James Harden traded to the Rockets

[Yuri Vaultin]

No, I trust Prestis eye for talent more than yours

He drafted Harden and asked for Lamb.

Plus he got 2 additional first rd picks

The Perkins move has worked out so well...

Yes, Jeff Green didn't even play a year with. Hart condition while OkC went to the finals and prevent Boston from going back

Next topic!

It's really quite simple. No team would ever take Martin and Lamb over Harden.

[misterrunon]

westbrook is not a playmaker, durant is not a playmaker.. they have no playmakers now. kmart is like old ray allen/reggie miller/rip hamilton.. he just runs around screens and shoots. lamb is unknown.

for the short term, at least, this weakens OKC.

[Don Draper]

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

okc is worse off today but their future is brighter, cheap young guys when they have to amnesty Perkins

If they're worse of because of a drop off from Harden to Martin/Lamb, they can easily flip the contract of Kevin Martin.

FWIW -- (I'd love to see a future deal with the Wizards involving Martin and Okafor or Nene. The Thunder can amnesty Perkins while adding a viable C, easily.)

[Muggsy Bogues]

Because he's an excellent playmaker that is an elite 3pt shooter, who rarely turns the ball over, and is excellent at getting to the line (and converting his FTs).

You don't need a great midrange game to be a top 3 SG. I mean, Wade has been pretty bad from midrange (and 3) the last few years, but he was still unquestionably a top 2 SG.

We'll see if Harden's 3pt shooting holds up without a driving KD and Westbrook causing defenses to collapse into the lane. I'm also eager to see if he can handle having defenses key on him, going up against the other team's first unit most of the time. As for Wade, he's only getting away with his terrible shooting due to playing with two other likely Hall of Famers. Put him on the Rockets in Harden's place and if he didn't recover his J, he'd be in big trouble.

[Tirion]

So no one really knew about this, I mean KD was on the OU sideline chilling, at least tell your main guy about the trade.

Yeah this is just the start. With this new move to parity. KD will leave for the Lakers, and Westbrook to the Knicks, and the Thunder will have noting to show for it.

I understand the sarcasm, but on the real tho?

Durant must be pretty pissed. That's his boy and he's been on record many times saying that Harden isn't going anywhere.

I'm sure that he will say all the right words in public, cause that's his image, but privately he's probably fuming.

[jc23]

What are you guys smoking?

Martin+Lamb+2013 lotto pick+ 2013 mid first>>> Harden.


you are all acting like Harden is Lebron. I actually think OKC made out like bandits in this deal.

long term yes, short term no. The Thunder sacrificed some of their chances of winning now to win in the future.

[Sedale Threatt]

Give it three years of developing the younger guys, and they'll be right back up there.

As opposed to keeping him and contending right now...

[Jeremy Lin 7]

HOLY, Sam Presti does not mess around with contract negotiations. Great move by Morey, rockets should be much more fun to watch now and a better chance of making the playoffs. As for OKC they should have kept their core for at least one more year, just look at the 09 Lakers.

[DEEP3CL]

This is what DraftExpress has him compared to......

Best Case: Kevin Martin
Worst Case: Rashad McCants

I have him in the middle of those two, he'll end up being a better player than Martin. But this is a step way way back for OKC. Young players struggle for a minute.

[StitchJones]

I don't think most players value title-contending as much as we all think they do (should?). Adam Morrison is a two time champion.

I mean if you're a LeBron who is getting the money, acclaim, and ability to be the focal point regardless of what team you're on, then it makes some sense to take the strongest/easiest path to a championship, but that's an exceptional case.

He took a 10% raise over the chance to contend for the title every season. I can't respect that. I certainly can't imagine why that would make him a "very happy camper." I would guess he thought the Thunder were bluffing and would end up giving him the max. Well, now he gets to play with Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik every night instead of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Enjoy it...

You are looking very short term. Harden, should he perform to a 20+ 5 and 5 line is now on track to be maxed for maybe 8-10 YEARS. That money adds up big time. It would never happen as a 6th man (even an important one) for OKC. Now he's gonna play 36 minutes, put up numbers, go to all star games AND maybe make 50 million more over the course of his career. And yes we really are talking 50 mil if you consider his next contract after this one. Plus i think he will still have his chance at championships. Houston has become a very astute franchise and they can attract top big man at some point (Howard maybe or Cousins down the line)

[TheToothFairy]

Oof that sucks for OKC fans.

Those picks likely won't amount to anything worthwhile.

Kevin Martin is arguable a net-negative player.

Lamb is a middling prospect whose best-case scenario, according to Draft Express, is...Kevin Martin.

All over $6-7 million.

Says who?

Presti is on of the best in the biz at drafting


Ibaka at #19

Jones at 20 something

You saying he can't do something with 2 possibl lotto picks????

[DreDay]

Its comical that anyone thinks having Kevin Martin as your third or fourth best player makes you worse.

This is a perfect role for Martin to excel. Playing with Durant and Westbrook is the best thing that could of happened to his career.

This. His efficiency will skyrocket to Harden levels. It wouldn't surprise me if a "Is Kevin Martin worth the max" thread pops up.

[Tirion]

That's a high IQ player right here.

[Nowitness]

Oof that sucks for OKC fans.

Those picks likely won't amount to anything worthwhile.
Kevin Martin is arguable a net-negative player.

Lamb is a middling prospect whose best-case scenario, according to Draft Express, is...Kevin Martin.

All over $6-7 million.

The TOR pick is a lotto, Top 10 even. The Dallas pick will probably be around the same place it was last year so 17 or 18.

[C-izMe]

How could they get rid of this obvious first option! Midrange games are sooo overrated.


Also KMart is more effective from everywhere but the rim. And playing with Westbrook/KD can change that fast.

[TheToothFairy]

Also, just to say, I like the move for the Rockets. Just don't think this hurts OKC as much as people think.

Martin is a 4th option

Harden was terrible in th playoffs

Plus they have lamb and 3 first rd picks

Plus chars 2nd

[jc23]

Harden will be viewed as an overpaid player. He good but he aint max good. But if your a team like Houston and cant get any superstars to com id say this was a smart move. Its not easy getting talent when your name is not lakers, knicks or heat.

[Wavy Q]

OKC was in the best position possible in basketball, being both a win now and a future team, idk what people are talking about when they say OKC traded for their future, acting as if James Harden is 30 years old or something.

[Neutral 123]

Dallas pick isn't a big deal - Toronto pick may or may not work out, if there is some injury in Toronto then that may be a VERY good pick. Kevin Martin averaged 23 points the year before last, that isn't average. That's all that will be asked of him off the bench. Lamb has the potential to become way more than "mediocre". Plus when you have two of the best scorers in the league, the last thing they need to worry about is scoring - which is why they kept Ibaka over Harden. Stop acting like Harden is a top 5 player, he's not. And I really like his game.

But yeah, throw out something irrelevant like me living in Orlando.

Harden defended, distributed, and was efficient. Martin is none of these things, Lamb is an unknown, and those picks are HUGE unknowns. What's more, is you go from a team good enough to win it all now, to one that is hoping Lamb develops, hoping those picks translate into something worthwhile. I brought up Orlando, because just as there might be a delusional Magic fan or two who believe that trading Dwight for some sort of hope makes them better are dreaming. OKC took a big step back, and the way they handled this situation, puts their keeping their other superstars in danger imo. What a crying shame.

Defends? Lolololol.

Defensively he's the worst SG that gets PT for a half decent team.

Well I notice your criteria wouldn't include Martin. Clever.