James Harden traded to the Rockets

[black bart]

Will OKC move KMart's expiring and the picks for a Harden upgrade?

Toronto and Dallas picks will be mid-first types - 15-20 range. TO's is that tricky one where it's put off until it's eventually a lotto pick though right? So it's not necessarily for this years pick.

This is an awful draft year. The talent isn't the same as last year or next. These picks will amount to nothing most likely

[SweetTouch]

People are really underrating how bad Kevin Martin is.

Exactly.

It's not even that.

It's the fact that you don't even know if you can count on him playing.

Guess they counting on maynor and the rookie. Or KD having a Lebron type season

[Bertrob]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA

Thunder pushed final offer to Harden to 4 years, $53M-$54M, sources tell Y! When that couldn't get deal done, Presti moved into trade mode.

[TheNewEra]

Absolutely terrible for Houston. Beyond awful. People are dreaming if he scores over 20 points at above league average efficiency. I see around 21ppg on terrible efficiency with terrible defense. And they lost Jeremy Lamb and the Raptors pick? This will set Houston back years.

Terrific for OKC. Lamb is a stud and anyone can shoot godly efficiency in that team like Harden. Martin will have no problems shooting around 49% from the field just like Harden.

Houston has enough young talent they had to cash in eventually they just need to upgrade the SF spot if they want to go deep

[Guy986]

i hate this as a rocket fan. WTF. TOtally unexpected too.

[Ch00bi3]

Amazing trade for OKC.

[Wooderson]

Presti took this right outta kevin oconners book ala Deron Williams trade....if you dont seem like ur gonna extend ur gone

Restricted vs. Unrestricted

[gethigh]

HEY GUYS HOW THE LAKERS LOOKING NOW?

The same as before.

[heatwillbeback]

Pretty good haul.

Have you guys been paying attention to what other teams have been getting for losing all-star players? Outside of Utah and maybe Denver (who gave up much better players), this stands up pretty well.

most teams are not contenders when they trade a star

now Harden is a quasi star, borderline all star. Nothing like Dwight or Deron or course. But if you are contending its more then getting a haul for a player. OKC drops from the list of contenders, and only two teams now have a legit shot at the title this year imo.

[bullsnewdynasty]

OKC messed up, they should have pushed to dump Perkins for Asik instead of taking those crappy draft picks. I don't think this trade is very good for them.

[eslr]

People are really underrating how bad Kevin Martin is.

Kevin Martin is just an expiring.


Lamb is the future at SG for OKC.

Thats fine and all, but he's also a late lotto pick and had like 5 SGs selected ahead of him. It seems like Harden was worth a couple late lotto picks and a pick somewhere in the 20's. Seems like bad value to me.

[kingOfqueens]

Thunder won this trade hands down

No, not this time. The team that could do no wrong destroyed a beautiful nucleus

it was a good move, they managed to get good immediate talent in martin as well as solid future assets with lamb and the two picks. This pretty much assures that they''ll be a top team even after the lakers and heat finish peaking in the next couple of seasons.

[Bertrob]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA

Houston plans to give James Harden a four year, $60 million extension once deal is completed, league sources tell Y! Sports.

[HornetJail]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA

Thunder pushed final offer to Harden to 4 years, $53M-$54M, sources tell Y! When that couldn't get deal done, Presti moved into trade mode.

James Harden wanted 10% more money over being on a potential dynasty?

[Chosen01]

He's a better defender than Martin, doesn't matter if he could score "anywhere", kinda like saying Carmelo is the better scorer than LeBron because he could score "anywhere". Harden was more efficient scoring 17ppg last year.

There is a reason why Harden got exposed as bad as he did in the Finals. Heat are the best PnR defense in the league. Harden can't get to the rim without a screener. Harden has no mid-range game so if he gets a pick but he doesn't get to the rim or doesn't get a good look in the 3, he has nothing.

He lacks scoring versatility.

He and Martin are the same defensively. That is complete lateral but Lamb is an upgrade over Harden defensively.

Wade played great defense on Harden and the general consensus was that he "choked" on some plays as he was missing a lot of easy shots he usually makes during that series.

No, I still believe Martin is a worse defender, he's absolutely putrid. That still doesn't change the fact that off the bench the role Harden provided was greater than what Martin would produce in terms of overall play. There's a reason Thunder(Westbrook and Durant) were much better offensively when Harden stepped on the floor, don't see it going up to that degree with Martin.

[Sinant]

Kevin Martin before the rule changes = an asset

Kevin Martin now = worthless

[Neutral 123]

The move that eventually leads to Durant moving to a bigger market?

I'd certainly hope so. What a boneheaded trade.

[sanity]

Guys, some questions

Raptors fans have this strange belief that
1) Harden is the equivalent of Bargnani as a shooting guard and that
2) Kevin Martin (when healthy) is better than Harden.

Are these intelligent statements?

[DreDay]

You can see who actually understands advanced stats, by their reaction in this thread.

You can see who can't take stats into context. Martin will have no issue getting close to Harden efficiency. Harden's job is so simple and so easy due to his cast that advanced stat lovers fell in love with him. As a #1, prepared for below average league efficiency at around 22ppg. Glorified Monta Ellis.

[Guy986]

Guys, some questions

Raptors fans have this strange belief that
1) Harden is the equivalent of Bargnani as a shooting guard and that
2) Kevin Martin (when healthy) is better than Harden.

Are these intelligent statements?

No2 is false.

Kevin Martin suks monkey ball tits.