If Bulls can only keep 1, who do you keep: Noah or Asik?

[Commodore K'nection]

According to Sam Smith Omer Asik has one year left on his deal. After that he will be a RFA. If the CBA stays the same, teams will go hard after Asik (think Marcin Gortat in Orlando). Somebody may offer Asik the full Mid-Level Exception for 5 years. Right now Asik makes $1.7M. With our contracts, we probably cannot afford to match $5.5M a year without going into the lux tax.

So my question is, if we can only keep one center, who do you keep? It's going to be very difficult to pay Noah $12M a year and Asik $5.5M a year. Not enough minutes to go around. GarPax will have to let Asik walk in RFA, unless they can clear enough cap room by trading Noah sometime this upcoming season.

Personally I am on the Asik bandwagon. His upside is through-the-roof, and he's already a better defender than Noah. Asik is taller, bigger, stronger, a better jumper and a better shot blocker than Noah. Noah is a better ball-handler and passer, and brings intangibles such as annoying the hell out of the other team.

Of course it would be great to keep them both, but with Boozer's contract un-tradeable, Noah is the other big contract that can be moved to keep Asik long-term.

So what do you guys think? Which one do we keep?

 

[Chicagolove]

Is this a serious question?
Joakim, No doubt

 

[MRN]

This is terrible..not even debatable.

 

[clonetrooper264]

Asik's are a lot more common than Noah's. A center that can run the break? That's something no other team has.

 

[scottiepippen1994]

I love Asik, but Noah is still better...If we could aquire Dwight Howard in a Noah package, then we keep Asik...

 

[Chi-Town Brahma]

Joakiiiimmm

 

[BigP50]

Depends, if we get Dwight Howard for Joakim you do that but imo Joakim is one of the best Centers in the NBA, arguably #2 behind Dwight so u gotta keep Joakim.

 

[Commodore K'nection]

To me, it's a no brainer. First of all, under no circumstances do we allow Omer Asik to leave. If we have to match and pay the tax for a year to sort it all out, man up Reinsdorf. It took us how long to find a guy like Asik with all the busts that we had (Dalibor and Dragan come to mind). We cannot afford to see Asik in another uniform.

Built 7-ft true Centers with athleticism don't come around every day. Remember when we had stiffs like Aaron Gray? Omer Asik looks like Usain Bolt out there compared to Gray.

Too many teams out there masquerade PFs as Centers (ATL, Minny, Miami, Knicks, etc). Omer may never develop post offense like Tim Duncan, but everything else he brings is very hard to find. Rebounding, basketball IQ, insane ability to protect the rim, and size.

Joakim Noah can be replaced, Asik is too valuable. He may not run the fast break, but how often do you want your center doing that? I want my center to control the paint, deny everything down low, and clean up the glass on both ends. Noah is just invisible too often on both ends of the floor.

 

[MRN]

To me, it's a no brainer. First of all, under no circumstances do we allow Omer Asik to leave. If we have to match and pay the tax for a year to sort it all out, man up Reinsdorf. It took us how long to find a guy like Asik with all the busts that we had (Dalibor and Dragan come to mind). We cannot afford to see Asik in another uniform.

Built 7-ft true Centers with athleticism don't come around every day. Remember when we had stiffs like Aaron Gray? Omer Asik looks like Usain Bolt out there compared to Gray.

Too many teams out there masquerade PFs as Centers (ATL, Minny, Miami, Knicks, etc). Omer may never develop post offense like Tim Duncan, but everything else he brings is very hard to find. Rebounding, basketball IQ, insane ability to protect the rim, and size.

Joakim Noah can be replaced, Asik is too valuable. He may not run the fast break, but how often do you want your center doing that? I want my center to control the paint, deny everything down low, and clean up the glass on both ends. Noah is just invisible too often on both ends of the floor.

What?

Noah can do everything that you just listed Asik as being valuable for, come on buddy, use your head. If Noah is invisible on both ends, what is Asik? I love both of these centers, but it's an obvious choice to take Noah, if you're looking for potential, the choice is still Noah. There isn't one area where I take Asik over Joakim. Maybe the whole level headed thing, but if you use Omer Asik as your starting center, he will spend a majority of the time on the bench in foul trouble.

 

[bleacherbum54]

I voted Asik I would love the Bulls to trade Noah

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

I voted Asik I would love the Bulls to trade Noah

You would, Pacerfan!

 

[Crystallas]

I voted Asik I would love the Bulls to trade Noah

Thanks Troll.

BTW, I voted for the Pacers to keep TJ Ford, and ditch Hansburger

 

[Commodore K'nection]

I like Noah, but really what more can he improve on? Noah is a 4-year vet going on 27 years old. He is still a one-dimensional player whose calling card is on the defensive end--rebounds and hustle. Offensively, he reminds me of Tyson Chandler. For years we waited on Tyson to develop a reliable jumpshot--never happened. IMO Noah has peaked.

Omer Asik is only 24 years old with 1 year in the league. Asik is also a one-dimensional player. But his one-dimension is already superior to Noah's. Asik is better at protecting the rim and is a naturally shot blocker. The guy is simply a wall down low in the paint.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo5hPhUqKow]YouTube - ‪Omer Asik's Huge Block on Kevin Love‬‏[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYEFUhNUeCs&feature=related]YouTube - ‪Omer Asik brutal block Tyson Chandler dunk attempt at the rim Chicago Bulls Preseason‬‏[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPYk9a4o0CU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPYk9a4o0CU[/ame]

Offensively, Asik provides an element that Noah cannot bring--pure brute strength. Here is where I think Asik has room to improve as a two-way player. Unlike Noah, Asik can simply overpower multiple defenders down low with his size and jumping a la Dwight Howard. Asik has little regard for human life when he wants to dunk the ball.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bDXMpyIfNQ]YouTube - ‪Omer Asik dunk against the Nets 3-17-11‬‏[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpHxFCdZnno]YouTube - ‪Omer Asik grabs the rebound and dunk it hard with one hand vs Detroit Pistons‬‏[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBZcwyfR8co&feature=related]YouTube - ‪Omer Asik works hard in the paint for the two hand dunk over Andrea Bargnani vs Toronto Raptors‬‏[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gimtNuciyCw&feature=related]YouTube - ‪Chicago Bulls Big Man Ömer A[/ame]


Because of his potential on offense, I feel we should do everything to keep Asik in a Bulls uniform. Even if that means Noah has to go. Omer can be the "Man in the Middle" for us for years. His upside on both ends is through-the-roof.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

I like Noah, but really what more can he improve on? Noah is a 4-year vet going on 27 years old. He is still a one-dimensional player whose calling card is on the defensive end--rebounds and hustle. Offensively, he reminds me of Tyson Chandler. For years we waited on Tyson to develop a reliable jumpshot--never happened. IMO Noah has peaked.

Omer Asik is only 24 years old with 1 year in the league. Asik is also a one-dimensional player. But his one-dimension is already superior to Noah's. Asik is better at protecting the rim and is a naturally shot blocker. The guy is simply a wall down low in the paint.

Offensively, Asik provides an element that Noah cannot bring--pure brute strength. Here is where I think Asik has room to improve as a two-way player. Unlike Noah, Asik can simply overpower multiple defenders down low with his size and jumping a la Dwight Howard. Asik has little regard for human life when he wants to dunk the ball.

Because of his potential on offense, I feel we should do everything to keep Asik in a Bulls uniform. Even if that means Noah has to go. Omer can be the "Man in the Middle" for us for years. His upside on both ends is through-the-roof.

I disagree with almost everything you've said.

First of all, Tyson Chandler has developed a consistent jump-shot. But Joakim Noah still has an offensive game light years ahead of Asik's and Chandler's.

Asik does not provide brute strength. He has some more size than Noah with about the same athleticism. That's how he is able to bully his way through the paint.

Asik is big time liability on offense. HORRIBLE free throw shooting and zero low post game. And no passing skills to speak of. Noah can do everything pretty decently that a center should be able to do.

Noah still has plenty of potential to develop a much better low-post scoring game AND pack on some muscle. Asik simply won't develop very quickly because that's just the way it is for big men.

Most big men peak in terms of skill just before they hit 30.

Noah isn't even 28 yet! That is not old at all!

If you were going to make this a contract issue, I could have half-way respected that. But Noah is way, way, way better than Asik and it is going to be that way for a long, long, long time.

 

[Commodore K'nection]

I disagree with almost everything you've said.


Most big men peak in terms of skill just before they hit 30.

Noah isn't even 28 yet! That is not old at all!

Sorry I wasn't trying to say Joakim Noah is old at 27. What I meant was he's probably peaked skill-wise. What you see is what you get for the next 5-6 years. His game is not going to diminish, it just won't improve much. I just don't see Noah somehow developing into a year-in, year-out 15 pt scorer.

Asik might not be able to score 15 pts either. But with his ability to clean up the garbage, I could see him being a poor man's Dwight Howard at around 10-12 pts/game every year. But Asik brings superior defense, which is why he should stick around. Defenders like Asik don't grow on trees.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Sorry I wasn't trying to say Joakim Noah is old at 27. What I meant was he's probably peaked skill-wise. What you see is what you get for the next 5-6 years. His game is not going to diminish, it just won't improve much. I just don't see Noah somehow developing into a year-in, year-out 15 pt scorer.

Asik might not be able to score 15 pts either. But with his ability to clean up the garbage, I could see him being a poor man's Dwight Howard at around 10-12 pts/game every year. But Asik brings superior defense, which is why he should stick around. Defenders like Asik don't grow on trees.

Noah was all-second team defense this season and that was despite missing 30 games. And the reason he was voted on was because he is extremely versatile defensively. Asik is a more dominant shot-blocker, and I'll grant you that. But Noah can step out and defend the perimeter and play weak side defense as effective as anyone in the NBA.

Transition defense is another thing Noah has over Asik.

Asik may be as dominant of a rebounder as Noah, too.


We shouldn't even get into the offense... that is a losing argument for Omer everytime... especially because Noah will beat the opposing center back up the floor everytime.

 

[bleacherbum54]

Thanks Troll.

BTW, I voted for the Pacers to keep TJ Ford, and ditch Hansburger

Hansburger for Noah? Deal!

there is about a 10000% chance that Ford will not be back the guy sucked here in Indy he needs to go to a pg friendly system.

 

[scottiepippen1994]

Choosing Asik over Noah is like choosing Will Perdue over Dennis Rodman....What would of happened in the summer of 95 if we didn't trade Will for Dennis????.Asik is Will Perdue, a decent career bench player.....

 

[Renia]

I would keep Joakim.

 

[Rick]

At least there's a possibility that Noah can deliver some solid offense.

Asik can't even make a layup...(see the ECF)


Overall, both are great defenders but Noah isn't as one dimensional.

My pick: Noah