Proposed trade with Houston:

[bajaden]

Since its the TDOS, I decided to propose a trade that I think makes sense for both teams. Just my opinion of course and Houston may not agree with me. This trade is based on the rumors that the Rockets were at one time shopping Asik.

Kings send: Marcus Thornton and Jason Thompson

Houston sends: Omer Asik and Terrence Jones

As of now, Houston has no one to back up Harden at the SG position that can bring some scoring off the bench. They do have Reggie Williams, who didn't log many minutes last season. So Thornton would provide some punch for them. They acquired D. Howard, and because of Asik, their proposing that he play PF. Howard is low post player and is only effective there. He basically has little or no game away from the basket. Asik is also a low post player. Replace Asik with Thompson, and you have a better compliment to Howard, and also a player that that knows his role.

In Asik the Kings get a player that would allow Cousins to play in the high post and a player that is very solid defensively. He's not a freak shotblocker, but he defends very well in the post, and is an excellent rebounder. Terrence Jones is all about potential. I really liked him at Kentucky, and although he played a lot of PF there, mostly out of need. I've always seen him as a SF that can play some PF if necessary. Offensively he's still a little raw, but he's a very good defensive player that averaged one blocked shot in 14 minutes of playing time. Expanded to per 36, he averages 2.5 blocked shots. He's a decent but not great rebounder. But once again his per 36 numbers come out to 8.5 rebounds.

I ran this trade through ESPN's trade checker, and it works.

 

[Prince_XY]

Good proposal.

I like it.

Now, the biggest problem is letting the three stooges (Vivek, PDA, and Malone) know that such a trade makes sense 3000% more than what they've done recently.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I'm not 100% sure that Houston would go for that. We'd be sending them about $37M guaranteed in contracts and only taking back about $22M guaranteed. Maybe they're cool with that, and maybe they think JT would be a better fit next to Howard than Asik. I'm not sure what they'd do with Thornton, though, paying $16.5M over two years to a guy backing up James Harden. More likely I think they'd look for something else other than Thornton back in an Asik/JT swap.

 

[kingsnation]

I like this trade but part of me just doesn't want it to happen because of how often we trade with the Rockets. :/

 

[Bricklayer]

If we trade with Houston and don't get a stubby completely mediocre "power" forward I would be vastly disappointed. We have collected on our roster every too small/rejected PF they have had in the last half decade.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Except Scola.

 

[William Blake]

Thornton has quite a hefty salary compared to the limited minutes he would get backing up Harden unless they play them together for stretches.
Just my 2 cents but an IT-JT-Salmons (expiring) package would have more chances.

 

[RichieInRocklin]

I'd hate to see JT go as he can backup/start at both PF and C spots. However, it probably would take him in any trade for Asik, but I just don't see the Rockets trading Asik in the near future.

 

[bajaden]

Thornton has quite a hefty salary compared to the limited minutes he would get backing up Harden unless they play them together for stretches.
Just my 2 cents but an IT-JT-Salmons (expiring) package would have more chances.

Well if Houston is just looking to reduce future salary, then I could have proposed an entirely different trade. I was trying to propose a trade that might actually benefit both teams on the floor, and not necessarily in the pocketbook. If you look at their roster, they have no one of ability backing up Harden. So they lose a lot of fire power when he goes off the floor. They would be acquiring two proven NBA players and giving up only one proven NBA player. While I really the like the potential of Terrence Jones, he still has question marks that come with him.

I'd be more than willing to substitute Salmons for Thornton, but if they're willing to give up Asik, they'd want a big man back in return. Thus JT! If they'd rather have Patterson, then fine!

 

[randymoss1881]

Good proposal.

I like it.

Now, the biggest problem is letting the three stooges (Vivek, PDA, and Malone) know that such a trade makes sense 3000% more than what they've done recently.

The bashing has to stop, do people think this roster was gonna be fixed overnight we have made solid moved.
Anyways I'm sure PDA will be all over this deal 3 reasons
1: you need a rim protected to be a top 5 defense
2: malone loves to have a defensive big man who rebounds also look at his last teams (okafor,vareajo,bogut
3: cousins has let it known that he prefers a center to play next to and the FO has been listening to him

If Houston doesn't want thorntan I'm sure they'd take PP and isaish the only other team who need asik that can give Houston more is NO but they love Ryan anderson

 

[rainmaker]

I would give up any piece on our roster outside of Cuz to get Asik.

Only chance I see of this happening though is if Asik and agent ramp up the whining this season heading towards the AS break and it becomes a borderline distraction, which I'd love. Right now I think Hou could do better than MT/JT. However if Asik isn't happy when the season is underway, starts complaining and Hou's hand is somewhat forced, then maybe that package could get it done. Not likely imo, but not that far fetched either, providing MT starts at the 2 and has a good first few months.

 

[randymoss1881]

I would give up any piece on our roster outside of Cuz to get Asik.

Only chance I see of this happening though is if Asik and agent ramp up the whining this season heading towards the AS break and it becomes a borderline distraction, which I'd love. Right now I think Hou could do better than MT/JT. However if Asik isn't happy when the season is underway, starts complaining and Hou's hand is somewhat forced, then maybe that package could get it done. Not likely imo, but not that far fetched either, providing MT starts at the 2 and has a good first few months.

Agreed asik is perfect next to cousins.
But I don't think a lot of teams with a center need beat our offer

Atlanta: would they give up milsap
Dallas: no assists
Miami: haslem isn't enough
New Orleans: only team with Anderson but have said he is nearly untouchable
Okc: they aren't dealing him to a contender in the west
Orlando: Afflalo but no pf/c that are vets
Philly: Young, they are in full tank mode though
Portland: no pf/c to offer

That's the teams that I see needed a center and willing to deal

 

[William Blake]

If you look at their roster, they have no one of ability backing up Harden. So they lose a lot of fire power when he goes off the floor. They would be acquiring two proven NBA players and giving up only one proven NBA player.

My idea for them was to slide Lin at SG, making him Harden's backup, when Thomas comes off the bench. This way they would have a three guard rotation with no let downs in scoring at a much better price than with Thornton. It depends on how much they're high on Beverley though, if they like him more than IT the deal is off.

Still, I'll be happy with any package that clears a bit out guard and forward glut and nets us a rim protector.

 

[dude12]

My idea for them was to slide Lin at SG, making him Harden's backup, when Thomas comes off the bench. This way they would have a three guard rotation with no let downs in scoring at a much better price than with Thornton. It depends on how much they're high on Beverley though, if they like him more than IT the deal is off.

Still, I'll be happy with any package that clears a bit out guard and forward glut and nets us a rim protector.

I do believe they like Beverly's defense from that position.

 

[King Baller]

If Morey would trade Asik for any combo of JT or PPat, Thornton, IT, Jimmer & Johnny Salmons I would support the deal. Morey is probably going to hang on to Aisk and take a wait and see approach. I suppose if a team made him an offer he could not refuse........... Is this group of role players that offer, I don't think so

If you look at this from Asik's perspective, is coming to Sacto and playing alongside DMC so much different than playing beside Superman?

 

[Bricklayer]

If Morey would trade Asik for any combo of JT or PPat, Thornton, IT, Jimmer & Johnny Salmons I would support the deal. Morey is probably going to hang on to Aisk and take a wait and see approach. I suppose if a team made him an offer he could not refuse........... Is this group of role players that offer, I don't think so

If you look at this from Asik's perspective, is coming to Sacto and playing alongside DMC so much different than playing beside Superman?

well I don't think Asik minds if he actually gets to play alongside Dwight. What he is afraid of, and what is likely to happen, is they realize that won't work and he's reduced back to backup duty.

he and Cousins could play together though. The key to making twin towers sets work is that one of the guys has to be able to step out and face up. Two pure post guys doesn't work. Well, that step out guy is Cousins. That's a reasonable pairing. Dwight/Asik might be great on one end (I don't buy these mythological stretch 4s so dangerous they outweigh your size advantage), but on offense there is no room to operate.

 

[bajaden]

If Morey would trade Asik for any combo of JT or PPat, Thornton, IT, Jimmer & Johnny Salmons I would support the deal. Morey is probably going to hang on to Aisk and take a wait and see approach. I suppose if a team made him an offer he could not refuse........... Is this group of role players that offer, I don't think so

If you look at this from Asik's perspective, is coming to Sacto and playing alongside DMC so much different than playing beside Superman?

Not to beat a dead horse, but Asik and Howard are both low post players on the offensive side of the ball. If you look at the Lakers experiment, the reason it didn't work was that it forced Gasol to play in the high post. While he can play there, it takes away the strength of his game. You'd have the same problem with Asik. Neither Asik or Howard has a decent face up game. Sometimes when your building a winning team, you have to forget individual values and go with what works best.

The question for Houston would be, would the defense that both Asik and Howard bring on one end, make up for the inefficiency on the other end. As a side note, someone mentioned sliding Lin to SG when IT came into the game. We've been on the wrong side of the right way to play the game for so long now, that we think its normal to take your starting PG and play him at SG just so you can bring a 5'10" PG into the game. Not a knock on IT. I love him and his persona. But if you don't have to make those kind of adjustments, then why would you?

 

[Gary]

I do believe a low post player would compliment Cousins more than Thompson does. I am not sold on Asik yet though.

 

[King Baller]

I would like to see this sort of shot blocking from a Kings player:

 

[King Baller]

Or this, I even like the foul

 

[King Baller]

Yes, I'm liking "The Turkish Hammer" Asik

 

[LPKingsFan]

I've been advocating for an Asik trade since the Howard signing. I still think Houston eventually gives in and trades him, and I'd imagine that our FO is waiting for this scenario to take shape.

I think, though, that Houston would be much more interested in Patterson than JT (or maybe in addition to), since Patterson can play the Ryan Anderson role next to Howard. And I figure they'd prefer one or both of IT and Jimmer to Thornton, who'd be expensive and squished on the bench behind Harden. I don't buy that just because Houston traded Patterson away that they wouldn't want him back (heck, they even brought back Aaron Brooks). But I do think there's some potential here... it just will take Morey blinking before Asik does.

 

[randymoss1881]

I've been advocating for an Asik trade since the Howard signing. I still think Houston eventually gives in and trades him, and I'd imagine that our FO is waiting for this scenario to take shape.

I think, though, that Houston would be much more interested in Patterson than JT (or maybe in addition to), since Patterson can play the Ryan Anderson role next to Howard. And I figure they'd prefer one or both of IT and Jimmer to Thornton, who'd be expensive and squished on the bench behind Harden. I don't buy that just because Houston traded Patterson away that they wouldn't want him back (heck, they even brought back Aaron Brooks). But I do think there's some potential here... it just will take Morey blinking before Asik does.

The good thing is we could even offer them all of PP,Thompson,Jimmer, and Isaiah and contracts could match for Asik.

I give a Howard/Asik frontline 20 games max before benching this angering Asik. By the way Asik contract goes up to 14mill next season you can't pay him that much for a backup

 

[bajaden]

The good thing is we could even offer them all of PP,Thompson,Jimmer, and Isaiah and contracts could match for Asik.

I give a Howard/Asik frontline 20 games max before benching this angering Asik. By the way Asik contract goes up to 14mill next season you can't pay him that much for a backup

The matching salary for Asik is the average between what he makes this coming season and next season. So actually all of those salaries would be in excess of a match. No need to give away the bank. I included both Thompson and Thornton in order to acquire Jones, who has the potential to be a starting SF for the future. No guarantees of course. I do think that at some point, Houston will realize that Howard and Asik on the floor together isn't the ideal combination. They're committed to Howard, and Asik is going to make a big chunk of change in 2014/15. I suspect that they'll try and shed that salary by mid season. I also suspect that we won't be the only bidders.

 

[ParniValjak]

well I don't think Asik minds if he actually gets to play alongside Dwight. What he is afraid of, and what is likely to happen, is they realize that won't work and he's reduced back to backup duty.

he and Cousins could play together though. The key to making twin towers sets work is that one of the guys has to be able to step out and face up. Two pure post guys doesn't work. Well, that step out guy is Cousins. That's a reasonable pairing. Dwight/Asik might be great on one end (I don't buy these mythological stretch 4s so dangerous they outweigh your size advantage), but on offense there is no room to operate.

My main question with Cousins/Asik combo is who will be guarding the PFs? On offense it's a great fit but defensively...

 

[KingMilz]

My main question with Cousins/Asik combo is who will be guarding the PFs? On offense it's a great fit but defensively...

Cousins will he's long enough with his wingspan to sag back and contest while easily being able to hold his ground against every single PF on the planet, the question is does he want to play defense? To me with Cousins anticipation and instincts IF he wants to play defense which is a BIG IF than I don't mind him further out of the paint defending stretch 4's, he gets plenty of steals and causes turnovers as it as further away from the hoop. Against physical PF's like Griffin, Z-Bo he can easily bang with them and stay straight up and force them into tough shots. The guy just has to want to play defense that's the only problem with Cousins.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

The matching salary for Asik is the average between what he makes this coming season and next season. So actually all of those salaries would be in excess of a match.

Technically, it's the average of all three seasons, including the 2012-2013 season, so about $8.4M.

They're committed to Howard, and Asik is going to make a big chunk of change in 2014/15. I suspect that they'll try and shed that salary by mid season. I also suspect that we won't be the only bidders.

The scary thing (less scary when it's not your own money, to be sure) is that Asik does get a huge kick in actual salary (as opposed to salary cap hit) next season - up to about $14M. It doesn't hurt the cap, but it does mean that you're paying that much more for Asik's services the longer you wait to trade for him. But you're right, I'll bet bottom dollar Houston is going to try to get the "cheap" seasons out of Asik and then send him away for his "expensive" season. Still, if they don't trade him in the offseason, and he and Howard do work together as a tandem, then they'll have to rethink that. Harden/Howard/Parsons with Asik and Lin is probably a contender if the chemistry works, and if it does then I don't think they'll break it up before giving it a playoff run.

 

[bajaden]

You

Technically, it's the average of all three seasons, including the 2012-2013 season, so about $8.4M.



The scary thing (less scary when it's not your own money, to be sure) is that Asik does get a huge kick in actual salary (as opposed to salary cap hit) next season - up to about $14M. It doesn't hurt the cap, but it does mean that you're paying that much more for Asik's services the longer you wait to trade for him. But you're right, I'll bet bottom dollar Houston is going to try to get the "cheap" seasons out of Asik and then send him away for his "expensive" season. Still, if they don't trade him in the offseason, and he and Howard do work together as a tandem, then they'll have to rethink that. Harden/Howard/Parsons with Asik and Lin is probably a contender if the chemistry works, and if it does then I don't think they'll break it up before giving it a playoff run.

You could be right! Defensively they should be fine. I just don't think it'll work offensively. But hell, I'm wrong as much as I'm right, so they'll probably win the championship. We'll see. In the meantime, I can dream of Asik in a Kings uniform.

 

[randymoss1881]

How would they space the floor cause Asik is to smart to roam around at the key and if Howard isn't within 8dt of the rim then the opposing team wins. Defensively it sounds nice till you realize whoever had to guard the PF will be away from the paint which is where both Howard and asik thrive as rim protecters

 

[Spike]

Cousins will he's long enough with his wingspan to sag back and contest while easily being able to hold his ground against every single PF on the planet, the question is does he want to play defense? To me with Cousins anticipation and instincts IF he wants to play defense which is a BIG IF than I don't mind him further out of the paint defending stretch 4's, he gets plenty of steals and causes turnovers as it as further away from the hoop. Against physical PF's like Griffin, Z-Bo he can easily bang with them and stay straight up and force them into tough shots. The guy just has to want to play defense that's the only problem with Cousins.

In addition, stretch 4s are usually not a threat to take things inside, so switching over with someone like Mbah A Moute could be considered during that time as well as using a good zone a bit more. It might get a little dicey, but if our biggest issue would be handling the stretch 4, then that's a win in my book, because on the other end teams will definitely pay vs. a Cousins/Asik lineup on offense.

We're always worried about what the other team is going to do. It's about time that we started (management included) building, thinking, planning towards having the other team worry about us.