James Harden Traded

Bo Outlaw · Post #16 » by **Bo Outlaw** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 4:47 am

Magic fan here, I think Jeremy Lamb has the potential to be the new third star behind KD and Westbrook.

Im Coming Home · Post #17 » by **Im Coming Home** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 4:50 am

I think this trade is great for you guys..

You have so many Line up options.. now you don't have to worry about keeping atleast KD or Westbrook on the floor at all times.. Kevin Martin can handle the scoring for you guys for a bit.. this also helps you match up with the Heat better imo..

Ibaka or Perkins in the Joel Anthony/Whoever role
Durant in the Lebron role
Sefelosha in the Battier role
Kevin Martin in the Mario Chalmers/Ray Allen role + Better scoring
Westbrook in the DWade role.

On top of that you strengthen your bench with a young talent in Jeremy Lamb, and if it unfortunately doens't work out for you guys this year, or even if it does.. you still have a more than likely top 5 lotto pick from the Raptors so long as it isn't Top 2-3(Protected).. to improve your team even more.

Krodis · Post #18 » by **Krodis** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 4:54 am

Martin is a worse fit on the bench than Harden was (Because he can't handled playmaking duties) and I'll eat my shirt if the Raptors are bad enough to be in the Top 5 this year.

Devilanche · Post #19 » by **Devilanche** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:00 am

I think that Raptor pick is 6-10 to be honest. another season of defensive coaching plus having bargnani to do the scoring would help them abit.

With Westbrook/Maynor/Durant, Martin doesn't have to do much ballhandling duties. Maybe that's the reason preseason Westbrook was assisting more?

Krodis · Post #20 » by **Krodis** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:03 am

If you're expecting Maynor to be handling all the playmaking duties for the bench lineup then I don't know if we've been watching the same Eric Maynor. I really like Eric Maynor, but he's not that kind of player.

And if you expect Scott Brooks to deviate from his rotations and not play the entire bench unit for 10 minutes a game, then I don't know if we've been watching Scott Brooks.

bbms · Post #21 » by **bbms** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:04 am

Cole Aldrich wasn't going to see minutes behind Perkins/Collison/Ibaka. I think it's more reasonable to play small ball with K-Mart/Lamb or PJ3 in than Thabeet seeing minutes.

yaboynyp · Post #22 » by **yaboynyp** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:10 am

Some combination of Perkins, Martin (Expiring), Lamb, PJ3, and picks for Josh Smith, Bynum, or Al Jefferson at the trading deadline?… It appears you guys got some pieces to package and definitely could use an inside scoring presence. All of those guys are unrestricted 2013 free agents and could be looking to move on. What do you guys think?

Krodis · Post #23 » by **Krodis** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:13 am

Josh Smith I'd like. The thought of our defense with Al Jefferson at the center and Ibaka jumping at everything and Westbrook gambling for everything makes me ill just thinking about it though.

Devilanche · Post #24 » by **Devilanche** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:14 am

I don't think it'll be a full bench unit anyway with the minutes that westbrook/Durant/Ibaka is going to get. I'm expecting a deviation and Maynor being adequate as a ballhandler.
Though i may overrate Brook willingness to adjust more than you.

LeBosh Wade · Post #25 » by **LeBosh Wade** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:22 am

still unsure how i feel about this trade
i hope it works out for you guys, but even if the rockets come out better, lamb and martin should complement westbrook and durant decently

miltk · Post #26 » by **miltk** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:48 am

jeremy lamb....6'4" with 6'11" wings

BirdmanPresents · Post #27 » by **BirdmanPresents** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 6:37 am

I really want to know the real story behind this, how do you go from being a tittle contendor to trading a huge piece within 24 hours of offering him a deal?? At the end of the day OKC didn't fill the need of a low post scorer and added a replacement wing and a young player...

I don't understand OKC's asphyxiation with young talent...Yes they performed a very successful rebuild but they were final's contenders last year, and their lack of leadership and veterans was perhaps the difference maker in the series. Now they have two rooking going into next year, with Hasheem Thabeet as a backup C. They traded a young, core piece for a rental and a prospect...Without filling any needs..Im waiting to hear how the trade was rescinded but I don't think it will.

On the positive side KMart is one of the most efficient guards in the NBA...Well only one can hope they improve over last year. The Washington/Charlotte pick for Harden sounded MUCH better right now..

Devilanche · Post #28 » by **Devilanche** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 6:56 am

I'm surprised that it took 24 hours from the leak about how far apart were the negotiation actually. We rarely get such leak though tbh we rarely get extension...

and with Orton/Hollis/Rautin being cut earlier, could a followup trade be on the cards? Probably soon though i thought a newly traded player can't be moved?

blackham9258 · Post #29 » by **blackham9258** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:18 am

Terrible trade for you. You give up a chance at a championship. You make your wing defense even worse. And you had better options. Should have gone for the title then matched the max after the seasonand then traded him when rules allowed if you couldn't afford.

Shem · Post #30 » by **Shem** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:12 am

I know a lot of people won't agree with me, but if I had to choose between Westbrook and Harden, I would choose Harden. Westbrook isn't a point guard and OKC was last in the NBA last season in team assist-per-game. And I believe the Thunder could have gotten more value out of trading Westbrook than Harden.

What OKC needed to look into is getting a guy who can score from the inside. There is just too much one-on-one guys trying to score from the perimeter. And I think they would have had a better chance of getting that by trading Westbrook. That would have created more opportunity for Harden as a starting 2-guard, especially if the Thunder had a point guard who was a good distributor.

Chalkie White · Post #31 » by **Chalkie White** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:40 am

I really hope OKC now becomes a mid tier team that annually under achieves. Actually, now that I think about it, perpetual 2nd round exits sounds most likely. Certainly dropped out of the same conversation as Miami and LA. Hopefully they'll lose enough that they lose Durant. Any front office this stupid certainly deserves it.

UTJazzFan_Echo1 · Post #32 » by **UTJazzFan_Echo1** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:49 am

Don't blame you guys for making the deal. Harden isn't a max player and I'd take Ibaka over Harden all day every day.

Chalkie White · Post #33 » by **Chalkie White** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:07 am

UTJazzFan_Echo1 wrote:Don't blame you guys for making the deal. Harden isn't a max player and I'd take Ibaka over Harden all day every day.

Personally, I'd take winning over losing, and OKC will lose a lot more frequently than they did last season.

dballislife · Post #34 » by **dballislife** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 11:07 am

terrible trade for present, since both kevin and west are ready now...better for future? who knows, but OKC is a team for present that just made a finals trip, why play for the future while ur a present team, bad bad move imo

dopeismarcus · Post #35 » by **dopeismarcus** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 2:35 pm

If you dont think out bench is better then last year your crazy.

Maynor (is back), Martin, PJ3, Lamb > James Harden

Westbrook/Maynor/Jackson
Sefolosha/Martin/Lamb
Durant/PJ3/Lamb
Ibaka/Collison/PJ3
Perkins/Thabeet

Ring the damn bell.