NBA Power Rankings: All 30 Starting Centers
By Shane Young
24. Omer Asik — New Orleans Pelicans
When do you find the circumstance Asik had to deal with last season? Fighting all the way from being a backup for the East-leading Bulls to having a healthy, starting responsibility for a West playoff team (Houston), Asik suffered the worst news possible during summer 2013.
The most physically demanding big man was joining Daryl Morey and company down in Texas, and Dwight Howard entering the mix meant a trip back down the rotation for the Turkish 7-footer.
It was immediately after Asik was known as a double-double machine, averaging over 10 points and 11 boards per game in his third season, while playing 30 minutes per game injury free. Why go back down the totem pole and play 10 less minutes, losing your starting role to a character that goofs around, and doesn’t have the same type of leadership qualities you strive for in a big man?
Asik wanted out, and was confident enough that he’d succeed on his “own” team as it pertains to the frontcourt. He’ll now have the opportunity — sort of — to give us the same type of 2012-13 production in New Orleans. Anthony Davis is obviously ready to pave his own way to All-Star prizes in Louisiana, but Asik becomes heavily trusted to fix rim-protecting issues the Pelicans had all season long, and scoring that will look to fill the gap once a member of the backcourt goes down with injury.
If you’ve been paying attention to this Monty Williams-led team in the last two years, that’s more of a matter of “When” and not “If.”