New Orleans Pelicans Rumors: Omer Asik Back on the Trade Block
New Orleans Pelicans’ Center Omer Asik is rumored to be back on the trading block. However, the likelihood of him being traded is still very low.
It may not come as a surprise to New Orleans Pelicans fans, but Omer Asik is still on the NBA Trade Block.
New Orleans has used Asik sparingly this year, only playing him for 17.5 minutes per contest.
While Asik’s rebounding and defense have continued to be strong, his offensive inefficiencies make it tough to play him on a squad that needs offensive output.
Asik is shooting 50% from the field this year.
That would be fine, if all his shots were not right next to the basket. The Pelicans need a strong defender next to Anthony Davis inside the paint. However, if that player has no offensive capabilities, it make life tough for AD spacing wise.
The problem with trying to trade Asik is his contract. Omer still has four years on his deal, which includes the 2016-2017 season. Other than this season, where he’s making just under $9.9 million, Asik makes north of $10 million each year for the rest of his deal.
That is a lot of money for a team to invest in a one-dimensional big, that has glaring flaws.
The hope is a team like the Boston Celtics, who are missing a true center and have been linked to rumors like Andrew Bogut, could be a interested in the possibility of Asik as an alternative. However, as Blakely says in the article, that will not happen for a while. Boston seems more interested in a “wait and see” approach this offseason.
The center position is tricky in the NBA, as many teams are going for more of a small-ball approach. Traditional centers do not mix in with the gameplans of many teams going forward. That makes it even harder for New Orleans to find Asik a new home.
While Omer Asik is on the trading block, New Orleans Pelicans fans should understand that he will not likely get dealt anytime soon. The demand is not there for slow and bulky bigs, with contracts in the eight figures. Asik can be a game changer for the right team in the right situation. He showed that in Houston and during the Pels’ playoff run a few years back. However, it will be hard to find a team that’s willing to take that risk now.
More from Pelican Debrief
This article originally appeared on 
