[Edgecat20Participant]

You know that OKC is already kicking themselves for trading Harden last fall. My question is if you are going to trade him why the hell wouldn’t you send him to the East? Now the top tier of the West is very competitive once again with Spurs, Thunder, Rockets, Warriors, Clippers, and Grizz.

I think i remember hearing that they were trying to get Bradley Beal for Harden, but the Wiz wouldn’t accept it. If you couldn’t send him to the East, they should have stuck with him for one more year.

Isn’t this common knowledge in the NBA?

Orlando sending Dwight out West to the Lakers
Nugs trading Melo out East to the Knicks
T-Wolves trading KG out East to Boston
Lakers sending Shaq out East to Miami
Suns trading JKidd out East to NJ

[fastdanParticipant]

Houston oiffered the best package, and they only did so because they were able to offer him a 5 year deal. If OKC would have traded him this offseason, they would have had less leverage, and therefore would have received a worse deal. With the new CBA, they just would have been paying too much in taz to keep everyone on that team. Lamb, Adams, Abres havnt played done anything to be judged yet. We can’t analyze this trade for a few more years.

[fastdanParticipant]

Houston oiffered the best package, and they only did so because they were able to offer him a 5 year deal. If OKC would have traded him this offseason, they would have had less leverage, and therefore would have received a worse deal. With the new CBA, they just would have been paying too much in taz to keep everyone on that team. Lamb, Adams, Abres havnt played done anything to be judged yet. We can’t analyze this trade for a few more years.

[RafterParticipant]

It came down to Serge Ibaka or James Harden and they opted with the former not because he was the better overall player but for their roster they need a bigman can block shots, defend the bigs in the West while chipping in as a third scorer. James Harden needs the ball in his hands to be effective, they already have Westbrook and Durant, there is only one basketball. So Harden was shopped, honestly Martin, Lamb and some draft picks on paper didn’t look awful but how Harden performed on the Rockets made it look awful.

He’s just come off a season where he averaged around 26ppg 5rpg 6apg 2spg along with a playoff push coupled with an allstar appearance and a ream spot in the league’s third team. They just became a contender with Dwight Howard, perhaps the Thunder didn’t expect Harden and the Rockets to rise so quickly.

-TK

[RafterParticipant]

It came down to Serge Ibaka or James Harden and they opted with the former not because he was the better overall player but for their roster they need a bigman can block shots, defend the bigs in the West while chipping in as a third scorer. James Harden needs the ball in his hands to be effective, they already have Westbrook and Durant, there is only one basketball. So Harden was shopped, honestly Martin, Lamb and some draft picks on paper didn’t look awful but how Harden performed on the Rockets made it look awful.

He’s just come off a season where he averaged around 26ppg 5rpg 6apg 2spg along with a playoff push coupled with an allstar appearance and a ream spot in the league’s third team. They just became a contender with Dwight Howard, perhaps the Thunder didn’t expect Harden and the Rockets to rise so quickly.

-TK

[fastdanParticipant]

Well remember they didn’t deal harden as soon as they signed ibaka. they offered him a deal, and when he asked for more then they could afford, they dealt him.

We can look at what harden did in houston, which was amazing, but don’t forget OKC improved as a team last year. Every statistical catagory, as well as winning percentage. OKC is still a contender. However, if they fall to a 4 seed, while houston surpases them, there’s more of an arguement.

[Cavaliers420Participant]

That isn’t true. Harden was given a contract and told he had half an hour to make a choice or he was going to be traded. He was upset by the fact that they gave him an ultimatum and took it as a sign of disrespect so he basically said screw it and told OKC to shove it. In an interview he did a month after the trade Harden even said he would’ve considered taking less money to stay with the team but considering how he was treated, he felt the relationship would’ve never worked out. OKC screwed themselves on this one, they traded someone who they knew would be great to a rival in their conference. Really? What team does that? If anything OKC should be disappointed in themselves for being in this position.

[CynthiaParticipant]

Incorrect. Presti and Hardens agent were trying to work out a deal for two days. Harden was dead-set on a max deal, something the Thunder could not afford. They offered him a 4 year 52m deal, Harden promptly rejected it. They then began trying to work out another solution, but after not hearing from Hardens agent for a day they pulled the trigger on a trade.

They never gave him an ultimatum, they never gave him only half an hour. He rejected their first offer and they tried to work out another deal but Harden/Agent was having none of it. In all this was a 3 day process, not 30 minutes.

I’m not sure where you got your information, but if you’re going off of what Harden told the media then you’re a fool. A player will always try to make himself look like the one who got screwed over, when in reality he was never going to accept anything under 60m and he knew OKC could not pay that much.

I do feel they could have got a better offer, but time was running out and they pulled the trigger on what seemed like a good deal at the time. It has turned out not to be a good deal as K-Mart was a 1 year rental, the two picks didn’t end up nearly as high as they expected, and we’ve yet to see what Jeremy Lamb really has.

So yes It was a bad move, but Presti clearly did not expect Harden to reject the offer and did not have a backup plan, thus he was forced to pretty much take the first decent offer.

I don’t blame Harden, he’s worth a max deal, he’s an awesome player. I also understand not wanting to be a 6th man when you can be a star. But as a Thunder fan I’m a bit annoyed that he wouldn’t take 2m/year less to help us win a championship.

[CynthiaParticipant]

Incorrect. Presti and Hardens agent were trying to work out a deal for two days. Harden was dead-set on a max deal, something the Thunder could not afford. They offered him a 4 year 52m deal, Harden promptly rejected it. They then began trying to work out another solution, but after not hearing from Hardens agent for a day they pulled the trigger on a trade.

They never gave him an ultimatum, they never gave him only half an hour. He rejected their first offer and they tried to work out another deal but Harden/Agent was having none of it. In all this was a 3 day process, not 30 minutes.

I’m not sure where you got your information, but if you’re going off of what Harden told the media then you’re a fool. A player will always try to make himself look like the one who got screwed over, when in reality he was never going to accept anything under 60m and he knew OKC could not pay that much.

I do feel they could have got a better offer, but time was running out and they pulled the trigger on what seemed like a good deal at the time. It has turned out not to be a good deal as K-Mart was a 1 year rental, the two picks didn’t end up nearly as high as they expected, and we’ve yet to see what Jeremy Lamb really has.

So yes It was a bad move, but Presti clearly did not expect Harden to reject the offer and did not have a backup plan, thus he was forced to pretty much take the first decent offer.

I don’t blame Harden, he’s worth a max deal, he’s an awesome player. I also understand not wanting to be a 6th man when you can be a star. But as a Thunder fan I’m a bit annoyed that he wouldn’t take 2m/year less to help us win a championship.

[Cavaliers420Participant]

That isn’t true. Harden was given a contract and told he had half an hour to make a choice or he was going to be traded. He was upset by the fact that they gave him an ultimatum and took it as a sign of disrespect so he basically said screw it and told OKC to shove it. In an interview he did a month after the trade Harden even said he would’ve considered taking less money to stay with the team but considering how he was treated, he felt the relationship would’ve never worked out. OKC screwed themselves on this one, they traded someone who they knew would be great to a rival in their conference. Really? What team does that? If anything OKC should be disappointed in themselves for being in this position.

[fastdanParticipant]

Well remember they didn’t deal harden as soon as they signed ibaka. they offered him a deal, and when he asked for more then they could afford, they dealt him.

We can look at what harden did in houston, which was amazing, but don’t forget OKC improved as a team last year. Every statistical catagory, as well as winning percentage. OKC is still a contender. However, if they fall to a 4 seed, while houston surpases them, there’s more of an arguement.

[Ghost01Participant]

Bottom line: OKC picked the wrong guy.

I know building around 3 perimeters is questionable, but Harden is way better than Ibaka. Ibaka had a chance to step up when Westbrook went down, but he just showed that his max potential is a role player/shot blocker.

Presti, for all his esteem has whiffed on the two major trades he’s made. Jeff Green would be more help to them now than Kendrick Perkins, and it’s not even close. Harden’s returns are now in the form of Jeremy Lamb and Steven Adams, two dudes that very well may be in the D League this year. It was an awful trade, and it was the wrong choice to keep Ibaka.

Also, they probably could have ended up signing Ibaka for less than he made. If Ibaka had a lesser contract, they could have rode out Harden’s last year this year, and amnestied Perkins, having enough money to probably match any offer for Harden.

And I refuse to believe this is the best deal they COULD have gotten. They really couldn’t have gotten Klay Thompson for him? Klay is good, and is going to get better, but if I was the Warriors I would have recognized Harden is superior. And OKC Would have at least gotten a blue chip young player out of it.

OKC’s management made mistakes. They lost Kev Mart, the West is getting increasingly better with Houston, GS, and Clips all making strides this offseason, and San Antonio, who was one super Ibaka/Perkins game away from probably beating OKC with Harden still lurking. I won’t be picking a team who’s 4-7 players are Thabo, Perkins, Reggie Jackson, and Nick Collison to win the West.

[Ghost01Participant]

Bottom line: OKC picked the wrong guy.

I know building around 3 perimeters is questionable, but Harden is way better than Ibaka. Ibaka had a chance to step up when Westbrook went down, but he just showed that his max potential is a role player/shot blocker.

Presti, for all his esteem has whiffed on the two major trades he’s made. Jeff Green would be more help to them now than Kendrick Perkins, and it’s not even close. Harden’s returns are now in the form of Jeremy Lamb and Steven Adams, two dudes that very well may be in the D League this year. It was an awful trade, and it was the wrong choice to keep Ibaka.

Also, they probably could have ended up signing Ibaka for less than he made. If Ibaka had a lesser contract, they could have rode out Harden’s last year this year, and amnestied Perkins, having enough money to probably match any offer for Harden.

And I refuse to believe this is the best deal they COULD have gotten. They really couldn’t have gotten Klay Thompson for him? Klay is good, and is going to get better, but if I was the Warriors I would have recognized Harden is superior. And OKC Would have at least gotten a blue chip young player out of it.

OKC’s management made mistakes. They lost Kev Mart, the West is getting increasingly better with Houston, GS, and Clips all making strides this offseason, and San Antonio, who was one super Ibaka/Perkins game away from probably beating OKC with Harden still lurking. I won’t be picking a team who’s 4-7 players are Thabo, Perkins, Reggie Jackson, and Nick Collison to win the West.

[Ghost01Participant]

PS: No trades, willing to pay some lux tax they would have had:

Westbrook/Harden/Durant/Green/Ibaka

“F*ck me ”

– Said every team in the league

[Ghost01Participant]

PS: No trades, willing to pay some lux tax they would have had:

Westbrook/Harden/Durant/Green/Ibaka

“F*ck me ”

– Said every team in the league

[fastdanParticipant]

Well, it’s not ‘some’ luxury tax. Those 5 guys will roughly make 70mil net year. Round that out with smaller contracts along with the new CBA’s tax rules, and you’re looking at one of the highest bills ever paid.

[fastdanParticipant]

Well, it’s not ‘some’ luxury tax. Those 5 guys will roughly make 70mil net year. Round that out with smaller contracts along with the new CBA’s tax rules, and you’re looking at one of the highest bills ever paid.

[fastdanParticipant]

We have to remember that the Green trade happened because Harden was looking like a better 3rd option (which ended up being absolutely true), Green’s play as a 4 had stagnated, Ibaka was emerging as a very good PF and this team was playing Nenad Kristic at the 5. With that trade they gave Harden the ball more, moved Ibaka to a starter and upgraded their C. That trade clearly improved OKC

[fastdanParticipant]

We have to remember that the Green trade happened because Harden was looking like a better 3rd option (which ended up being absolutely true), Green’s play as a 4 had stagnated, Ibaka was emerging as a very good PF and this team was playing Nenad Kristic at the 5. With that trade they gave Harden the ball more, moved Ibaka to a starter and upgraded their C. That trade clearly improved OKC

[Author]

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