Omer Asik is going back to the New Orleans Pelicans, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that Asik and the Pelicans were finalizing terms Wednesday night on a five-year deal that will keep the big man on New Orleans' front line alongside Anthony Davis, who agreed to a five-year, $145 million extension with the Pelicans in the opening minutes of free agency.
The five-year deal for Asik, sources said, is guaranteed for four years and nearly $45 million, with a nonguaranteed fifth year included that -- if Asik were to hit all of his incentives over the course of the deal -- would take the total value of the pact into the $60 million range.
On a day that saw the team also come to terms with Davis and backup center Alexis Ajinca (four years, $20.2 million), New Orleans was eager to secure a deal with Asik and keep him in the fold after his first season alongside Davis.
The Pelicans surrendered a future first-round pick in the summer of 2014 to acquire Asik from the Houston Rockets. New Orleans targeted Asik under the premise that his physical style and presence as a rebounder and interior defender makes the Turkey native an ideal sidekick for Davis, who likely will gain a greater measure of offensive freedom under new Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry.