James Harden traded to the Rockets

Zedders · Post #861 » by **Zedders** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:25 am

This trade is not on Presti. If he had an owner willing to go into the luxury tax, he would have given Harden the max easily. This doesn't make Presti less of a GM.

Joseph17 · Post #862 » by **Joseph17** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:32 am

I honestly don't know how I feel about this trade. Houston is obviously rebuilding and they are trying to make Harden their franchise player. That makes sense to me. As for OKC, this trade could either benefit them or be a failure. It really depends on what version of Kevin Martin they're getting. Martin could fill the void that Harden left if they're getting the 08-09 version of him. If they're getting last year's version of Martin, OKC fans are going to be disappointed. Martin has looked good in the preseason, but Presti is taking a risk with this trade because you really don't know what to expect from Martin and you don't know if he's going to be healthy for 82 games. I'm also not sure about how Martin is going to fit next to Westbrook because he's at his best when he's playing next to a pass first pg that will put him in a position to score. Westbrook is not that guy.

misterrunon · Post #863 » by **misterrunon** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:34 am

^ good point about martin needing a pass first PG.

rip needed chauncey, ray allen needed rondo, etc.

Joseph17 · Post #864 » by **Joseph17** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:36 am

misterrunon wrote:^ good point about martin needing a pass first PG.

rip needed chauncey, ray allen needed rondo, etc.

Well Chauncey wasn't really a traditional pass first pg, but he was more of a pg than Westbrook. I really don't even consider Westbrook a pg. He's more of a combo guard like Wade.

misterrunon · Post #865 » by **misterrunon** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:37 am

that's why i don't like westbrook. he's an SG stuck in a PG's body.

ReturnofMVP3 · Post #866 » by **ReturnofMVP3** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:41 am

James Harden going to become Joe Johnson 2.0 lol..

therealbig3 · Post #867 » by **therealbig3** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:42 am

Like I said before, I don't know much about Lamb, but why the T-Mac comparisons?

First of all, T-Mac was a 6'8" SF, Lamb is a 6'5" SG. They're built differently.

Second of all, many people in this thread have mentioned Lamb's off-ball abilities, nobody has really talked about him on-ball. Looking at his assists numbers in college, I'm assuming he played a lot of off-ball then too. T-Mac had the handles, vision, and passing ability of a PG at 6'8". That's what made him special. Don't see Lamb showing that from what I've read so far.

JunkYardSubs · Post #868 » by **JunkYardSubs** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:44 am

misterrunon wrote:that's why i don't like westbrook. he's an SG stuck in a PG's body.

Oh god not this again

JF5 · Post #869 » by **JF5** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:45 am

This wasn't a bad deal considering Harden would've probably walked anyways....

At this point... I think the Thunder are in need of a better coach; ala Stan Van Gundy, Phil Jackson or Rick Carlisle because The ball movement is going to be HORRENDOUS. Westbrook like someone stated above isn't a pass first PG.

Scott Brooks won't be able to coach this team to their potential.

bledredwine · Post #870 » by **bledredwine** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:54 am

Wait, I'm confused.

Does this mean Harden agreed to sign a max deal or extension?

Or did Houston just trade for this-year Harden who can possibly walk in free agency or eventually sign max with Houston?

Anyway, OKC looks dangerous for the future, either way IMO great trade for them. They weren't getting better otherwise. This of course is somewhat of a risk but they have a ton of potential and trading pieces going ahead. And I don't see them getting much better for Harden either.

Also, this is kind of bad@ss to see on behalf of Presti

Max? OK GTFO! haha

narmerguy · Post #871 » by **narmerguy** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:56 am

misterrunon wrote:yeah so many fans are oblivious.. seriously. they don't know the roles of an NBA franchise. they think GM's are the ones who are at the top of the chain when it comes to budget.

And this is why I think people really overrate Kupchak. He's definitely good, but he will never have the money restrictions that almost every other good GM in the league has to deal with. Imagine what Sam Presti would do with LA Laker money? Or Riley for that matter?

bledredwine · Post #872 » by **bledredwine** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:56 am

misterrunon wrote:that's why i don't like westbrook. he's an SG stuck in a PG's body.

Yet he played better than any other PG last year's playoffs (including Rose unfortunately who would have been the other best

)

Westbrook is awesome. It's only a matter of time before people start admitting how good he actually is. Proven playoff performers are the only players welcome to the "best" discussion in my book. He's one of very few.

SCourGe OF GoD · Post #873 » by **SCourGe OF GoD** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:58 am

Similar to the Deron Williams trade in a lot of ways. Favors turned out great and now there back in the playoff hunt and have GSW 1st pending.

LarsV8 · Post #874 » by **LarsV8** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:59 am

Interesting trade to say the least.

Martin is a good fit for the Thunder and will help them this year and probably moving forward. I don't see any reason he won't resign. Don't know what kind of player Lamb will turn into, nor what the Raptors pick will end up, but there is good value there for the Thunder to stay "in the black" and remain competitive.

I am not sure you can build around Harden, but if you can get that second max guy in free agency next summer or trade for a guy like LMA, you might have something. Gotta hand it to Morey though, always makes it intetesting.

bledredwine · Post #875 » by **bledredwine** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:59 am

GhostX wrote:Similar to the Deron Williams trade in a lot of ways. Favors turned out great and now there back in the playoff hunt and have GSW 1st pending.

Exactly what I thought of.

SCourGe OF GoD · Post #876 » by **SCourGe OF GoD** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:00 am

narmerguy wrote:
misterrunon wrote:yeah so many fans are oblivious.. seriously. they don't know the roles of an NBA franchise. they think GM's are the ones who are at the top of the chain when it comes to budget.

And this is why I think people really overrate Kupchak. He's definitely good, but he will never have the money restrictions that almost every other good GM in the league has to deal with. Imagine what Sam Presti would do with LA Laker money? Or Riley for that matter?

Well you cant really make a fair comparison if he's never been under those tax restrictions. In his defense he's never had high draft picks to work with either..literally Bynum was the only top 10 pick and you see how that panned out.

narmerguy · Post #877 » by **narmerguy** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:01 am

GhostX wrote:
narmerguy wrote:
misterrunon wrote:yeah so many fans are oblivious.. seriously. they don't know the roles of an NBA franchise. they think GM's are the ones who are at the top of the chain when it comes to budget.

And this is why I think people really overrate Kupchak. He's definitely good, but he will never have the money restrictions that almost every other good GM in the league has to deal with. Imagine what Sam Presti would do with LA Laker money? Or Riley for that matter?

Well you cant really make a fair comparison if he's never been under those tax restrictions. In his defense he's never had high draft picks to work with either..literally Bynum was the only top 10 pick and you see how that panned out.

Who needs draft picks when you can pay for the best players after they've already proven themselves?

therealbig3 · Post #878 » by **therealbig3** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:01 am

bledredwine wrote:Wait, I'm confused.

Does this mean Harden agreed to sign a max deal or extension?

Or did Houston just trade for this-year Harden who can possibly walk in free agency or eventually sign max with Houston?

Anyway, OKC looks dangerous for the future, either way IMO great trade for them. They weren't getting better otherwise. This of course is somewhat of a risk but they have a ton of potential and trading pieces going ahead. And I don't see them getting much better for Harden either.

Also, this is kind of bad@ss to see on behalf of Presti Max? OK GTFO! haha

Harden's a restricted free agent, so Houston will match any offer.

And it's been reported that they'll offer him the max within the next couple of days anyway, so he's definitely staying.

edfmx86 · Post #879 » by **edfmx86** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:03 am

after just about a whole nights long of drinking.... i still cant believe this!

my opinion? Thunder won this deal....and thats not even considering Lamb pans out...

What if lamb pans out? Scary team.

JunkYardSubs · Post #880 » by **JunkYardSubs** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:05 am

edfmx86 wrote:after just about a whole nights long of drinking.... i still cant believe this!

my opinion? Thunder won this deal....and thats not even considering Lamb pans out...

What if lamb pans out? Scary team.

So if Lamb doesnt pan out they traded Harden for a far inferior player in Martin who is expiring after this year and two potentially mediocre picks... and they still win?