Omer Asik quickly declared the Rockets have "the best center in the league." He was not talking about Omer Asik.

The addition of Dwight Howard could most immediately impact Asik, the Rockets' incumbent starter at the position. But Asik said he would be ready for whatever should come when the Rockets begin practices Saturday. The famously reticent fourth-year center said he is prepared to accept changes, is eager to try to play in the same frontcourt with Howard and that they could form a phenomenal defensive pairing.

He just would not say anything about wanting to be traded in the days following Howard's decision to sign with the Rockets or in the months to come.

"I have no comment on any of these things," Asik, 27, said. "I'm just going to do my job. That's all I can say. You can ask as much as you can, but I'm not going to say anything about this."

Ready to do his 'job'

He seemed comfortable being back, working out with Donatas Motiejunas before the media day events began and joking with Motiejunas, Greg Smith and former Bulls teammate Ronnie Brewer as they made their way around the various stations. He insisted that will not change when the team goes to work.

"I came here to play basketball," Asik said. "That's my job. I'll just be ready for the training camp.

"I think he's the best center in the league. That's a great addition for the Houston Rockets. We'll see how it goes. I'm a basketball player. I'll do whatever the coaches say. I'm just going to be ready for the training camp, be ready for every change. Whatever I can do, we'll see."

Coach Kevin McHale repeatedly has said he is hopeful Asik and Howard can play in the same court, with Howard working as a power forward. Howard, 27, had another position in mind.

"I'm only 6-9," said Howard, who is listed as 6-11. "That's like a three now.

"I've been working on my 3-(point shooting) game. Coach actually said in practice if I can make 7 of 10 from the 3-point line I can shoot one 3 a game. I have not done it, yet."

But because he is more likely to play inside than out, Howard argued he and Asik could make it work offensively and be a formidable combination defensively.

"For me and Omer to work is real simple," Howard said. "If I get the rebound, he has to run the floor, be that first big to seal, try to get easy buckets. If he gets the rebound, it's the same thing. On the defensive end, I have the ability to guard fours. I've done it in the past. I like the challenge. I think me and him can play together. Even if he comes off the bench, I think that's great because the defense won't go down. He's a great defender. I think he's going to be great. I know he wants to win just like we all do.

A defensive dynamo

"With me and Omer, we have an opportunity to mess up a lot of teams on the defensive end because of our presence. He's a very big guy. If we play together, it gives me a chance to roam around, block a lot of shots, be who I am on the defensive end. I'm very excited about that."

Asik was more circumspect, but for now, he did seem to have made his peace with sticking around, particularly if he and Howard play together and last season's center turns out to be this season's center.

"We'll see," Asik said. "That's the coaches' area. We'll see what they say. We'll start figuring it out tomorrow in the training camp. I think defensively we'll be very good, like two elite defenders. We have to figure out how to play."