Mar 19, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center
Omer Asik(3) against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Pelicans 74-72. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
There isn’t a member of the New Orleans Pelicans that divides the fan base more than Omer Asik.
For some the defensive impact that Asik makes far outweigh his offensive flaws. After all, Asik consistently met opponents at the rim all last season and helped the Pelicans post an above-average defense when he was on the floor. Asik also was able to rebound the basketball on both ends of the floor at an elite rate, something that combined with his rotations and rim protection boosted his defensive numbers even more than just the rim protection he provided.
For others, the offensive problems that Asik has, most notably awful hands and a lack of athleticism that made getting off the floor a chore, outweighed the defensive positives that he produced. After all, Asik was the rare seven-footer who had his shot blocked more often than he dunked last season.
What that meant is that when Asik received a five-year $60 million contract with the Pelicans this summer, arguments could be found everywhere. Twitter, Facebook, comments sections, no matter where Pelicans fans looked there was someone discussing the deal and either hating it or loving it, with almost nothing in between.
The conversation has understandably frustrated many a fan, as it has almost become the new version of debating about the Jrue Holiday trade. It seems that no matter what side someone lands on they refuse to budge, which is frustrating considering both sides have valid points.
As any roundtable discussion Asik should at this point, we touch on the contract but we also go beyond it. Is Asik the best defender on the roster? Do we worry about his keeping up in the new fast tempo? All that in more in the following slides.
Next: Getting the Contract Talk Out of the Way Early