According to a report via Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Houston Rockets center Omer Asik, has requested that the team trade him after the acquisition of Dwight Howard.
Asik, who had a very productive season for the Rockets, playing in all 82 games while averaging 10.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks, apparently was the only individual in Houston not excited about Howard’s arrival.
The Rockets are said to not be interested in trading the Turkish center, and according to head coach Kevin McHale, the team will try to smooth things over with Asik.
“With Omer, he had a great year for us last year and really became one of the top centers in the league,” McHale said. “It’s just when you have an opportunity to get Dwight, it’s hard not to. I’m sure Omer right now is a little down in the dumps, but we’ll pick him up.”
McHale, also suggested that he saw a scenario where Howard and Asik, will see time on the floor together.
“You do play two bigs,” McHale said. “You have to get spacing and you have to make sure your small guys have got to make sure they keep the court spaced.”
I don’t blame Asik for not wanting to play in the shadow of Howard, especially coming off the season he just had. If the Rockets think they’ll be able to put two offensively-challenged big men on the court together for an extended period of time, in a league that is transitioning to small ball, they’re fooling themselves.