Mozgov trade vs. Asik trade

what makes me mad is that we didn't trade them Asik.
I would gladly take two first round picks for him.

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what was acquired for Asik was more than just a first round pick.

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You mean a trade exception for the Wiz. Didn't y'all have the cap space to sign Ariza outright?

I actually don't remember how exactly it went down. I just remember Ariza was involved in that trade somehow.

They were going to acquire Ariza if there was a trade or not. I don't see the trade that way.

Here is the explanation:

"The trade, sources say, calls for the Pelicans to receive Asik, Rockets swingman Omri Casspi and $1.5 million in cash from Houston.

The three teams have all signed off on the deal, sources say, but it still requires league approval before it can be announced.

Sources say the Rockets, meanwhile, will get Ariza and his new four-year, $32 million deal, Pelicans guards Alonzo Gee and Scotty Hopson (and their unguaranteed contracts) as well as New Orleans' protected first-round pick in 2015. Washington, in this scenario, is only required to take back the unguaranteed contract of Melvin Ely from New Orleans while creating an $8.5 million trade exception through Ariza's exit that will expire one year from the date that this complicated transaction is made official."

It's hard to compare, really. I was a fan of the Asik trade, and still thinks it makes sense after watching Steimsma get destroyed last year, but both of those 1sts are late round picks, and IIRC, at least one of them is pretty heavily protected anyway. With them getting an 2nd back (I remember reading the 2nd is expected be to early 2nd), they pretty much gave up a last 1st, and traded down one pick. Not to mention, they are more in a "win now" mode than we are.

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Asik is good I'm telling y'all. I don't know why he isn't making a bigger impact in New Orleans.

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I find that hard to believe. The dude has only taken 2 shots outside of the paint, and is barely shooting above .500 in the paint. He can't even catch, and when he does, it usually leads to some sort of TO, especially if he is trying to dunk from under the basket while being defended by 1 or 2 players. The only thing he's been useful for is posing as a statue as a way to "defend" smaller players driving to the basket, which works most of the time but not always. He stays getting owned by different centers/PFs every other night though. Not to mention he can't even make FTs, so other teams will just foul him since they know he can't shoot half of the time. I think the trade we made was horrible. He's definitely an upgrade over Stiesma, but that isn't saying much.

Maybe he's hurt or maybe he's just not trying.

I have seen a few Pelicans games this year, and Asik looks like he's not even trying out there.

I don't know what the deal is, but he was beastly in Houston on the boards and on defense before he became disgruntled with his role on he team.

Cavs overpaid, but have no choice. LeBron and Love can bolt this summer. Now that doesn't mean it was worth it; I doubt they get out of the East. Plus, that OKC pick was theirs for all of a day. They likely took that pick knowing they would move it immediately.

Nothing wrong with what the Pels paid for Asik. At all.

The criticism comes from moving Lopez, who has been a very good rim protector in Portland, to ride with Smiht, Steimsma, and Withey last year. Plus they had to sign Ajinca mid year and they gave him a guaranteed 2 year deal. Then they realize how terrible that entire plan was and send out a 1st for Asik. Asik is better than Lopez, but that's an awful timeline for a team that swears Davis is a 4 and is still very poor on defense.

Though they have been better the last 10 games (mid pack defensively, yet Asik has only averaged 23MPG over that stretch). Of course the offense has fallen off during that stretch and is scoring at a bottom 5-10 rate.

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Asik is better than Lopez

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i'd rather Lopez personally.
His defense is just fine, he's not afraid to get dunked on, and he has a semblance of an offensive game.