Report: Cleveland Cavaliers interested in Chicago Bulls’ Omer Asik

The Cleveland Cavaliers are interested in signing Chicago Bulls center Omer Asik in free agency, FOXSportsOhio.com‘s Sam Amico wrote in a chat Thursday morning.

“One name I’m hearing is Bulls backup center Omer Asik,” Amico wrote in response to a question about possible free agency targets for Cleveland.

As noted by IamaGM.com, this is the second report about the Cavaliers’ interest in Asik. On April 26, when the Bulls and Cavaliers played, the Akron Beacon Journal‘s Jason Lloyd tweeted that Cleveland would have interest in the center this summer.

Anyone watching #Cavs game in between Browns picks, keep an eye on Bulls center Omer Asik. Cavs like him, will be restricted FA this summer

—
Jason Lloyd (@JasonLloydABJ) April 27, 2012

Asik is a restricted free agent, meaning the Bulls would have the right to match any offer. Because Asik is one of the key members of Chicago’s second unit, the Bulls would likely try to match. But given other salary commitments, the team may not be able to bring back the center if he receives a big enough offer.

The 25-year-old 7-footer averaged more than five rebounds per game this season in short bursts of playing time. Asik’s defense and rebounding make him valuable filling in for Joakim Noah for stretches off the bench.