If Harden was an RFA, would you offer him the max?

shrink · Post #1 » by **shrink** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 4:53 pm

Interesting question from the Trade Board, especially for wolves fans.

Max is about four years, $62.5 mil, I think.

theGreatRC · Post #2 » by **theGreatRC** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 4:55 pm

I would, great player and if Adelman is so concerned with two ball handlers on the floor, no better player than James Harden.

jscott · Post #3 » by **jscott** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 4:56 pm

I think so, but I think he's worth closer to 10-12 than 15 mil per.

But if that was the cost of doing business I would probably pull the trigger.

dukeknicksirish · Post #4 » by **dukeknicksirish** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 5:00 pm

Rubio
Harden
Wes
Love/Williams
Pek/Darko

yes please

Post #5 » by **C.lupus** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 5:04 pm

jscott wrote:I think so, but I think he's worth closer to 10-12 than 15 mil per.

But if that was the cost of doing business I would probably pull the trigger.

Agreed. He's probably not a max player but that would likely be the price to get him and I think we'd have to pay it.

prefuse73 · Post #6 » by **prefuse73** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 5:17 pm

Yes please.

How about trading
Harden/collision for Williams/Ridnour/Ellington

Esohny · Post #7 » by **Esohny** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 5:26 pm

C.lupus wrote:
jscott wrote:I think so, but I think he's worth closer to 10-12 than 15 mil per.

But if that was the cost of doing business I would probably pull the trigger.

Agreed. He's probably not a max player but that would likely be the price to get him and I think we'd have to pay it.

Yar.

phonzadellika · Post #8 » by **phonzadellika** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 5:52 pm

Yea, you pretty much gotta do it.

Morgenrot · Post #9 » by **Morgenrot** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 5:52 pm

First I wanted to write a "absolutley no way harden deserves a max" but after thinking about it, this overpayment would just make us maybe-contender.

Beard-City !

phonzadellika · Post #10 » by **phonzadellika** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 5:54 pm

Also, if OKC matches then that's that much less money they have to offer a valuable role-player type or keep Ibaka

yowyOw · Post #11 » by **yowyOw** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 6:03 pm

From what I've heard and read here and there, OKC will offer him the max.

Harden is a heck of a player, but my doubt is if he'd be able to be "the" man instead of the comfortable role of 6th man in a team with Durant and Westbrook...

.

Dual · Post #12 » by **Dual** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 6:20 pm

Yes!!! There are only a few good SG's in the league and to me Harden is the new big thing at that position. He is good, but he is going to be even better, he is only 22 years old....

jscott · Post #13 » by **jscott** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 6:35 pm

yowyOw wrote:From what I've heard and read here and there, OKC will offer him the max.

Harden is a heck of a player, but my doubt is if he'd be able to be "the" man instead of the comfortable role of 6th man in a team with Durant and Westbrook...

If OKC is planning on offering the MAX why didn't they at the extension deadline?

I wouldn't expect Harden to leave OKC but if he sticks around for 13-15 mil per they'll have some tough decisions to make.

Post #14 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 6:41 pm

I don't think Harden is eligible for an extension yet.

shrink · Post #15 » by **shrink** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 7:22 pm

jscott wrote:If OKC is planning on offering the MAX why didn't they at the extension deadline?

A year too early

Narf · Post #16 » by **Narf** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 7:37 pm

He's not worth it....but he might be in 3 years.
Unfortunately that's how the NBA works. Pay for potential.

guille_4 · Post #17 » by **guille_4** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 9:44 pm

I would definitely give him 50M for 4 years. **** it, I'd give him MAX if he comes for free.

shrink · Post #18 » by **shrink** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 9:59 pm

It's a tough call, isn't it?

I think we all agree that he's probably not worth a max deal worth $62.5 mil for four years, especially since he's a SG. He'd really have to develop into the #1 role on our team to justify that money, and become an All Star in his own rights.

On the other hand, his current skill-set gives him extra value to the Wolves. He plays great defense, he can score, and he's young.

Now, you all know that I'm one of the cheapest SOB's on the board, and if we look at this as "what would you do if you were GM?", part of your role would be to protect your bosses money. This could be a big waste that hurts the team for a number of years -- or helps them. It's a deangerous call.

The tipping point for me though is that he's currently on the Thunder. They are another young, improving team that could be a rival to us for years as we get better. We play them four times every year, and maybe we'll start playing them seven more games in the play-offs? I like our odds a lot better with Love + Rubio + Harden vs Durant + Westbrook + Ibaka than Love + Rubio + "somebody" vs Durant + Westbrook + Harden.

Also, even if the bid is matched, we've taken a big bite out of what micro-market OKC can do in the future. Ibaka's got to be on the market then, for example, and soon other players will be tough to retain.

One thing that I don't think the team does enough of, is flex their financial muscle, and use it as a weapon to trip up rivals. Maybe there is some sort of gentleman's agreement between owners -- I don't know.

In this case, I'd gamble on the overpay, and try to trade other assets to build the rest of our contender.

Post #19 » by **Klomp** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 10:11 pm

yowyOw wrote:From what I've heard and read here and there, OKC will offer him the max.

Harden is a heck of a player, but my doubt is if he'd be able to be "the" man instead of the comfortable role of 6th man in a team with Durant and Westbrook...

.

Keep in mind that OKC cannot offer Harden any more than the 29 other teams because they already used the "designated player" option on Russell Westbrook.

Saltine · Post #20 » by **Saltine** » Mon Feb 6, 2012 10:43 pm

They can offer larger raises each season though, it does add up.

Would you offer RFA Harden the max?