Chicago Bulls: Do John Paxson and Gar Forman Have Omer Asik over Valued?

The Turkish Hammer was a very effective defensive presence off the Chicago Bulls bench in his rookie season. He played in all 82 games and showed great toughness in the postseason as he attempted to play through a broken bone in his leg.

It is clear, his identity will always be that of a low-post defender and shot blocker. That is a very valuable role, especially in a scheme and vision like that of Tom Thibodeau. But, is he the type of talent that the Bulls should protect in potential trades for a shooting guard?

My answer is no. The Bulls reportedly turned down a deal last season that would have brought in Courtney Lee from the Rockets. Now, Lee isn't Kobe Bryant, but he is certainly a significant upgrade over what the Bulls have at shooting guard.

Trading Asik would have created a problem with depth at center, especially with Joakim Noah missing significant time. But Kurt Thomas and last-minute fill-in Chris Richard would have held down the fort in the middle better than Keith Bogans, Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver did at the shooting guard spot.

In the postseason, the Bulls would have had Derrick Rose, Lee, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah starting, with Thomas, Taj Gibson, Richard, Korver, CJ Watson and Brewer coming off the bench.

That may not have been enough to defeat the Miami Heat, but it would have been a better team offensively than what was courted.

This is only one deal the Bulls nixed to hold on to Asik, there could have been more.

Asik is a good role player, but that can't be confused with a player whose ceiling is that of an impact player. He'll never score more than seven to nine points per game. He certainly will never command a double team, and for all intent and purpose, as long as Noah is there, he'll never start.

So the Bulls nixed a trade for a player that would certainly be a starter for one that is prone to remain a reserve? 

The Bulls have Asik over-valued, and though he is a good player, good players have to be moved sometimes so a team can become great.