Omer Asik to Houston for 3-Years, $25 Million After Chicago Doesn't Match Offer Sheet
By Jason McIntyre
Rockets fans who think the team overpaid for Jeremy Lin last week surely must be distraught Houston is sinking $8 million a year into a guy who averaged 3.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in just 14 minutes a game last season.
I’m not quite sure what Daryl Morey is doing in Houston, but his three highest paid players (as of this moment) are Kevin Martin ($12 million, expiring deal), Omer Asik, and Jeremy Lin. Sure, the Rockets had a terrific draft (arguably the best in the NBA), snagging Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones and Royce White, but as we said earlier, they’re far too young to contend for the playoffs.
Taking another gander at Houston’s rotation (remember, they traded away Courtney Lee to Boston last week for former Purdue players JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore):
C – Asik/Motiejunas (R)/Johnson/Harrellson
PF – White (R)/Jones (R)/Morris
SF – Parsons/Patterson
SG – Martin/Lamb (R)/Moore
PG – Lin/Livingston/Douglas
It’s anyone’s guess who might make up spots 10-15. The four starters and the four rookies are locks to make the team, and it seems unlikely they’ll bail on Morris, who was a 2011 1st round pick, or Patrick Patterson, who was a decent reserve last year (7.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg in 23 minutes a night).
As for Chicago … it was wise to save the money. Can we wait to talk about the Bulls when Derrick Rose gets back on the court? See you in March, Bulls fans!
Previously: Jeremy Lin to Houston as Knicks Won’t Match
Previously: Jeremy Lin & the Houston Rockets Are Way Too Young For Anyone to Talk Playoffs