Omer Asik Re-Signs with Pelicans, Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction

One year wasn't enough for Omer Asik in New Orleans, as the veteran center has agreed to a new contract with the Pelicans. 

According to the Advocate's Scott Kushner, Asik will return to the Big Easy on a five-year, $58 million deal with $44 million guaranteed. 

The Pelicans posted a picture to Instagram confirming Asik's return, among others: 

The Pelicans acquired Asik from the Houston Rockets last offseason. He proceeded to start 76 games for New Orleans en route to a surprise playoff appearance, averaging 7.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in 26.1 minutes per game. 

After New Orleans was eliminated from the postseason by Golden State, Asik was asked about his plans for free agency by John Reid of the Times-Picayune and didn't have a definitive answer. 

"It's not the time to talk about it right now,'' Asik said. "It's a young team and the future is good."

Playing alongside Anthony Davis certainly made the Pelicans a formidable defensive team. They tied for 11th with 98.6 points allowed per game in 2014-15. Asik has never been a high-volume scorer in the NBA, though his scoring average from last season was the second-best of his career. 

Even without the massive point totals, David Fisher of the Bird Writes noted Asik did add offense (plus-0.5) and defense (minus-2.2) during his final season with Houston two years ago. 

It's a quality like that which makes Asik a valuable role player on a playoff team. He'll never be the first player you notice, but by the end of the game his impact has been felt. 

Teams are always looking for size in the paint. Now, the Pelicans have two of the better big men in the NBA and are poised to improve upon the 45 wins they had last year with their foundation in the middle secure for the foreseeable future. 

The Western Conference is loaded with quick guards, so having a strong defender like Asik in the middle to push his body against those players is what will make the Pelicans different from their competition.