Huq’s Pens: Odds and ends before it happens

  • This piece from Ken Berger had some interesting tidbits, namely that the Rockets are open to dealing Jeremy Lin.  The cited sentiment from Hawks general manager Danny Ferry also was enlightening.  More on that later.
  • One of my trusted moderators, John Gold, made a compelling case for Rondo which has me leaning towards the dark side.  As I just stated in my last piece, with as underwhelming as most of these reported Asik packages have been, part of me is hoping the team comes away with Rondo, despite my belief he’d be a terrible fit.  Even though my latest at the mothership was a 1,000 word tome as to how only basketball matters now, it’s just not Daryl Morey’s MO to settle for 50 cents on the dollar like this.  As bad a fit Rondo would be, he represents full value for Omer Asik and an asset that could easily be flipped along elsewhere in a later deal.
  • And while you had him, you could at least try and see if it works.  I don’t think it would work.  But this is a guy who was the lead dog of a team that featured three future hall of famers.  He earned their respect and anchored their offense.  Rondo would instill instant accountability to a team with guys that at times, seem like chickens with their heads cut off.  But again, I just can’t see it working…not with James Harden in this lineup.  He came here to be the man and to have the ball in his hands at the end of games so that he can step back and take bad shots with a hand in his face (can you tell the honeymoon is over?)…he’s not giving that up.  Some have pointed towards Harden’s coexistence with Russell Westbrook as proof that such a pairing with Rondo could work.  In response, I’d have to say that that dynamic was the stuff of a different hierarchy and at a time when Harden was just happy to be getting on the court (with Jeff Green gone) and getting a real chance.  Now he’s the man, he has the money, he has the beard, and he wants the ball.

  • The part in that Berger piece about Ferry was interesting for no less reason than that such sentiment was something oft speculated on forums and pages such as this one.  Has any GM ever created a fake trade deadline before this?  No one liked the way they created those poison pills either or their active arbitrage in previous draft nights.  The collective response when Morey does something like make a trade then follow-up with another trade just to gain two draft slots in the second round wavers between “are you really wasting our time with this?” to “wait….we’re allowed to do that?”  In the olden days, you almost got the sense of GM’s heading out for drinks after the mid first round and handing things over to their kids/assistant GM’s in the later round(s); meanwhile, Morey deliberates on Polk St. to extract every last ounce of value from something otherwise considered worthless.  And the old establishment probably doesn’t like it.  Before, he was just an Internet champion, celebrity to numerous memes of his visage peering out from the stands at Madison Square Garden.  Now, after the Harden/Howard coups, I don’t think people want to be “had” yet again.  Innovation is despised as are the innovators.  There is something as being too smart for one’s own good.  
  • Justin Wehr just now put up a piece the premise with which I regrettably agree, considering the underwhelming projections on an Asik trade.  If the potential return on a Dwight Howard trade is, say, Kevin Love, you’d be better served keeping Asik and getting Love than trading Asik for say, Spencer Hawes, and keeping Howard.  That’s the plain and honest truth and deep down, in places you won’t speak about at parties, you know it.  Now, if they somehow fetch Paul Millsap or Rondo for Asik, that’s a different case.  But at present reports, I agree with Wehr.
  • Asik was possibly the most professional Rocket on this entire team last year, a guy who worked diligently to improve his game and gave full effort every second he was on the court.  That’s why it’s been so disappointing the way he’s carried himself through this entire ordeal thus far.  Now, with that said, I don’t blame him one bit for wanting out.  He’s one of the best centers in the league in the prime of his career who came here on the promise of major playing time.  But there is a way to go about doing things and expressing displeasure.  He could and should have expressed his desire to be traded behind closed doors and continued helping his team rather than whining publicly through his agent and sitting out with a fake injury.

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Total comments: 10
  • John P says 3 months ago

    Milsap like player vs picks....good choice to have when we are already 4th to 6th seed in the West.

    I would say if we take mature players vs. picks I think we have to address two huge needs once Asik leaves: backup defensive center like player, decent D and decent O wing player.

    Boston offers one of those (Courtney Lee) and maybe a pick, to a third team to net us Lee and a big....but I doubt it.

    All of the people listed above just don't seem to do much for us now that Jones is playing so well.

    If we can get two picks and Lee for Asik that would work....it would also be a steal of a lifetime.

    Anyway w shall see. Thanks for keeping us updated.

  • rocketrick says 3 months ago I understand the part about Horford being more of a natural 4 than a 5. However, the Hawks already knew that BEFORE signing Milsap from free agency. So after 20 games, Atlanta is ready to move Milsap? I think not unless for a blockbuster type trade for someone better than Asik in my opinion.
  • 2016Champions says 3 months ago The Millsap rumors have died down. If the Hawks are involved they are more likely to be a facilitator with only minor parts involved.
  • Losthief says 3 months ago

    only reason for me, is cause there best player (horford) is playing out of position (which happens to be millsaps position). If they think horford can be THE guy on a championship team to build around (danny ferry choice, i have no idea) i could see them moving millsap for that reason. Otherwise your right, i see millsap being more of the key for danny ferry to chase a bigger prise, a la klove type player, but best case (for us), he likes asik as much as we do and feels moving horford to the 4 is worth it.

  • rocketrick says 3 months ago

    New post: Weighing the offers on a potential Omer Asik trade
    By: rahat huq


    The rumors are swirling at a frantic speed and by now, you've heard all the names. Thad Young, Spencer Hawes, Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Paul Millsap, and draft picks held by the Charlotte Bobcats. What would be the best haul? Thad Young and Jeff Green seem to be out because of the length of each player's respective deal. Spencer Hawes would seem to be coming back in any deal, just because he stands to seem like the best backup big on the market and has an expiring contract to boot. And Millsap is the most underrated player in the league (check out his RAPM) with maybe the best contract out there - slide him into that lineup next to Howard and you could have something scary; but it seems, from reports, that the Hawks are wary of making a deal.
    Would you rather have the picks or Millsap? What can you get with the picks and how difficult would it be to get them? For instance, as I've been speculating on Twitter for the past hour or so, what would it take to get the Timberwolves to bite on a Kevin Love offer? If they're forced to trade Love, I don't see anyone beating out a package of Terrence Jones + 3 picks + (salary filler). Those three picks would presumably be two acquired through the Asik deal and then one of the Rockets' own. I just don't know if I could see a more attractive offer out there considering young prospects and picks is what teams target in these type of deals, especially with Jones' recent emergence. Then again, though, a big component of that Harden trade was the fact that the Toronto pick was guaranteed lottery. If you don't think that package is enough to get Love, then maybe you just prefer Millsap in the Omer deal over the picks?
    And can you even get two picks? I think everyone would agree that in this three-way that is about to happen, you will be able to get Spencer Hawes and at least one draft pick. But can you get two? And what would it take to get two? Can you find someone to give you a draft pick for Jeremy Lin while taking back one of their bad contracts? If that's the case, I'd throw him in there too. Again though, it's extremely risky to blow up this team and be left holding picks that aren't exactly flippable. You have to be sure that that new package can get you a star at the deadline.
    And lastly, what is the thinking on Jones? Is he the future or are you trying to replace him with Millsap or, gulp, Love? Jones has looked tremendous but it's extremely difficult to win a championship with young players, especially frontcourt starters. All of the other true contenders have veteran cores. The Rockets' only real relevant veteran is Dwight Howard; even Harden is still pretty new at his role.


    I keep seeing Milsap's name come up and I just don't get it. Yes, Milsap would be a very nice addition to the Rockets, I do get that part.

    However, why in the world would the Hawks already "give up" on Milsap, who they just signed to a reasonable contract over the past summer in free agency? That's the part I just don't get.

    In 24 hours, all of the speculation will be over.
  • Sir Thursday says 3 months ago

    I'm pretty sure there's no way we're getting Millsap. The Atlanta FO knows what they have and would only move him for a very good return. The more stuff Atlanta gets, the more the Rockets have to put into a deal, and while for the right players I'm sure Morey would be willing to trade some rotation pieces, I don't think Millsap is worth ripping the team apart for.

    ST

  • Losthief says 3 months ago

    best case...

    http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=neqvxmx

    plus a 2015 1st going from alanta to philly.

    We keep our salary flexiablilty to sign a big name in two years (after millsaps contract comes due) or keep millsap and parsons both. And gain millsap and hawes to shore up our big rotation.

    Alanta gets asik (slides horford to the 4) and tjones and a solid (and improved) frontcourt rotation.

    Philly gets Lin (they have no back up pg, and MCW is 6'6 and could play the 2 guard spot) and a 1st round pick for there trouble of taking the 15 mil next year.

  • Red94 says 3 months ago New post: Weighing the offers on a potential Omer Asik trade
    By: rahat huq

    The rumors are swirling at a frantic speed and by now, you've heard all the names.  Thad Young, Spencer Hawes, Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Paul Millsap, and draft picks held by the Charlotte Bobcats.  What would be the best haul?  Thad Young and Jeff Green seem to be out because of the length of each player's respective deal.  Spencer Hawes would seem to be coming back in any deal, just because he stands to seem like the best backup big on the market and has an expiring contract to boot.  And Millsap is the most underrated player in the league (check out his RAPM) with maybe the best contract out there - slide him into that lineup next to Howard and you could have something scary; but it seems, from reports, that the Hawks are wary of making a deal.

    Would you rather have the picks or Millsap?  What can you get with the picks and how difficult would it be to get them?  For instance, as I've been speculating on Twitter for the past hour or so, what would it take to get the Timberwolves to bite on a Kevin Love offer?  If they're forced to trade Love, I don't see anyone beating out a package of Terrence Jones + 3 picks + (salary filler).  Those three picks would presumably be two acquired through the Asik deal and then one of the Rockets' own.  I just don't know if I could see a more attractive offer out there considering young prospects and picks is what teams target in these type of deals, especially with Jones' recent emergence.  Then again, though, a big component of that Harden trade was the fact that the Toronto pick was guaranteed lottery.  If you don't think that package is enough to get Love, then maybe you just prefer Millsap in the Omer deal over the picks?

    And can you even get two picks?  I think everyone would agree that in this three-way that is about to happen, you will be able to get Spencer Hawes and at least one draft pick.  But can you get two?  And what would it take to get two?  Can you find someone to give you a draft pick for Jeremy Lin while taking back one of their bad contracts?  If that's the case, I'd throw him in there too.  Again though, it's extremely risky to blow up this team and be left holding picks that aren't exactly flippable.  You have to be sure that that new package can get you a star at the deadline.

    And lastly, what is the thinking on Jones?  Is he the future or are you trying to replace him with Millsap or, gulp, Love?  Jones has looked tremendous but it's extremely difficult to win a championship with young players, especially frontcourt starters.  All of the other true contenders have veteran cores.  The Rockets' only real relevant veteran is Dwight Howard; even Harden is still pretty new at his role.

  • rocketrick says 3 months ago

    I'm just amazed how some overvalue Asik in my opinion. I guess it's easy to disremember all those dropped passes and missed bunnies at the basket now that Asik has disappeared in the playing rotation. D12 commands double teams and on the nights (for example, the game against Portland) when the opposing team chooses to guard D12 one on one, D12 has the ability to make a difference with his scoring skills. D12 is a proven passer out of the post as all that remember his time in Orlando can attest to. Asik will never be as impactful a center in the NBA as D12 has been and still is.

  • David says 3 months ago

    I don't blame Asik for making a stink, otherwise maybe he'd be traded somewhere else to be a backup, or to sit around as an "asset". Elite players don't seem to have much say in their own careers (the opposite of how it works with every other profession in the world), so people shouldn't be surprised when they try to use what little leverage they have.