With restricted free agent Omer Asik signing a 3-year, $25.1 million offer sheet with the Houston Rockets, the Chicago Bulls have a major decision to make in the up-coming days; pay their back-up center more than eight million dollars per year or let him walk. The solution is rather simple; wave good-bye to Asik.
In his two years in Chicago, Asik has been solid playing behind Joakim Noah and allowing the Bulls to have quality depth in their frontcourt. However, it seems insane that the Rockets are willing to spend $8 million-plus per year on a guy who has averaged 2.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in his career.
Houston does have a huge hole to fill at center since Marcus Camby is a free agent and the team dealt Samuel Dalembert to the Bucks. With capable big men in such demand in the NBA, teams are always willing to pay more for size. Just look at the fact that the Blazers offered a max contract to Pacers center Roy Hibbert.
The Bulls should laugh at the thought of matching Asik’s deal with Houston. Simply put, Chicago cannot afford to pay him that much. Noah and Carlos Boozer are on the books for more than $97 million and Taj Gibson will become a restricted free agent next summer meaning he will be due for a massive payraise. Gibson is more versatile and skilled than Asik so Taj should be the priority of the two.
Chicago also has more pressing needs in trying to upgrade their talent on the wing. Re-signing Asik as well as finding better talent on the perimeter would likely vault the team past the luxury tax which will be even more costly.
Chicago will have until Wednesday to formally make a decision. Let me spare you the suspense though, Omer Asik’s brief tenure with the Bulls is OVA!
But he has a super hot girlfriend, Miss Ohio Lindsay Love Davis. Get to know her by clicking here
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.
You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.