Prioritizing Changes the Pelicans Need to Make

Priority #2 Move Omer Asik

Nov 25, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (3) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Suns 120-114. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Asik was a mistake. No need to point fingers, but it’s time to movie on.

He’s digressed as a defender, and while he’s still a solid rebounding presence and screen setter, he isn’t worth 44 million dollars to this Pelicans team. The future of this team is with Anthony Davis at Center, and everyday Omer continues to pout on the bench playing 15 minutes a game is day we remain in the past.

I think we should keep Ajinca. Gentry likes his shooting ability, and he’s only going to make five million dollars a year in the near future (about 6% of the cap). Give Ajinca 15 minutes a game so that Anthony Davis doesn’t take too much of a beating (6% of our minutes), and you’ve got your center position more than covered.

Now on to moving Asik. The hard truth is that getting rid of Asik is going to take an asset. If the Pelicans are going to play this smart, they’ll use this as an opportunity to get rid of a player who isn’t in their long-term plans in order to movie Asik.

That means Gordon, Anderson, or Tyreke. The key would be finding a team who wants one of those three players enough to be willing to take on Asik if it means they get that player for free otherwise.

Asik’s deal isn’t debilitating, it’s just so clearly a bad fit for this Pelicans team. That means Dell should be shopping those three players for free, with the connotation that it comes along with either dealing with Asik for 3 years as a 12% cap hold, or stretching him (in which case he would count for only about five million per year off your salary sheet).

Since moving Asik is my #2 priority, I would be willing to facilitate almost any trade for him that doesn’t involve using our 2016 pick (my first priority).

Next: Moving On