The first year of Omer Asik‘s five-year, $53 million deal with the Pelicans didn’t go so well, with Asik often clogging the floor because of his limited mobility. With the center having turned 30 over the summer, things aren’t expected to be improve much, if at all, Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com writes (Insider subscription). That’s because Asik is clearly in decline and doesn’t fit in Alvin Gentry‘s offense, according to Pelton.
Here’s more out of New Orleans:
- Lance Stephenson‘s deal with the Pelicans makes sense because New Orleans is otherwise thin in the backcourt, with a dependence on Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway and rookie Buddy Hield for scoring, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders opines. The Pelicans have 15 guaranteed contracts, but Stepehenson would add an element of creativity and production on offense, Hamilton writes.
- Tim Frazier is the “safe bet” and logical choice to step in as the Pelicans’ starting point guard in place of Jrue Holiday, who will miss the start of the season, Brett Dawson of The New Orleans Advocate suggests on his podcast Locked on Pelicans. Hield’s role in the rotation may also be impacted by Holiday’s situation, Dawson adds.
Sixers could and should take both Omer Asik’s and Tyreke Evans’ contracts off of New Orleans’ hands. NO gets major relief. Sixers get Bird Rights to a local kid who fits their needs–a scoring guard who compliments Ben Simmons as a secondary playmaker and ballhandler and to defend multiple positions. Sixers development staff would then focus on Evans’ three point shot, like they did with LMAM and Carl Landry.
If the Sixers r willing to Trade for the brick-handed Omer Asik, then their a Dumber organization than most people thought! The Pels r Never goin to b able to Trade Asik!!!