owners (likely Alexander) killed the trade:

http://rockets.clutchfans.net/5761/more ... igh-level/

Hard to believe anything Morey says. Probably just trying to save face...

[Captain_Caveman]

From Washburn and Holmes:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/ ... story.html

Multiple reports, including the Globe, indicated that, according to NBA sources, a deal was “close” Wednesday night and that the teams were haggling over a draft pick.

However, multiple league sources told the Globe it was more likely that Houston general manager Daryl Morey was trying to stir interest in Asik than a deal was in the works.

That point was reiterated again a day later.

“Houston is desperate and Daryl outsmarted himself,” a league source said.

Asik, 27, has been unhappy in Houston since the club acquired Dwight Howard in the summer, and the team has been looking to move him since — and it will still try to do so before Feb. 20.

However, Asik is due $15 million next season as part his back-loaded contract, a large figure that no doubt makes some teams leery of trying to acquire him.

“Fifteen million is too much to absorb in 2014-15,” a league source said regarding the Celtics.

[CelticFaninLBC]

From Washburn and Holmes:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/ ... story.html

Multiple reports, including the Globe, indicated that, according to NBA sources, a deal was “close” Wednesday night and that the teams were haggling over a draft pick.

However, multiple league sources told the Globe it was more likely that Houston general manager Daryl Morey was trying to stir interest in Asik than a deal was in the works.

That point was reiterated again a day later.

“Houston is desperate and Daryl outsmarted himself,” a league source said.

Asik, 27, has been unhappy in Houston since the club acquired Dwight Howard in the summer, and the team has been looking to move him since — and it will still try to do so before Feb. 20.

However, Asik is due $15 million next season as part his back-loaded contract, a large figure that no doubt makes some teams leery of trying to acquire him.

“Fifteen million is too much to absorb in 2014-15,” a league source said regarding the Celtics.

So Morey basically lied to Adrian Wojnarowski... GM's must be laughing @ him.

[jfs1000d]

I think Celtics would take that $15 million to get rid of lee. I knew his cap hit was acceptable at $8.3, but paying him $15 million is nuts. Why would a team do that and give up a draft picks and not send out contracts?

Morey has no options.

[SuperDeluxe]

Something to consider would be how much Asik would demand to re-sign in the summer of 2015, when the new contracts of Rondo and Bradley would be kicking in. So trading Bass, Lee and the pick could perhaps be too much to give for a 1.5 year rental of Asik, in particular when the team is not contending this year and maybe won't next year either.

[Captain_Caveman]

I think Celtics would take that $15 million to get rid of lee. I knew his cap hit was acceptable at $8.3, but paying him $15 million is nuts. Why would a team do that and give up a draft picks and not send out contracts?

Morey has no options.

I still don't get it, though. I felt like the motivation for trading him early was as much about the ability to offset that balloon payment as it was the whole re-flip assets at the trade deadline thing. But again, the rumored deal was pretty cost neutral for both sides.

Salary numbers 2013-14: $5.5m Asik, $11.675m Bass/Lee
Salary numbers 2014-15: $15m Asik, $12.35m Bass/Lee

Related Factors:
- 2013-14 numbers are pro-rated
- Team with Asik has to pay one other rotation player than team with Bass/Lee, or at least a minimum salary

Just not a huge hit for us or them, IMO. If there even is one.

[jfs1000d]

I think Celtics would take that $15 million to get rid of lee. I knew his cap hit was acceptable at $8.3, but paying him $15 million is nuts. Why would a team do that and give up a draft picks and not send out contracts?

Morey has no options.

I still don't get it, though. I felt like the motivation for trading him early was as much about the ability to offset that balloon payment as it was the whole re-flip assets at the trade deadline thing. But again, the rumored deal was pretty cost neutral for both sides.

Salary numbers 2013-14: $5.5m Asik, $11.675m Bass/Lee
Salary numbers 2014-15: $15m Asik, $12.35m Bass/Lee

Related Factors:
- 2013-14 numbers are pro-rated
- Team with Asik has to pay one other rotation player than team with Bass/Lee, or at least a minimum salary

Just not a huge hit for us or them, IMO. If there even is one.

They would be paying Asik more than rondo and Jeff green. Btw, that's why the deal is bass/lee and not hump/Bogans.

[tfmiii]

Morey intimating that one of the owners (likely Alexander) killed the trade:

http://rockets.clutchfans.net/5761/more ... igh-level/

sounds to me like Morey never really intended to trade Asik, not unless someone did something foolish

this was a Potemkin village for Asik's benefit... thing is, I don't think Asik (or his agent) have been fooled

[jirrit]

Houston getting pounded by Indiana atm.

[Valid]

Not that Asik is innocent in all of this, because he isn't, but if Morey seriously invented all of that garbage and risked destroying the chemistry of the locker rooms of all of the "suitors" mentioned (like our Celtics) just to placate Asik, then he is an even bigger douche than I originally suspected.

[Fencer reregistered]

The $15 million balloon is like a cash contribution to the deal. But the arithmetic is a bit tricky as to how much. Shortcut: It's however much the Rockets have saved vs. his cap hit over the first year and change of the contract. Without checking the numbers, I think that's upwards of $4 million, which probably matches or exceeds the cash value of a late first-round draft pick.

[ParticleMan]

wonder if ainge will make the same offer at the deadline. i suspect so, and i suspect morey won't get anything better then either.

[threrf23]

You know, I just realized that lost in all this, Omer Asik has been missing games recently due to knee issues. Granted his knee is only swelling, he is one season removed from playing way more minutes per game than he had earlier in his career. I wonder if the wear and tear could be more than let on.

[Fencer reregistered]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_ ... -in-revolt

The Rockets REALLY don't like midrange shots. So maybe they really aren't interested in having Bass play for them.

"Only thing we're shooting in practice are layups and 3s," starting point guard Patrick Beverley explains. "We don't like midrange," Garcia and Beverley say in unison.

[b3n]

wonder if ainge will make the same offer at the deadline. i suspect so, and i suspect morey won't get anything better then either.

I'd hope the offer would be Bass, Lee & zilch for Asik, or # sand at the deadline.

[ParticleMan]

You know, I just realized that lost in all this, Omer Asik has been missing games recently due to knee issues. Granted his knee is only swelling, he is one season removed from playing way more minutes per game than he had earlier in his career. I wonder if the wear and tear could be more than let on.

imo they're only saying "swollen knee" because "swollen ego" isn't an official injury designation.

i'm convinced that if he had been traded, jesus himself would have visited asik that day and he would have been miraculously healed to play the next night.

[165bows]

A couple of points regarding the whole Terrance Jones breakout and not needing help at the four.

Somewhat lost in Terrence Jones' breakout season in Houston are his struggles on the road.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Kentucky product is averaging 5.5 fewer points on the road (6.8) than he is at home (12.4). Only Brooklyn's Joe Johnson has a higher disparity (road: 13.8; home: 19.4) among players who've played at least 20 games.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/nba/rum ... t?id=19677 ($)

Might be working out now, but not sure how much they want to rely on someone with so little experience come playoff time, frankly.

[CelticFaninLBC]

A couple of points regarding the whole Terrance Jones breakout and not needing help at the four.

Somewhat lost in Terrence Jones' breakout season in Houston are his struggles on the road.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Kentucky product is averaging 5.5 fewer points on the road (6.8) than he is at home (12.4). Only Brooklyn's Joe Johnson has a higher disparity (road: 13.8; home: 19.4) among players who've played at least 20 games.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/nba/rum ... t?id=19677 ($)

Might be working out now, but not sure how much they want to rely on someone with so little experience come playoff time, frankly.

I watched Houston's game last night versus Indiana and Jones didn't do much until Indiana had a huge lead. Looking at his game log, Jones had some big games in November, but seems to have really cooled off in December. He's averaging just 8 ppg on 41% shooting and 19% from 3. Houston's bench also kinda sucks too.

[Fencer reregistered]

I suspect that any Bass/Asik deal would have to be a 3-way, as Houston wouldn't value Bass.

[15th overall]

Brooklyn could end up being competition for Asik's services.