Omer Asik just wants to play D and rebound, and Anthony Davis is cool with that

Anthony Davis and Omer Asik are set to have a beautiful friendship in New Orleans.

Acquired this offseason to be the thunder to Davis's lightning, Asik revealed during the FIBA World Cup that he's quite willing to do the hard work that will allow Davis – a candidate to break into the discussion as a top-five player in the league – to thrive.

Now, to be clear, Davis doesn't necessarily need help defensively. While the Pelicans were one of the league's worst defenses in 2013-14, Davis is a menace guarding the pick-and-roll, and he was the linchpin for Team USA's defense at the World Cup. He also averaged 14.9 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per 100 team possessions, elite numbers.

Still, Davis can use some help, and allowing Asik – a very strong interior defender and rebounder – to shoulder some of the load could keep Davis fresh late into the season and allow him to further develop his blossoming offensive game.

Last season, Davis was paired alongside a rotating cast of centers like Greg Stiemsma, Alexis Ajinca, Jason Smith and Jeff Withey, and he even found himself at the pivot more than the team would surely like. In Asik, Davis now has a tag-team partner who can be relied on to clean the glass and provide back-end protection. It's no wonder he's smiling "like the Kool-Aid Man."