Pelicans trade for Turkey’s Asik, Israeli Casspi
Houston Rockets center Omer Asik (3) (right). AP FILE PHOTO
NEW ORLEANS – Turkish big man Omer Asik and Israeli forward Omri Casspi were obtained Tuesday by the New Orleans Pelicans in a three-team NBA trade deal that also included Houston and Washington.
Both Asik and Casspi came over from Houston while the Rockets acquired guards Alonzo Gee and Scotty Hopson and a first-round selection in next year’s NBA Draft from the Pelicans.
New Orleans also sent center Melvin Ely to the Washington Wizards, who sent forward Trevor Ariza to Houston as part of a deal that will see Ariza ink a four-year contract for $32 million.
The Wizards have made a deal with veteran forward Paul Pierce, who helped Boston to an NBA title, to replace Ariza.
Asik spent his first two seasons in Chicago as a back-up to Bulls center Jokim Noah and his past two seasons in Houston.
The 7-footer averaged 10.1 points and 11.7 rebounds and started every game in the 2012-13 campaign, but was moved to a reserve role this past season when Houston obtained star big man Dwight Howard.
Casspi averaged 6.9 points and 3.7 rebounds last season with the Rockets after prior two-year stints with Sacramento and Cleveland.
Trevor Booker, who spent his first four NBA seasons with Washington, signed a multi-year deal with Utah. Booker averaged 6.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season.
Slovenian guard Beno Udrih re-signed with the Memphis Grizzlies, for whom he played 10 games late last season after being waived by the New York Knicks.
Udrih, 32, averaged 4.9 points and 2.8 assists in 41 games last season. He has career averages of 8.8 points and 3.6 assists over 10 seasons with San Antonio, Sacramento, Milwaukee, Orlando, New York and Memphis.
