James Harden traded to the Rockets

[ampheels]

any chance that presti uses some combination of kevin martin's expiring, perry jones, and picks (raptors top 3 protected, mavs top 20 protected, their own) at the deadline to target another big piece?

either rudy gay or z-bo (if the grizzlies want to avoid paying the lax) or josh smith (if the hawks can't come to an agreement or danny granger (possible knee issues and they can play paul george & gerald green at the 3), andrea bargnani (not sure if he's in the raptors long-term plans after this contract with jonas in the mix), etc..

[BrooklynBulls]

Houston will give Harden a 5 year/80 million dollar extension.

They can only give him 4/60.

[Ayt]

I was looking at Martin's PER and WS/48 from when he was 24. They are not too different from Harden at 22.

Martin shot very well in preseason and appears to be on the verge of a bounce back year. It's about as good as the Thunder were going to get under the circumstances.

No Rocket fans are shedding tear over the departure of Kevin Martin. When you watch him play basketball you'll know why.

We are pissed at the inclusion of Lamb and Tor pick.

You have to give to get. Lamb is obviously the key to the deal for OKC. That guy's shooting is beyond good.

I still think Martin can be flipped for another player. If I am the Thunder I turn right around and trade Martin for someone like Josh Smith.

So good he shot .348 from three in college?

I doubt you've ever watched him play.

[BlazersRizing]

ESPN reporting that OKC's best offer was $55.5 million. So Harden basically bailed out on a potential dynasty for $4.5 million. Hope he spends that money more wisely than Antoine Walker did.

‏@AschNBA: Lot of people who say James Harden should have preferred W's + $52M vs. $60M + L's would change jobs for $50 a week raise.

enough said

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

As good as Harden is, he got traded for Martin, Lamb, two first round picks, and a second round pick.

All the Thunder need to do is leverage up in the draft to pick number one overall next season, or they can trade to get another star player. They amnesty Perkins and reload in a hurry, deeper and better than ever IMO.

[Muggsy Bogues]

Something doesn't seem right to me about this trade. Dude gets dealt over such a small difference on their first negotiation?

It's like Presti just snapped for one reason or another. Like either he was looking for a reason to trade Harden or Harden's desire for the max pissed him off.

He's been a secret mole for the city of Seattle this whole time! Next up, Westbrook and Ibaka are sent to Golden State for Richard Jefferson and Andris "I swear that's not cocaine on my shirt" Biedrins.

[TheToothFairy]

People are overrating harden. He is AWFUL in the finals. Martin and Lamb plus 3 picks???

And he was incredible prior to the Finals. He buried SA in the WCF. What is your point?

That Kevin Martin can be just as productive as "Awful"

[Bodhi]

This offseason just got even better for the Lakers

Losing Harden absolutely makes OKC a weaker and less consistent team. Being able to run the offense through Harden PnRs when Westbrook and Durant aren't getting it done was a huge help to OKC in the playoffs and it was obvious how much they missed that in the finals when Harden played horribly

[Leor_77]

Kristin Chenoweth disapproves.

Kristin Chenoweth ‏@KChenoweth
Someone better tell me Harden did NOT get traded to the Rockets.

Kristin Chenoweth ‏@KChenoweth
This is a massive mistake losing Harden to the Rockets. Huge.

I did not expect her to be an NBA fan.

She needs me to make her feel better.

[BrooklynBulls]

You have to give to get. Lamb is obviously the key to the deal for OKC. That guy's shooting is beyond good.

I still think Martin can be flipped for another player. If I am the Thunder I turn right around and trade Martin for someone like Josh Smith.

So good he shot .348 from three in college?

I doubt you've ever watched him play.

I mean, so did Harden. Shooting is relative to age. As a young player, few have Lamb's combination of shooting precision and athleticism. He's definitely a good prospect. He's not like...Ray Allen or something, though.

[Ayt]

Houston will give Harden a 5 year/80 million dollar extension.

This sums up the analysis of this trade on the GB.

[fallacy]

Houston will give Harden a 5 year/80 million dollar extension.

They can only give him 4/60.

am i missing something? This wasn't a sign and trade and Houston hasn't used their five year deal yet. What's stopping Houston for going 5 years?

[Kilo]

Harden will get a lot more than the $5M difference in offers. He'll get tens of millions more in endorsement deals - something he'd never get playing behind Durant and Westbrook. In Houston he's the face of the franchise in a major market, and will also get crazy international exposure given he'll be starting alongside Lin.

[Neutral 123]

As good as Harden is, he got traded for Martin, Lamb, two first round picks, and a second round pick.

All the Thunder need to do is leverage up in the draft to pick number one overall next season, or they can trade to get another star player. They amnesty Perkins and reload in a hurry, deeper and better than ever IMO.

Really? They are going to trade up for the number 1 pick? Really?

[BrooklynBulls]

Houston will give Harden a 5 year/80 million dollar extension.

They can only give him 4/60.

am i missing something? This wasn't a sign and trade and Houston hasn't used their five year deal yet. What's stopping Houston for going 5 years?

Are not extensions only eligible for 4 years now?

Edit: My mistake, with the franchise player loophole.

[Sedale Threatt]

‏@AschNBA: Lot of people who say James Harden should have preferred W's + $52M vs. $60M + L's would change jobs for $50 a week raise.

enough said

If I'm working at Five Guys, no way am I going to McDonald's for a $50 raise. Make it worth my while.

[Mamba Venom]

If okc were to shop around 5 days or so they could have gotten a lot more back

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

No Rocket fans are shedding tear over the departure of Kevin Martin. When you watch him play basketball you'll know why.

We are pissed at the inclusion of Lamb and Tor pick.

You have to give to get. Lamb is obviously the key to the deal for OKC. That guy's shooting is beyond good.

I still think Martin can be flipped for another player. If I am the Thunder I turn right around and trade Martin for someone like Josh Smith.

So good he shot .348 from three in college?

I doubt you've ever watched him play.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jeremy-Lamb-6380/

I watched him play the season before this and summer league, too. You are my least favorite kind of poster, Ayt.

Lamb is great from midrange. He shot over .60 FG, pretty rare for a SG. Yeah, I've watched him play and know about his reach as well as his lethargic, uninspired play, Ayt. Considering I hoped the Wizards draft him in 2011 if he declared, I have seen him plenty, Ayt.

[ieatchildrenraw]

Houston will give Harden a 5 year/80 million dollar extension.

They can only give him 4/60.

am i missing something? This wasn't a sign and trade and Houston hasn't used their five year deal yet. What's stopping Houston for going 5 years?

Are not extensions only eligible for 4 years now?

Each team has a "max player" that they can give a 5 year extension I believe

[picc]

Eric Maynor may be able to run the 2nd unit and do some playmaking, but he isn't a de facto starter like Harden was. And he won't be in at the end of the game with Westbrook and Durant.

Just one less guy to worry about going to the rim and guarding in the PnR. And if you thought Harden was bad on defense, wait until Kobe/Wade get a wing iso on Martin.

OKC has damaged their late-game offense most of all, the first 3 quarters won't be quite as devastating. But its enough to screw them.

Who is greedier, in the end? The OKC front office or Harden?