James Harden traded to Rockets

[Sabbath]

i dont think harden is a true #1 though. good #2 but jot a #1, maybe he proves me wrong but still.

He's a number one in the sense he can shoot, is explosive, and tall enough to create his own shot.

However, when you stack him up to the likes of Lebron, D-Wade, Durant, Carmelo, Westbrook, yea he comes up short. But those are your elites. There's 30 teams in the league. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Harden ended up around 24 ppg this year (high-end #). Kevin Martin was top 10 in scoring with 23.5 PPG in 2010-11, but his fg% was the worst among top 20 scorers besides Danny Granger.

 

[Big Bid'Ness]

Fromrobasketballtalk

Harden reportedly “devastated” by trade. I can think of 25 million reasons he’ll get over it.


James Harden didn’t want to be traded from the Thunder. He said as much. He was having fun on a contending team that he had kind of grown up in the NBA on.

But business is business. Harden earned his right to get paid — the Thunder reportedly offered four years, $52 million (an offer that may have gone up to $53 million) and Harden rejected it. If he waited until the end of the season, he would get $60 million offers, and at age 23 the man wants to get paid. He’s getting slammed in OKC by people who would do a lot worse for $6 million, but that’s another story (just keep reading).

Oklahoma City’s owners have a bottom line and didn’t want to play the waiting game so the team traded Harden to Houston.

Harden was devastated by the trade, reports the Oklahoman.

James Harden boarded an airplane Sunday morning, bound for Houston. He was “devastated,” said someone who knows the Bearded One. Harden and his family both….

But (Thunder GM) Sam Presti told him. Presti’s lips now are sealed, but sources from both parties said that the Thunder appealed one final time to Harden on Friday. Upped its offer to $53 million over four years but told Harden if he didn’t take it, he would be traded to Houston.

Presti didn’t use that as a warning. He used it as a plea. He desperately wanted to keep Harden, but this was the last best offer.
And the Thunder gave Harden an hour to accept.

I imagine the trade was difficult for Harden. I also imagine he’s going to get over it pretty quickly.

The Thunder owners made a choice — they want a certain profitability with the team and that means keeping payroll at a certain point (especially with an escalating tax on payroll coming into play next season). Even if it cost them some wins and maybe more. That is their right.

Harden wanted to get paid, a max deal. That is his right.

So the sides part ways. Oklahoma City got some assets back but certainly got a little worse in the short term. (I have Thunder fans trying to tell me that Kevin Martin and Eric Maynor are going to make up for Sixth Man of the Year and Olympian, I don’t buy it. It’s a step back, not a big one but with the Lakers out there it could be magnified.)

Harden went from playing with friends on a contender to playing for a rebuilding team that likely isn’t playoff bound this season.

But Houston can offer a five-year, $78 million contract extension. That’s a max deal one year larger than Oklahoma City could offer (teams are only allowed one five-year max in the new CBA and OKC wisely gave its to Russell Westbrook). Harden is expected to sign it, maybe before the day is out.

Harden gets one more guaranteed year and $25 million more guaranteed dollars. At age 23. If you’re slamming him for this, you’re saying you would have turned down that money at his age? Sure you would have. There are no guarantees in life or the NBA, so if someone offers you $25 million more guaranteed you jump on it. Tom Ziller put it well at SB Nation so I’ll let him have the final word.

I joked Saturday night that there is very, very little you cannot buy with $24 million, and that though Harden will miss the Thunder, he’ll find a way to be okay. A few replied that one of the things you can’t buy with $24 million is an NBA championship. That’s true. But let’s not assume that a greater chance at an NBA championship is worth $24 million to everyone … or anyone. I don’t know much about Harden’s childhood, but I know I wouldn’t be turning down the opportunity for an extra $24 million at age 23 based on some principles, unless those principles had to do with good and evil.

We act as if Harden will never have another friend again after leaving Kevin Durant. We act as if taking the discount with OKC would have guaranteed Harden a championship. (We do this as most of us pick the Lakers to win the West.) Nothing is guaranteed in the NBA, so you’d better take those guarantees when you get them. All of that extra money? That’s likely to be guaranteed. Take it, if you want. If friendship and a better chance at professional glory mean that much to you, sign the discounted deal. Don’t let social norms and middle-aged white men in the media guilt you into it, though. Do what you feel you should be doing.

 

[Pugz]

He's a number one in the sense he can shoot, is explosive, and tall enough to create his own shot.

However, when you stack him up to the likes of Lebron, D-Wade, Durant, Carmelo, Westbrook, yea he comes up short. But those are your elites. There's 30 teams in the league. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Harden ended up around 24 ppg this year (high-end #). Kevin Martin was top 10 in scoring with 23.5 PPG in 2010-11, but his fg% was the worst among top 20 scorers besides Danny Granger.

i think james has the potential to be a 23ppg+ player but that doesnt mean he's a true #1.

 

[Rios15]

I think James has the potential to develop into a good number one. We're just used to seeing guys better than him on his team like Durant. Besides, he's my number one in 2k13 with my Kyrie, Harden backcourt

 

[Sabbath]

i think james has the potential to be a 23ppg+ player but that doesnt mean he's a true #1.

I don't know what you would classify him as then. He is definitely a top 30 scorer in the league, which by definition makes him a #1.

I think what you are saying is that he isn't a championship caliber #1, which I would whole-heartedly agree with you.

 

[Pugz]

I don't know what you would classify him as then. He is definitely a top 30 scorer in the league, which by definition makes him a #1.

I think what you are saying is that he isn't a championship caliber #1, which I would whole-heartedly agree with you.

yea by true #1 i meant championship team caliber #1. i should've stated that in the start lol

 

[CameronCrazy06]

What people don't realize is that James Harden when he was in the game with bench players was scoring on other bench players and when he was in the game with starters he was being guarded by the opposing team's third best perimeter defender. He's overrated.

 

[Pugz]

During extension talks with the Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden and his agent sought a 15 percent trade kicker.

Harden was entertaining taking less than a max contract, but wanted a financial incentive should the Thunder trade him.

The Thunder were offering Harden a four-year contract in the neighborhood of $53 million.

With the Houston Rockets, Harden will be able to sign a five-year contract.

 

[Rios15]

The man traded for Harden, the Thunder's Kevin Martin, is shooting a ridiculous 62 percent from three point range and averaging over 19 PPG so far in Oklahoma City, writes Chris Sheridan. While Harden is clearly the best piece moved in the deal, it isn't hard to imagine Martin's skills and those draft picks making it look respectable for Sam Presti and the Thunder.

hoopsrumors.com

OKC definitely got a good deal for James Harden, as good as Harden's proven to be in Houston this season, Kevin Martin is shooting very well

 

[bosoxlover12]

Like CC and I have said, Thunder won this deal

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Without a doubt. I still can't believe people thought Kevin Martin was done.

 

[elcheato]

He is done, bad habits will return.

 

[Pugz]

Like CC and I have said, Thunder won this deal

yup, only you two said it.

 

[Big Bid'Ness]

He is done, bad habits will return.

I hope he joins the Cavs one day, Dan lol.

 

[bosoxlover12]

yup, only you two said it.

Hey guess what



Shut the fuck up lol

 

[Mexi]

i still contend that it's a win-win

like the deal for both sides

 

[Pugz]

Hey guess what



Shut the fuck up lol

youre going to get a nice tall glass of bant.

 

[Rios15]

I believe it was a win win as well, I don't think either side won more or less at this current point.

 

[BwareDWare94]

Yeah, it was a win-win. It was either this or get nothing for him at the end of next year or significantly less at the trade deadline.

OKC got a potential replacement in two different areas: Lamb could be a stud, and one of those draft picks could turn out. Otherwise, they also received a player who could immediately fill the scoring roll, a player who moves better without the ball than I think Harden did, because he demands the ball so much. Harden may be better than KMart, but KMart is an astoundingly good fit in OKC. It's already showing, and if PJIII and Lamb can start getting minutes and doing damage, this team will come in to its own.

I also really, REALLY like the addition of Hasheem Thabeet (yes, I know they didn't get him in the Harden trade) for a backup big. He's always deserved more minutes than he's been given. He's not a #2 pick, but he's a good defensive presence who can get some dirty work points to compliment the defense.

The current potential of this Thunder team is astounding.

 

[Mexi]

thunder really need to dump Perk
what a bad trade by Presti