REPORT: PELICANS MAKING OMER ASIK ‘VERY MUCH AVAILABLE’ IN TRADE.

The new Collective Bargaining Agreement reportedly won’t contain an amnesty clause, which will be fine by most teams. With the salary cap rising so rapidly under the new national TV contracts, it became difficult for a couple years to sign bad contracts.

But one team that could use an amnesty clause: the Pelicans, who are tied to barely productive, ill-fitting and declining Omer Asik.

So, it’s little surprise they want to trade him.

A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN New England:

Omer Asik, the rim-protecting big man who has not been nearly as impactful in the Big Easy as he was in Chicago, is very much available a league source has told CSNNE.com.

The 30-year-old Asik is due $33,859,548 over the three years following this season. He has negative value, meaning New Orleans would have to attach a positive asset to move him.

He’s not worth his cost, but Asik can still help a team inside. He just doesn’t fit Alvin Gentry’s fast-paced offense, and the Pelicans are better off with Anthony Davis at center.

But they’re likely stuck with him until they send out more to move him or he becomes a salary-matching aspect of a larger deal.