James Harden traded to the Rockets

[AntwanBoldin]

The lockout......worked?

[Los Manos]

Both teams lost in this deal. Houston has to overpay Harden who isn't worth a max contract. OKC downgrades their current roster from title contender. Martin has a really difficult time staying healthy, will he even be there for OKC come playoff time?

I'm inclined to agree. It's a fair trade but one that I don't see benefits either team in the short or long term. OKC had better hope Jeremy Lamb becomes an upper echelon two guard (which he has the potential to) and that the raptors pick gets them another star (unlikely considering the protection).

Unfortunately this is the consequences on the new CBA in action. Everyone screamed for parity and the result of that is that a team like OKC can't afford 3 stars.

[LoneyROY]

@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.

Uhhh, I think James Harden is a bit better then Courtney Lee.

[COY0607]

good trade for the thunder... between martin, maynor they will make up for a lot of offence... and more importantly ibaka can finally get more shots, hes good enough to be a no.3 option on a contender

and in the long term, okc will keep getting top talent on the cheap... maybe even consolidate those picks next summer for a bigger package

[RatherUnique]

@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.

Yea, with Turkoglu or Carter, they weren't beating Boston as long as KG suited up.

[TheToothFairy]

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

[heatwillbeback]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/50703/nba-players-react-to-harden-trade

the bad grammar nonetheless, Malik Allen is the one I agree with most.

[Little Digger]

Obviously the rockets didnt project Lamb to be a star ..I dont see it either.

[gethigh]

The lockout......worked?

Worked for teams not named the Lakers

[CablexDeadpool]

This was a stupid move.

Harden should've just signed the damn deal, he isn't that good, only can do one thing.

[Bertrob]

@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.

Uhhh, I think James Harden is a bit better then Courtney Lee.

? 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

[slick_watts]

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.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

if money was an issue this is a smart move. Instead of losing him for nothing get a vet and some talent back. Like harden martin is a foul drawing machine, but he can't play point

Very succinct and sums it all up.

OKC has PG Eric Maynor healthy.

I believe the rotation will see Maynor backing Westbrook, and a combination of Martin, Sefolosha, and Lamb at SG.

I like the deal for OKC because they couldn't keep Harden at a max deal. The longer they waited the less they would have been offered. The only other guy I could have seen them making a play for would have been Josh Smith, but this deal makes a lot of sense.

The biggest risk IMO is if Westbrook or Durant get injured. That will seriously hurt the Thunder.

OTOH, Martin is a pure scorer and he's going to be much better IMO than people imagine. This deal reminds me of when Ray Allen went to the Celtics. He had not won at Seattle or Milwaukee. Kevin Martin is a light's out shooter who should get a ton of open looks. He might not be in their long term plans but that is someone Kobe has to guard.

[BaunceyChillups]

Jarrod Rudolph continuing to demonstrate his idiocy

the 2010 Magic were better than the 2009 Magic but the competition got tougher

[Wavy Q]

Seems like quite the overreaction to Harden declining the first public offer.

[Yuri Vaultin]

If you plan to start Harden you wont get the same production out of him unless you make him the first option.

.

Who else in Houston would be the first option?

[Neutral 123]

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.

[hodgy#11]

I think OKC came out the winners in this one, it's bizarre how many others think Houston won a deal where they have given up potentially 2 lotto picks, a player that could have been drafted as high as 8 in this years draft and a borderline all-star level scoring guard for a guy who's most definitely NOT worth the max, a former lotto pick centre who still can't dominate a summer league game, and 2 scoring backups that were clearly traded to open up minutes for Jones III & Lamb

[C-izMe]

Houston is screwing up bad right now. Stocking up on unproven players.

[TheToothFairy]

Martin has looked better than Harden in preseason