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Omer Asik to the Rockets: Bulls decline to match free agent offer sheet

The Bulls declined to match the Rockets' offer to Omer Asik. (Ray Amati/Getty Images)

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The Chicago Bulls have officially decided not to match the Houston Rockets' three-year, $25 million offer sheet to center Omer Asik, reports The Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson.

The move had been expected, especially since Chicago signed Nazr Mohammed on Sunday to back up center Joakim Noah.

Asik gives Houston another raw talent to pair with Jeremy Lin and its three first-round picks. The 26-year-old Asik has averaged only 2.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in his two-year career, but the Bulls had sometimes used him and fellow backup Taj Gibson to close out tight games.

Chicago didn't have enough room to retain Asik and make all of their other offseason moves, though. Allowing Asik to leave also preserves long-term cap flexibility.