Houston, You Have a Problem: Asik Demands Trade
With limited playing time and a lesser role in his teams’ scheme of teams, Omer Asik has demanded a trade from the Houston Rockets.
According to the Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the 27-year-old center from Turkey sent the message to the Houston front office and his agent Andy Miller confirmed the trade request.
“I would say the situation is very frustrating right now and we’re trying to work through it,” Miller said.
“For Omer, the objective has always been to continue to develop and grow as a player. That’s why we came to Houston in the first place. If that objective can’t be met, if we can’t get the right platform to grow and contribute as a player, it’s certainly frustrating.”
Asik started all 82 games for the Rockets in 2012-2013 with averages of 10.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG and 1.1 BPG. In 2013-2014, those numbers dropped to 5.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 0.6 BPG.
Rockets head coach Kevin McHale tried the big combo of Asik and Dwight Howard but it has not been working for Houston. In nine games this season, Asik never cracked double-digit scoring. The worst came in the game versus Philadelphia last Wednesday when he played just 4 minutes.
Curiously, Asik did not suit up in Houston’s last game, a 109-106 win over the New York Knicks on Thursday. Asik wasn’t injured and the reason posted was coach’s decision.
McHale tried to downplay the situation after the game versus the Knicks.
“I think the way they play and spread guys last night with Spencer Hawes and tonight with (the Knicks’ Andrea) Bargnani and Carmelo (Anthony), it’s just a better matchup for us,” said McHale.
Asik deflected all trade request related questions during the post game to his agent. For Asik, silence means consent that indeed he wants out of Houston.