New Orleans Pelicans: Will Pels Regret Omer Asik Deal?

Omer Asik was a touchy subject for New Orleans Pelicans fans heading into the summer. He was a virtual non-factor in the playoff series against the Golden State Warriors and created more skeptics than suitors when it came to free agency. The NBA is in the midst of a whirlwind after the latest “small-ball” purge during the Finals.

Executives are caught in the middle in regards to whether or not the style should be replicated or is merely a fad.

ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: NBA Power Rankings: Best 30 C of All-Time

Some of the league has drifted towards making the uni-sized and flexible Warriors a template for their own future successes. Creating a team of sharp-shooting, versatile wings is all the rage right now. The days where players like Asik get $12 million a year just for being 7-feet tall are long gone.

Other teams have elected to zig while others zag, beefing up on the front line to hopefully beat the hell out of small lineups that may get thrown their way.

More from New Orleans Pelicans

• NBA Trades: This Mavericks-Pelicans swap would boost Dallas’ frontline
• NBA Trades: This Pelicans-Raptors deal would send a star to the Big Easy
• NBA Rumors: Zion’s work ethic casts doubt on his future in New Orleans
• Ranking the 10 championship-less NBA teams by closeness to title
• NBA Rumors: Zion Williamson’s days with the Pelicans may be numbered

Memphis is the ultimate example of this ideal, but they have been unable to surround their behemoths with the proper shooting prowess to win four straight series in the Western Conference. Also, do not sleep on what is going on in Portland in relation to the future of big men. They have a litany of them now even after the departure of LaMarcus Aldridge.

The Blazers are completely zigging right now in comparison to the rest of the league.

Sacramento has constructed a beefy front line with the drafting of Willie Cauley-Stein and signing of Kosta Koufos to team up with DeMarcus Cousins. Even Philly has something cooking with their stockpiling of young big men. Whether the Kings and Sixers follow through with their visions remains to be seen.

And just for the record, neither should be given the benefit of the doubt when thinking that they will.

Roster construction is my favorite thing about the NBA. There is no right way to do it, and teams have their plans written in pencil rather than pen. Things can change in an instant. The prevalence of shorter contracts in today’s NBA only enhances that reality.

During their playoff run, people often misrepresented the Warriors as strictly a “jump-shooting” team (shout to Charles Barkley). In all actuality, they were a powerhouse on both offense and defense that used their jump-shooting as an atomic bomb to bury their opponents. They did not “live and die by the three.” Instead, they lived and died by their ability to adapt to any playing style.

Do any of you remember what kind of impact Andrew Bogut had against the Cavaliers? Yeah, me either. He did, however, give the Pelicans real fits in their series and was a tremendous help against Memphis’ bruisers and Dwight Howard. Just because he wasn’t able to impose his will in the Finals doesn’t mean that he is left a useless player.

And what about the regular season? Bogut was the head of the snake in relation to Golden State’s No. 1 defensive attack, protecting the rim with the best of them.

I harp on Bogut’s importance because I believe he is a useful comparison when justifying the Asik signing (which is exactly what I am trying to do here). He is one of those players that you need during the rigors of the regular season and for those moments during the playoffs when big men control the game and the pace.

It is no secret that Anthony Davis wants no part of playing center for prolonged periods of time and that is probably for the best. Playing alongside Asik pairs Davis with a bigger companion and someone to bang with the low post fixtures that still exist. Over the course of 82 games, that absolutely means something.

Additionally, I found this stat to be especially interesting:

Rebounding numbers are not always the best representation of a player’s value, but in order to run a fast-paced system, you need to be able to rebound the ball. Asik is really good at that. I mean, kind of Dennis Rodman good according to that tweet.

The term’s of Asik’s contract are confusing and would take far too long to explain and most likely bore you. Here is the main jist:

Live Feed

Pelican Debrief

• The contract last for five seasons, accumulating $58 million.
• Only $44 million is guaranteed (including only $3 million in 2019-20).
• Over four seasons, Asik’s average annual salary will be $10.25 million against the cap.
• According to David Fisher of The Bird Writes, the contract will only account for 11.1 percent of the cap in 2016-17; equal to $7 million under last season’s cap.

After initial reports pegged Asik’s number to be five years, $60 million, those figures don’t look so bad.

Expecting Asik to perform like some transcendent defensive juggernaut because of this contract is setting yourself up for disappointment. He is what he is. A sweaty, goofy, seven footer who can rebound as good as anyone, but still is unable to catch the ball fluidly on the backend of a pick and roll.

Those talents are still worth a significant amount of money in a game where outrageously tall dudes tend to rule.

Maybe he will pick up an Australian accent next season and become our own version of Bogut.

Next: 50 Greatest NBA Players Of The 1980s

More from Hoops Habit

• The 5 most dominant NBA players who never won a championship
• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout