Could the Houston Rockets Have Still Been a Playoff Team without James Harden Acquistition?

Was Omer Asik Worth Three-Years, $25 Million?

April 14, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Omer Asik (3) drives to the basket against the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Omer Asik went to being the backup to Joakim Noah in Chicago to seeing himself become the full time starter of a playoff team in one off season. Asik saw spotty minutes backing up Noah, averaging just 14 minutes per game in the 2011-12 season.

It didn’t stop Rockets GM Daryl Morey from feeling as though Asik could thrive with a full time gig, as he extended a three-year $25 million offer to the Turkish center. He’s proven Morey right thus far, and is second among centers in rebounding rate and he’s averaged 11.7 boards per game this season.

Asik hasn’t translated to be quite the shot blocker some may have hoped, but a lot of that has been Asik’s desire to stay out of foul trouble so he can log starter’s minutes. In Chicago, he was free to be as careless as he wanted in pursuit of blocks, a factor that often inflates the defensive statistics of fringe reserves and garbage time players.