James Harden traded to the Rockets

[carayip]

Harden always said that he would sacrifice a little bit of money to say with this team. OKC offered 6 million dollars off of max and Harden turned it down. Everyone on this team who has signed has sacrificed some money (maybe except Durant).

Apparently Harden was all talk and lied to all of the fans, I don't blame him for lying but he did. This is how OKC and Presti are, they don't back down. Now we'll see if this way of working hurts them

Another fan brainwashed by their billionaire owner to care about 6 million or whatever 60 million tax bill he needs to pay?

It is not Harden's fault that OKC have a cheap owner!!

[tha_rock220]

This trade doesn't do a whole lot for either team.

The Thunder just lost their most reliable ball-handler in late game situations. Westbrook is too unpredictable. The Rockets are going to sign James Harden to a max contract which he has come nowhere close to proving he is worth.

What's going to be worse for the Thunder is if the picks come through this year. Yeah, they got the Toronto pick, but it's heavily protected. If the Raptors don't finish in the bottom three, a 50-50 shot if you ask me, the Thunder get a mid lottery pick in a crappy draft.

If you're looking for a silver lining the Rockets managed to get more than they're going to get with those draft picks next year, but building around James Harden just doesn't make sense.

[TheToothFairy]

@People saying Lamb will be a major player, uhmmm smh?

How could he develop into a stud if he's going to play behind Martin and Sefolosha?

I feel bad for the kid. He's got a smooth NBA-ready offensive game, great NBA body and defensive potential but he's not gonna develop properly because of playing in a win-now team like OKC and getting scrap minutes at SG.

What? There is no better team in the league at developing young players than OKC.

Plus they already have the blueprint for him.

Martin is a expiring deal

[Ayt]

Jonathan Feigen ‏@Jonathan_Feigen

Daryl Morey: “James is the foundational, franchise type player we have been seeking the past few seasons.”

And they gave up very little to get him.

[Dragic13]

I dont get why so many people are saying Harden is a proven player....

His stats have gotten better every season but he has only had ONE good season.

To many players these days are able to take advantage of one good year. I guess its what draws in the fans...

But in my opinion from what I have seen of Harden, last year was a flash in the pan.

Lamb > Harden = Martin

[C-izMe]

Harden is so good he got a whole 30 second mention on ESPN and NBA TV combined.

Man they suck!

[crazytown]

Harden always said that he would sacrifice a little bit of money to say with this team. OKC offered 6 million dollars off of max and Harden turned it down. Everyone on this team who has signed has sacrificed some money (maybe except Durant).

Apparently Harden was all talk and lied to all of the fans, I don't blame him for lying but he did. This is how OKC and Presti are, they don't back down. Now we'll see if this way of working hurts them

THIS. RW and Ibaka def took less money. Harden was all talk and wanted more money and his own team. That's all it came down to.

[BrooklynBulls]

Truly amazing that taking a 44% TS% shot from 18 feet more often than the other guy is now considered a strength, particularly for a guy that's playing off 2 guys with midrange games.

Hurrah! Kevin Martin can shoot those long 2's with the best of em!

[ieatchildrenraw]

WOW did not see Osama getting traded so soon can't believe it.

[TheToothFairy]

Jonathan Feigen ‏@Jonathan_Feigen

Daryl Morey: “James is the foundational, franchise type player we have been seeking the past few seasons.”

And they gave up very little to get him.

3 lotto picks, early 2nd plus a 20ppg scorer is alittle?

[COY0607]

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.

havn't you heard, durant is not a playmaker

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... _As_Passer

[LoneyROY]

I dont get why so many people are saying Harden is a proven player....

His stats have gotten better every season but he has only had ONE good season.

To many players these days are able to take advantage of one good year. I guess its what draws in the fans...

But in my opinion from what I have seen of Harden, last year was a flash in the pan.

Lamb > Harden = Martin

You made some solid points...and then you said that Lamb (who hasn't played a single NBA game) is better then Harden.

[Jaykoolzboy]

I think it's a good deal for both team.

From OKC perspective

1. They can't re-sign James Harden to the deal he wants, they dun want to get into the situation they absolutely needs trade James for lets say craps.
2. Kevin Martin is a very very good player that always been put into bad situation, by asking too much from him, he is a great scorer and 3pt shooter, he is a horrible first option, a good second option, a great third option with his skill sets, imagine all those open shots he s going to get, I am expecting him to be a 18 PPG with ridiculously high efficiency and that's all OKC want. Only thing they will miss is James Harden's passing ability off the bench.
3. Lamb is a very good prospect and could fill in the 9th or 10th man right away, he could be 2nd James Harden if things are going well for him

I am giving OKC a B+ for this trade

From Houston's perspective

It's simple, they get a franchise player (at least very close to ) they can build around for the next 5-7 years, James Harden is a very versatile player that can shoot, pass, dribble and play D if asked. I am expecting James Harden to have a 23 PPG 5 rebound 5 asts season.

I am giving Houston a B for this trade.


IMO Kevin Martin is so underrated in this forum, hes always asking to be the best player where he is really just a good 2nd or 3rd option on a good team, Martin can create his own shot, making tons of open 3pts and makes tons of Free Throws.

[fallacy]

Jonathan Feigen ‏@Jonathan_Feigen

Daryl Morey: “James is the foundational, franchise type player we have been seeking the past few seasons.”

And they gave up very little to get him.

3 lotto picks, early 2nd plus a 20ppg scorer is alittle?

It's no where near "a little" but it's potential for potential. No one knows who wins this trade in five years

[Don Draper]

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.

I'd like to know which version of Kevin Martin you guys have watched lately.

One lockout season>>>>>>>a whole career

Using greater than signs clearly proved your point.

[C-izMe]

Truly amazing that taking a 44% TS% shot from 18 feet more often than the other guy is now considered a strength, particularly for a guy that's playing off 2 guys with midrange games.

Hurrah! Kevin Martin can shoot those long 2's with the best of em!

Name one first option without a midrange game. Don't worry, I'll wait.

[Kupchak9]

This trade doesn't do a whole lot for either team.

The Thunder just lost their most reliable ball-handler in late game situations. Westbrook is too unpredictable. The Rockets are going to sign James Harden to a max contract which he has come nowhere close to proving he is worth.

What's going to be worse for the Thunder is if the picks come through this year. Yeah, they got the Toronto pick, but it's heavily protected. If the Raptors don't finish in the bottom three, a 50-50 shot if you ask me, the Thunder get a mid lottery pick in a crappy draft.

If you're looking for a silver lining the Rockets managed to get more than they're going to get with those draft
picks next year, but building around James Harden just doesn't make sense.

Morey got his star, the question is where do they go from here? They still got like 10 PFs on the roster, cap flex even after signing Harden to a max contract and their own pick

For the Thunder, the Raptors are in the mix for the 7th and 8th seeds in the East.

[Bankai]

Maynor will still be a play maker for the bench

Not only is he coming off an injury, when has he shown that he's worth anything?

I remember he had a great series against Dallas (before Dallas moved on to win the Title).

[jumpshooter]

You guys who compare Harden to Joe Johnson, or say that it's easy to play next to Durant and Westbrook... Have you ever seen this fella play? Because I don't know if you've noticed, but in the last couple of years in the last minutes of every game, the ball has been on Harden's hands. Not Durant's, not Westbrook's. And he's been the one making the plays, either scoring or assisting, basically their most important player in the clutch. We're not talking about Daniel Gibson here who sometimes looked like the best shooter in the world thanks to LeBron making plays for him. Harden has been the guy making plays FOR Durant and Westbrook. Harden is going to be a 20-25/5/5 guy in Houston and getting a max for the next 5-8 years of his career, he's got to be ecstatic. Thunder in the other hand will not be contenders in at least a couple of years, if ever.

James is that you?

Maybe if this was close to true I would believe it wasn't you but go to 82games and look at what Harden does in the clutch and compare it to the uber clutch Durant/Westbrook pairing. Then eat crow.

Kevin Durant's style of play (up to this point of his career, he may change) has been very close to Ray Allen. Off the ball incredible shooter. What puts him in a different dimension than Ray is that he's 6'11 and an athletic freak. But he doesn't run his team and has never done it. He doesn't absorb the ball and says "now we're gonna play my game". He doesn't run plays for his teammates all game long. He's no LeBron. Neither is Westbrook, who's another freakishly athletic extremely talented guy but has dynamite for a brain. Harden was the real point guard of this team, and the Thunder went as far as he did. Some of you guys are seriously underrating Harden's effect in OKC.

[Muggsy Bogues]

It is not Harden's fault that OKC have a cheap owner!!

Conversely, it's not Clay Bennett's fault that James Harden is more concerned about money than winning a championship. I rather doubt he'll ever have the chance to compete for one again... as for OKC, with Westbrook and Durant locked up long-term, they have a better chance.