James Harden traded to the Rockets

[Wooderson]

They'll miss his playmaking more than his scoring off the bench. Probably forces Brooks to play Maynor and Westbrook together more often. Good trade for both sides.

Heat/Lakers Finals looking more likely now.

Agreed with the first part for sure. Their ball movement was pretty damn stagnant when Harden was on the bench, especially in the West playoff rounds. More iso ball probably isn't a good thing for a team that already relied so heavily on individual play. Seemed like they really excelled when everyone got involved.

[Ginger Bean]

If any team can develop Lamb, I guess it's OKC. But I have to say, his lack of effort on defense in pre-season games was horrible. Not inexperience or mistakes -- just outright looked like he didn't give a damn and was just waiting for offense to start again. And then all he did was shoot 3s.

[SCourGe OF GoD]

Damn Housto's backcoutyn is going to be shooting a lot of FT this year. One of the more fascinating trades in a while and a great way to kick off the season.

Theyll get a few more National TV slots too i bet

[C-izMe]

Last year Harden averaged 14.5/4.5/3.5 on 63 TS per 36 when Westbrook and Durant were on the floor. He averaged 31/4.5/6 on 68 TS when they weren't. Looks to me like he dominates the bench.

Also if they arent getting more than a 14.5 on 63 TS guy from KMart this trade is bad. Anything over that and they've come out on top.

[kenifvintage]

sucks for Harden. now he's in a non-contender team.

[TheToothFairy]

Here is a small question I'd love to know


Did OKC prefer those draft picks over one of those PF's ( Patterson, Jones, Motie, Morris)

Or did Houston rather give up the picks?

Or maybe OKC didn't want to add salary?

[SCourGe OF GoD]

If im Morey i try and make up for losing the Toronto pick now by maybe moving two of my PF prospects for another 1st and just keep one of them (Patterson)

[BrooklynBulls]

Last year Harden averaged 14.5/4.5/3.5 on 63 TS per 36 when Westbrook and Durant were on the floor. He averaged 31/4.5/6 on 68 TS when they weren't. Looks to me like he dominates the bench.

Also if they arent getting more than a 14.5 on 63 TS guy from KMart this trade is bad. Anything over that and they've come out on top.

OMG, are those statistics accurate? He's THAT good playing with just scrubs? Yeesh.68TS on a 30+ points. It's got to be a sample of like 500 minutes or less, but still, that is unbelievably filthy.

[The Infamous1]

Yesterday morning Harden was probably like: "yo check this im finna boss my way into getting a max deal and staying and chilling with my boys KD and Russ"

Last night Presti was like " you didnt take my offer. have fun next to bums in Houston"

[C-izMe]

Last year Harden averaged 14.5/4.5/3.5 on 63 TS per 36 when Westbrook and Durant were on the floor. He averaged 31/4.5/6 on 68 TS when they weren't. Looks to me like he dominates the bench.

Also if they arent getting more than a 14.5 on 63 TS guy from KMart this trade is bad. Anything over that and they've come out on top.

OMG, are those statistics accurate? He's THAT good playing with just scrubs? Yeesh.68TS on a 30+ points. It's got to be a sample of like 500 minutes or less, but still, that is unbelievably filthy.

It's a sample of over 500 minutes. I was surprised the first time I saw it too.

[Lost Angel]

Houston is really going to pay 45 million to Harden, Lin, and Asik in year 3 of their deals?

ESPN is reporting the Toronto pick to be lotto protected, is this true?

Lamb has a shot to be better than Harden down the line in my opinion, but it's a looong shot.

OKC wins this deal.


I don't get why people think Morey is a good GM.

[SCourGe OF GoD]

Yesterday morning Harden was probably like: "yo check this im finna boss my way into getting a max deal and staying and chilling with my boys KD and Russ"

Last night Presti was like " you didnt take my offer. have fun next to bums in Houston"

Presti: 53mill?
Harden: Max...
Presti: 54mill?
Harden: Max...
Presti: 55mill man...my final offer or else...
Harden: lol you need me...max man
Presti: *sigh..alright ur funeral ....calls Morey right in front of him and puts him on speaker and says..lets do it with a dead serious look on his face
Harden: *sweating ..do what man?

Trade goes down..

[SCourGe OF GoD]

Houston is really going to pay 45 million to Harden, Lin, and Asik in year 3 of their deals?

ESPN is reporting the Toronto pick to be lotto protected, is this true?

Lamb has a shot to be better than Harden down the line in my opinion, but it's a looong shot.

OKC wins this deal.


I don't get why people think Morey is a good GM.

top 3

[bringinhinkie]

Last year Harden averaged 14.5/4.5/3.5 on 63 TS per 36 when Westbrook and Durant were on the floor. He averaged 31/4.5/6 on 68 TS when they weren't. Looks to me like he dominates the bench.

Also if they arent getting more than a 14.5 on 63 TS guy from KMart this trade is bad. Anything over that and they've come out on top.

OMG, are those statistics accurate? He's THAT good playing with just scrubs? Yeesh.68TS on a 30+ points. It's got to be a sample of like 500 minutes or less, but still, that is unbelievably filthy.

It's a sample of over 500 minutes. I was surprised the first time I saw it too.

where did you find the stat out of curiosity?

[Sasaki]

Houston is really going to pay 45 million to Harden, Lin, and Asik in year 3 of their deals?

Houston will PAY those three that much, but the amount that's going to be on the actual cap ( you know, what actually determines what players you get) is more like 30-35 million.

[Shimso]

Houston is really going to pay 45 million to Harden, Lin, and Asik in year 3 of their deals?

ESPN is reporting the Toronto pick to be lotto protected, is this true?

Lamb has a shot to be better than Harden down the line in my opinion, but it's a looong shot.

OKC wins this deal.


I don't get why people think Morey is a good GM.

The Toronto pick (traded for Lowry) has the following protection:

Houston receives the Raptors draft pick next year if it falls between 4-14. If not, it must fall between 3-14 in 2014 or 2015 or 2-14 in 2016 or 2017 to come to Houston. If it never hits any of those ranges, the pick goes to Houston unprotected in 2018.

[Lost Angel]

Oh damn that's a great pick unless Toronto starts balling out and OkC gets a bad pick in 2018....

[jwise44]

Houston is really going to pay 45 million to Harden, Lin, and Asik in year 3 of their deals?

Houston will PAY those three that much, but the amount that's going to be on the actual cap ( you know, what actually determines what players you get) is more like 30-35 million.

Ya I wish people would finally realize this...Lin and Asik deals won't count as 30 million against our cap in year 3

Asik and Lins cap hits are 8.3, 8.3, 8.3

[mepatrick]

OKC got weaker in the short term and you can argue it doesn't make sense for the long term as well. The picks they get (assuming Raptors make the playoffs this year) will probably be in effect in 2 years. Durant's contract ends in 2015-16 season, if the rookies they select don't pan out or are gamechangers and they win no championships from now till then (which is likely with Miami and Lakers), you can count on Durant spending his prime on another team. Short term, why would you blow up a contender team? talent wise they drop off a bit but the biggest issue is their chemistry. Some of you rave about the picks you got but the upcoming drafts are extremely top heavy and OKC will be lucky to get a gamechanger in the mid 1st round. OKC is in a WIN NOW mode, especially with superstars leaving if they feel like they aren't gonna win.

[TheExpert91]

Offensively I feel like OKC has improved. Kevin Martin will probably give you 15+ a night and Lamb is a potential 20ppg scorer. Only issue here is chemistry and the energy Harden brought off the bench,