James Harden traded to the Rockets

therealbig3 · Post #301 » by **therealbig3** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:36 am

Wow, people are seriously underrating Harden in this thread.

Dude is the 3rd best SG in the league, one of the best playmakers and shooters at the position...uber-efficient player. And no, it's not because he plays with Durant and Westbrook, he's still awesome when those guys are off the floor. He's probably OKC's best offensive player.

He's a legitimate All-Star with superstar potential. LOL at labeling him as "just a bench player" when we've all seen how good Manu Ginobili is. Harden is basically Manu with much worse defense.

Now, with that said, OKC did get some serious value back, and I'm not sure who won this trade yet. They have a lot of potential:

-Martin is trash, apparently, but he's going to be a big expiring that they can use for a trade

-Two solid 1st rounders, and who knows how good Dallas and Toronto will be, really? Dallas completely changed their roster, and people are just speculating that Toronto is going to be good. They could definitely be improved, but that could still be a lottery pick.

-A very high 2nd rounder coming from the Bobcats. Combined with the 1st rounders and OKC's history of drafting, they could get some really nice, young talent.

-I'm going to have to watch Lamb play, but a few people here think highly of him, so he seems to be a nice piece with a lot of potential that could be a key contributor for OKC.

So overall, OKC took a step back for the short-term, but if the draft picks and Lamb and Martin's expiring fulfill the potential they have, they could be better for the long-term. But then again, if Harden becomes the superstar I believe he can be, Houston might win in the long-term anyway.

SCourGe OF GoD · Post #302 » by **SCourGe OF GoD** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:36 am

Los Manos wrote:
Klomp wrote:Wait, OKC got 2013 TOR 1st?! Damn!

I think HOU won this year, but OKC won long term.

The raptors pick is heavily protected too.

OKC will only get it if the raptors miss the playoffs next year and it doesn't fall in the top 3. The next two years they only get it if the raptors miss the playoffs and it's not a top 2 pick. The same deal the next two years but not the 1st pick and then it loses its protection.

So they get it next year..

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #303 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:37 am

TheToothFairy wrote:
sanity wrote:
TheToothFairy wrote:People are overrating harden. He is AWFUL in the finals. Martin and Lamb plus 3 picks???

Lebron James had a horrible showing in the finals against San Antonio. How is that a basis for even rating a player's worth anyway?

Because Harden was AWFuL in the finals. Martin has nowhere to go but up

Plus u add Lamb and 3 picks

And have money to keep Perkins

It's pretty Elementary

I was looking at Martin's PER and WS/48 from when he was 24. They are not too different from Harden at 22.

Martin shot very well in preseason and appears to be on the verge of a bounce back year. It's about as good as the Thunder were going to get under the circumstances.

Post #304 » by **Klomp** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:37 am

Wait, so aren't HOU already paying Lin and Asik a combined 30 mil starting in 2014-15? So those two and Harden get 45 mil?!

RatherUnique · Post #305 » by **RatherUnique** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:37 am

Dragic13 wrote:And even if he is made the first option it seems he needs the ball to produce. What will Lin do?

If he can share the court with Westbrook all throughout the playoffs, I don't think playing with Lin will be a problem.

LoneyROY · Post #306 » by **LoneyROY** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:37 am

bertrob wrote:? I don't see how that relates to my point. The trade wasn't bad for the Magic, if they hadn't run into us they might have won it all that year

Yeah, I was agreeing w/ you that the trades aren't really comparable.

Luxury · Post #307 » by **Luxury** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:38 am

Neutral 123 wrote:
AntwanBoldin wrote:The lockout......worked?

I'd rather not get into the dizzying rules involved, but its pretty funny the Lakers have Gasol, Kobe, and Howard on their roster, while the Thunder have had to rush and dump a guy still on his rookie contract. Yeah for parity.

You're blaming the Lakers for willing to PAY for a Championship team and not punish OKC and/or Hardens agent for not coming to an agreement??? LOL

BD12 · Post #308 » by **BD12** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:38 am

slick_watts wrote:As an OKC fan converted from Seattle I hate this trade because it sounds like ownership drew Presti a line in the sand that he couldn't cross. Why else would he not bridge a $5m gap? Really disappointing. Martin is an expiring, so then what?

OKC will regret keeping Ibaka at the expense of Harden.

Kevin Martin is friggin good. As a 3rd option...he'll be ridiculously good. Jeremy Lamb will start next season. Just wow...

TheToothFairy · Post #309 » by **TheToothFairy** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:38 am

oKC

Has

lamb
perry Jones

3 first rd picks

AND

charlottes 2nd

They have. Dynasty in the making WItHoUT Harden

bullsnewdynasty · Post #310 » by **bullsnewdynasty** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:38 am

Jonathan Tjarks has the last laugh in all this.

[GR] · Post #311 » by **[GR]** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:38 am

Presti = Genius

Lamb will be a star .

Still, OKC is lame for being so cheap

Los Manos · Post #312 » by **Los Manos** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:38 am

GhostX wrote:
Los Manos wrote:
Klomp wrote:Wait, OKC got 2013 TOR 1st?! Damn!

I think HOU won this year, but OKC won long term.

The raptors pick is heavily protected too.

OKC will only get it if the raptors miss the playoffs next year and it doesn't fall in the top 3. The next two years they only get it if the raptors miss the playoffs and it's not a top 2 pick. The same deal the next two years but not the 1st pick and then it loses its protection.

So they get it next year..

even if they do, it will be in the 10-13 range and considering next years draft class is considered to have nowhere near the depth of the 2012 draft it's highly unlikely they get a star out of it. Next years draft is top heavy and then drops off a cliff.

Mad Balla 15 · Post #313 » by **Mad Balla 15** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:39 am

bertrob wrote:
SweetTouch wrote:@JRudolphSports: OKC just became the 2009-10 Orlando Magic; Kevin Martin is playing the role of Vince Carter. Bad trade, rushed decision for the Thunder.

Except the Magic were going to the Finals and might have even beat LA if they hadn't run into BOS, which was the worst possible matchup.

Exactly, dumb statement. The Magic had the second best record in the league that season and were looking primed for another finals appearence but Boston really was their worst possible match up. Also, it's not like they traded Turkoglu for Carter they just didn't want to give Turkoglu the amount of money he was looking for and rightfully so as he became one of the most overpaid players in the league.

TheToothFairy · Post #314 » by **TheToothFairy** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:39 am

[GR] wrote:Presti = Genius

Lamb will be a star .

I LOVE Presti

sunskerr · Post #315 » by **sunskerr** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:39 am

SCourGe OF GoD · Post #316 » by **SCourGe OF GoD** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:39 am

Kmart and the picks can be flipped again if Presti wants...Lamb is a nice replacement in the meantime

Neutral 123 · Post #317 » by **Neutral 123** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:39 am

TheToothFairy wrote:
sanity wrote:
TheToothFairy wrote:People are overrating harden. He is AWFUL in the finals. Martin and Lamb plus 3 picks???

Lebron James had a horrible showing in the finals against San Antonio. How is that a basis for even rating a player's worth anyway?

Because Harden was AWFuL in the finals. Martin has nowhere to go but up

Plus u add Lamb and 3 picks

And have money to keep Perkins

It's pretty Elementary

Martin has nowhere to go but up? SMH... NBA you're almost always better off with quality over quantity. A bunch of mediocre picks, plus a couple of mediocre players won't make them a better team. Portland was supposed to be the heir apparent, they fell off, and now OKC is likely done... Pathetic.

Muggsy Bogues · Post #318 » by **Muggsy Bogues** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:39 am

therealbig3 wrote:He's a legitimate All-Star with superstar potential. LOL at labeling him as "just a bench player" when we've all seen how good Manu Ginobili is. Harden is basically Manu with much worse defense.

Basically Manu my ass! He has no midrange game at all and isn't half as good in transition. What's more, like 80% of his trips to the line come off of flops, whereas it's maybe 45% for Ginobilli.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #319 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:39 am

GhostX wrote:
Los Manos wrote:
Klomp wrote:Wait, OKC got 2013 TOR 1st?! Damn!

I think HOU won this year, but OKC won long term.

The raptors pick is heavily protected too.

OKC will only get it if the raptors miss the playoffs next year and it doesn't fall in the top 3. The next two years they only get it if the raptors miss the playoffs and it's not a top 2 pick. The same deal the next two years but not the 1st pick and then it loses its protection.

So they get it next year..

I think the Raptors will make the playoffs. They only lost once in the preseason. They added a very good PG, Lowry (also from Houston, coincidentally); and they added a stud C, Jonas Valenciunas. The Raps are much better defensively and besides Lowry, they have Calderon and John Lucas III being very steady distributors.

Don't sleep on Toronto. I think they'll win far more than a projected 33 games.

AQuintus · Post #320 » by **AQuintus** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:39 am

Klomp wrote:Wait, so aren't HOU already paying Lin and Asik a combined 30 mil starting in 2014-15? So those two and Harden get 45 mil?!

They really have to hope that all 3 thrive with their new, bigger roles and added defensive pressure or else they're going to be terrible for a long time.