Before sending
Omer Asik to Chicago, the
Pelicans explored trading the veteran center to a number of other teams, according to
Michael Scotto of The Athletic. League sources tells Scotto that the
Hawks and Pelicans recently talked about a deal that would have sent Asik and a first-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for
Marco Belinelli and
Ersan Ilyasova.
The
Mavericks discussed a deal that would have seen them take on both Asik and
Alexis Ajinca – along with a first-round pick – in exchange for
Wesley Matthews, but Dallas was hesitant to take on two undesirable multiyear contracts, says Scotto.
Additionally, the Pelicans proposed a pair of trades to the Lakers, according to Scotto, who reports that one would have sent Asik and a first-round pick to L.A. for
Jordan Clarkson, while the other would have sent Ajinca and a second-round pick to the Lakers for
Julius Randle. That second deal could technically still happen, but I can’t imagine it would appeal to the Lakers.
