Fall back in Love with James Harden

[revprodeji]

At the beginning of the year we all had the Hard-on for Harden. Now it seems like he is never mentioned.

Griffin and Rubio will likely go 1 and 2, but if we have a chance at Harden it would be great. He is a much better prospect than Jennings, Evans, Thebeet and the rest. (*If he is 6'5)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UArpG5UZTbk

Very young for his class. Great BBIQ, great teammate. A lefty with a very, very nice jump shot. Very good change-of-gear move makes him look slow but he explodes at the end of his move. Plays within himself and does not force the issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFog8dt ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABw4d_sw ... re=related

Dx has him listed as 6'5. If Harden puts up something like a 34" standing and 39" max vert and turns some heads at the predraft combine while measuresing out at around 6'4 1/2" without and 6'5 1/2" with shoes with a nice, long wing span of around 7'0" and standing reach of around 8'8"

The height/wingspan measurements matter more for him than anyone.

[the_bruce]

I have Harden & Curry as guys I'd take if other guys I like more weren't on board? Other than that I've never been a huge fan. I'm probably crazy enough to take Curry ahead of Harden, but it would all depend how they measure.

[Klomp]

Not sure why, but he seems a bit chunky to me.

[revprodeji]

because he wears a t-shirt?

Bruce, what does your draft board look like?

[casey]

Not sure why, but he seems a bit chunky to me.

That just makes him cuter.

[Worm Guts]

Not sure why, but he seems a bit chunky to me.

It's probably all the body fat.

[the_bruce]

because he wears a t-shirt?

Bruce, what does your draft board look like?

griffin
rubio
thabeet
evans
derozan
Mullens
Budinger
Curry\Harden\Teague\Jennings (guys I don't hate or love)

[Xand1]

Not sure why, but he seems a bit chunky to me.

It's all part of his master plan. The chunky appearance and hobo beard lull his opponents into underestimating him. Hey, it works for Reggie Evans on the boards, so why not Harden?

And Rev, if he puts up #'s like that at the combine, he's likely gone well before our pick unless we move into the top 3

[revprodeji]

He is projected as anything from 2nd (w/o rubio) to 6th. I think he is the clear #3 but of course the orlando #'s are huge for him.

combine? nice..

[Xand1]

He is projected as anything from 2nd (w/o rubio) to 6th. I think he is the clear #3 but of course the orlando #'s are huge for him.

combine? nice..

Eh?

It just seems like most of the negativity surrounding Harden stems from people doubting his lack of NBA-level quickness or athleticism. If he tests out with BIG #'s like the ones you mentioned, I think his stock soars and he goes well before 6. Still, I'm with you if he puts up NBA-caliber numbers. I love the guy's game.

[the_bruce]

Harden is not putting up those numbers. He will measure 6'5 in shoes. 27 standing, 35 max. Take 2-3 inches reach number(8-5), and 3-6 of wingspan(6-7?). I think he falls like gomes did, but not into 2nd rnd, but he probably ends up being a very productive player and a steal in the 8-18 range.

He's not the type of player who will light up the combine, if he puts up those numbers he's a lock at #3, but there is no way he does. If he can put up those sorts of athletic markers I'd be onboard.

[revprodeji]

Combine is the term for football when they do the measurements and running and such. I do not believe Orlando has that term. So I laughed a little.

Bruce, I have not been able to find his measurements. have you?

I could see him surprise people with his numbers. He is a very controlled player and only explodes at certain times. This makes him appear slow.

[C.lupus]

I like Harden but I'd be a lot more excited about him if the Wolves didn't already have a roster full of slightly short, slightly chunky, slightly unathletic, below-the-rim jump shooters.

[Xand1]

Combine is the term for football when they do the measurements and running and such. I do not believe Orlando has that term. So I laughed a little.

Bruce, I have not been able to find his measurements. have you?

I could see him surprise people with his numbers. He is a very controlled player and only explodes at certain times. This makes him appear slow.

News to me. I'd always just used combine for convenience as that's what DX calls it in their articles (eg: http://www.draftexpress.com/article/NBA-Pre-Draft-Camp-Athletic-Testing-Combine-Results-1352/)

Anyway, I hope you're right. We've seen a few examples in the past few years of SG's that everyone labeled as relatively unathletic surprising with their measurements, namely Roy and Mayo.

Personally, I think the issue is overblown. People criticize Harden because he looks slow, and yet he manages to have little problem getting his shot off. Most of his issues with being stopped, in the games I watched at least, were a result of his handle not being tight enough, not his first step. When the opportunity was there he had no problem getting past his man and getting off a quality shot. The questions I have about the guy are twofold: can he improve his handle and use it to develop a midrange game and does he have the mentality to take over a game in the clutch? Even if he doesn't improve on those areas, I still think he'll be a solid player, but if he tightens his handle up I think he could be very very good. Given his young age and already advanced knowledge of headfakes/hesitation moves/spin moves I think he'll figure out a way to get to the rim at the next level.

[4ho5ive]

The biggest issue with me is height. Mayo was supposed to be about 6'5 and IIRC ended up measuring at about 6'3 or so. I like Harden, but i dont like short SG's. If he is 6'5 sure you take him, then you try and grab one of Collison/Lawson later and probably try and find a vet PG.

[Krapinsky]

Harden plays like a savvy vet who gets his points, but isn't a game changer. I have serious doubts about him being able to create his own shot at the next level. A lot of his points seem to come off of set up three point shots or break downs in the defense. With our pick I would prefer to take a chance and gamble on someone who can develop into more of a go to guy. Don't get me wrong, Harden would be a solid addition, but he's another undersized, average athleticism guy and we have too many players like that as is.

Right now my draft board looks like this:

Griffin
Rubio
Evans
Derozan
Warren
Harden
Lawson

[Klomp]

Harden plays like a savvy vet who gets his points, but isn't a game changer.

I believe people said the same thing about Brandon Roy.

[Krapinsky]

Harden plays like a savvy vet who gets his points, but isn't a game changer.

I believe people said the same thing about Brandon Roy.

Except Roy is a game changer. Roy's best asset is his pull up jump shot off the dribble, which is probably Harden's greatest weakness. This is an asset of all great SG prospects. See: Jordan, Kobe, Roy, Mayo

[big3_8_19_21]

Does he remind anyone else a little bit of a shorter Paul Pierce?

[Krapinsky]

Does he remind anyone else a little bit of a shorter Paul Pierce?

Nope. Pierce also has a great pull up.

He reminds me of Michael Redd.