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Conventional wisdom points to Sam Presti being a GM of rare brilliance, but with how James Harden is playing and where he has Houston in the western conference standings, I simply cannot get over the fact that Presti dealt a budding superstar in James Harden for Jeremy Lamb, whom cant crack the rotation and is in the D league, and a Raptors pick that is losing value daily with Toronto having picked up their play. Now, I understand the fear of the luxury tax dissuaded OKC from resigning Harden to the max, but what I don't understand is why Presti simply didn't amnesty Kendrick Perkins and attribute the $9million per yer he's stealing from your franchise(and he is stealing it) to the resigning of James harden and the cementing of a dynasty. Because with 3 top 10 players and Serge ibaka, who looks to be blossoming into a prominent player in his own right, that's exactly what OKC would have become.

Why keep Kendrick Perkins as if he he's a valuable asset to the Thunder's success? Not only did he single handedly lose OKC the finals(Im wholy convinced that had Perk been injured and Collison absorbed his minutes, OKC would have won the title) but he's having one of the worst seasons I've ever had the displeasure of watching from an NBA starter. Lets take a look at what he's doing for you all this season.

*The following numbers were taken from a post on inside hoops*

- Averages 25.0 MPG

- Averages 5.7 RPG. OKC's starting PG averages 5.1 RPG.

- Averages 4.3 PPG

- Season high in points is 12

- Has only scored in double figures 3 times

- Has scored 0 points in seven games

- Has one 1-point game and three 2-point games

- In nearly 1/3rd of OKC's games he has scored 0-2 points

- Season high in rebounds is 11

- Has only grabbed double digit rebounds in 2 games

- Has 17 games of 1-5 rebounds

- Has 7 games of 1-3 rebounds


OKC could have signed Kwame Brown for the MLE and gotten the same production. Hell, any C would suffice if the above is the standard. Or why not just move Collison, whose great, into the starting 5 role and bring Perry Jones off the bench at the 4?

I don't understand this trade for OKC. Sure, Presti got some young assets back, and Kevin Martin is serviceable(Isnt half the player Harden is, is slowing down besides, and there's no gurantee he resigns) but what matter are those assets if they aren't logging any relevant minutes in the NBA? Why does an elite team such as OKC need 3 1st round picks if they arent going to be packaged for a competent 5? Literaly; with Lamb and Jones, or even with both Martin and Maynor's expiring contracts, to go along with three first round picks, OKC possesses the assets(Again, assets that don't play) to conceivably grab a Demarcus Counsins(this is who OKC should trade for. Spare me the criticisms of his FG%. In OKC he'd see so many open looks it'd be silly. In any case, he has a rebounding percentage comparable to Dwights and an assist percentage comparable to Garnett. Character issues are cured by winning. See Rodman.) Al Jefferson, Anderson Varejoa, or an Al Horford.

The rookies you have don't play, I cant fathom any picks taken by OKC in this seasons miserable draft will crack the rotation any time soon. And despite how good OKC is, they aren't so good that they're a lock for a return to the finals, and should they get there and Perkins remain on the roster, I don't expect the potential match up with the Heat to be any prettier than last seasons.

The more I watch Kendrick Perkins and James Harden, the more clear to me it becomes that OKC lost this trade, and they may continue losing it for a while. I want this trade to make sense, but I'm less and less enthusiastic about it by the day. Should that trade for a C happen, than I understand completely, but if it doesn't, shame on Sam Presti.

Simply put, because Presti didn't want to cripple the franchise financially. Signing Harden (the 6th man) to a max deal, coupled with Ibaka's contract gives us no flexibility, regardless of Perkins amnesty or not. Harden was a 6th man in OKC, he would have remained in that role had he stayed. Paying a max contract for that role didn't make sense, and Presti prides flexibility above anything. Both sides won the Harden trade, as both sides got what they wanted.

SantaMenon wrote:Simply put, because Presti didn't want to cripple the franchise financially. Signing Harden (the 6th man) to a max deal, coupled with Ibaka's contract gives us no flexibility, regardless of Perkins amnesty or not. Harden was a 6th man in OKC, he would have remained in that role had he stayed. Paying a max contract for that role didn't make sense, and Presti prides flexibility above anything. Both sides won the Harden trade, as both sides got what they wanted.

Had Perkins been amnestied, OKC could have comfortably resigned Harden without handicapping themselves. And regardless of whether or not he was coming off the bench(which he didnt have to be, this was how he was developed, which may or may not have been "right"), he's a premier player in this league, bordering on being a superstar, and he's 23. You don't give that up for "flexibility", flexibility in this case being young assets that have yet and may never make meaningful contributions.

I honestly don't see how one could interpret the results of the trade being a win in favor of OKC, particularly considering Martin is an expiring that may not be resigned in the offseason while Harden is playing at an elite level. Does that mean OKC or its fans are unhappy with the results of the trade? Of course not, but I hardly see how trading a better player for worse players is a positive. Were James Harden still in a Thunder jersey today, he'd be your second best player.

I'm sorry, but Sam Presti and Scott Brooks made a mistake. Presti for making the trade, and Brooks for handing over the keys to Westbrook so early and never giving James ample opportunity to prove his worth in an expanded role.

But still, Thunder would have to sign another center, which would cripple the Thunder financially. There were always two options: go on luxury tax or choose one between Ibaka or Harden.

Thunder simply couldn't breed Ibaka into a fulltime center, and Durant into a fulltime power forward in one day. Thunder was on a bad situation, and Harden didn't accept a paycut so, they let him walk.

I hope the Thunder make a move by the deadline, because I don't believe Thunder can win against Heat with this roster, unless Brooks make some rotation modifications.

They still could have had Perk this year. But, just Amnesty him after the season. It would have cost the Thunder $17.5 million to Amnesty Perkins. That is a ton of money for a low-market team. While if the Thunder went into the Lux Tax on a 4 year $60 million deal given to Harden, they would be in the Tax about $5 million dollars. That times the $1.25 or $1.5 on the dollar comes out to around $15 million. So the Thunder could have saved money on keeping Harden and Perk. Perk is not the reason Harden was traded. Presti just decided that it was time to trade Harden.

Presti has much more felxibality now than he did before. He was even willing to give Harden a 4 year $56 million dollar contract. But, Harden wanted the 5 year $80 million. James knew the Thunder would not just let him walk.

Me personally I would have played out the season and matched any offer to Harden. Which he would have received 4 years $60 million since that is a max a RAF can receive. Or Harden could have signed the RFA QO and became an unrestricted FA the next year. While in that case the Thunder probally would have Traded Harden to the Rockets at the same point next season.

The Thunder were too close last year and primed to beat the Heat.

With all of that said, I respet the man. Mr. Presti has made right move after right move. I think Lamb will be an excellent player in this league. Plus, with the Rockets first lottery pick in the next couple of years they will be able to add a top lottery talent to this already talented roster.

Quite simply you can't have all your money tied up in perimeter players.

Scott Brooks refuses to play Small ball

/rant

OP lost all credibility when he typed the words " Demarcus Cousins " .

OP does not understand Presti, or the culture Presti has built in OKC.

So there's no way, OP can understand why Presti , and the entire coaching staff, value Perkins.

Perkins = Anti Cousins

Not to be rude to OP, but OP just does not get it. He wasted a lot of time with the lengthy post and meaningless numbers.

13-16/7rbs/11ast/35pts

I've been hesitant to say this, but being that he's practically at 27ppg at 60TS% and has Houston in the 5th spot, he's emerged as a top 5 player and an even greater talent than is Westbrook. He's essentially putting up pre 12-13 Durant like numbers.

I don't think Sam Presti thought Harden would be this good. The trade deserves more scrutiny.

Chalky White wrote:13-16/7rbs/11ast/35pts

I've been hesitant to say this, but being that he's practically at 27ppg at 60TS% and has Houston in the 5th spot, he's emerged as a top 5 player and an even greater talent than is Westbrook. He's essentially putting up pre 12-13 Durant like numbers.

I don't think Sam Presti thought Harden would be this good. The trade deserves more scrutiny.

Why are you so hell bent on trying to point out something most OKC fans are aware of? We know Harden is having a phenomenal season. It still doesn't mean the trade is as bad as you're wanting to claim. OKC's offense is better and more efficient this year than it was with Harden. The ball movement and off-ball movement is at a level I'm not sure it ever would've reached with Harden still on the team. When we closed games with Harden, Westbrook, and Durant on the floor, we had three "ball-stopping iso players. It's not like Harden would be putting up 22-5-5 this year in the same 6th man role. Yes, there''d probably be an increase in his numbers, but there's still a very valid argument that Martin is a better fit alongside Durant and Westbrook. It's opened up things for Ibaka more, too. No one would sanely argue that Martin is better than Harden, but that doesn't mean the trade still hasn't worked out well for both teams. In the long-run, perhaps, but OKC now has much more flexibility to improve their roster than they would if they had re-signed Harden for what he wanted.

OKC's Offense this year compared to last year:

2013: 106.2 PPG (1st), .480 FG% (3rd), .383 3P% (3rd), .833 FT% (1st), .527 eFG% (3rd), 112.5 ORtg (1st)

2012: 103.1 PPG (3rd), .471 FG% (3rd), .358 3P% (11th), .806 FT% (1st), .516 eFG% (2nd), 109.8 (2nd)

I can't sit here and say we may see that OKC won't miss Harden more in the playoffs, but right now I don't have any complaints about the trade. Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka have taken their game to another level. The trade has allowed OKC's three young stars to grow and expand their games. No, Ibaka's ceiling isn't as high as Harden's, and he wouldn't be nearly as good in a "#1 option role" as Harden. But I don't see why this trade should be scrutinized like you're clamoring for it to be.

Nobody here knows if the OKC ownership was willing to pay an amnestied Perk and a tax pushing team.

I think Harden is a fantastic basketball player, but it's not like Presti got nothing in return;

Kevin Martin for one year
Jeremy Lamb
Currently the 7th, more likely the 9th or 10th overall pick (Toronto are a bit better post-Gay trade)

Either the Thunder can trade the pick/Lamb + Perkins for a very good player (even this summer with a S+T for someone like Millsap, that's interesting) or just draft a player who, at that spot, should be a good rotation player (Presti has confidence in his drafting ability for good reason)

Amnestying Perkins + signing Harden would have cost around 23 million or so, I think, and they'd just have Harden. Instead, they could draft a solid starter at 9 or 10, have Lamb scoring off the bench, still have Perkins to throw on Howard, Duncan or other big centers in the playoffs at times and be a leader with a ring and they're spending about 10 million less.

I'd have kept Harden, but I get it.

I think Thunder got a fair value in return, but I don't know, Thunder could have taken a frontcourt reinforcement in exchange.

I always thought that trading away Harden was a big mistake for OKC and it will cost them championships.