James Harden traded to the Rockets

[Bankai]

I don't get why so many people are hating on Presti for the work he did...You trade a potential distraction for the upcoming year for a 20 PPG scorer and 3 lottery picks or very good picks. DOn't give me this "Kmart doesn't play defense ****"...he will fit in thedefensive scheme of OKC. No one talked about the Lakers' potential defensive woes with Nash and Kobe in the same backcourt. Thats 20X the disaster that OKC has on its hands.

This trade also quite frankly allows OKC to keep Perkins. If LAL didn't acquire Dwight, I don't think this trade would have been made...but they did.

True, but couldnt OKC have done what the Spurs did? They amnestied Jefferson when they got the word that Jefferson will return for less money. I dunno if Perkins would like people messing with his money, but he couldve saved this team.

[Effigy]

I don't think this trade should surprise anybody. I think we all knew OKC couldn't resign Harden. That's not a team that can afford 3 max players. I think the return value is really good. I don't think they'll be worse forit. They weren't going to re-sign Harden anyway. Maybe you think they could have got a better deal if they waited but that seems unlikely to me.

[Mr. E]

We'll see now about the myth that Harden only came off the bench because he balanced the roster. Because if Martin starts, that will pretty much end that myth.

I don't necessarily think that is true. Any time that any team makes a major roster move the coaches need to re-evaluate their situations and do their best to utilize their new assets as they stand.

It could very well be that they determine that Martin could not simply step in and fill the same role they've asked of Harden.

One thing about Martin is that he doesn't need to have the ball in his hands to be completely effective. He may be a better fit as a wing option for Westbrook & Durant to kick the ball out to for a quick-release shot. However, he is not the guy you want keying the offense the way that Harden can.

Different skill sets. New situations.

[TheToothFairy]

So Presti asked for

Martin, Parsons, Lamb AND 3 first Ed picks

What a G he is!

[dockingsched]

We'll see now about the myth that Harden only came off the bench because he balanced the roster. Because if Martin starts, that will pretty much end that myth.

i'm not sure what you're even trying to elude to by calling it a "myth". why else would harden come off the bench?

[Krodis]

We'll see now about the myth that Harden only came off the bench because he balanced the roster. Because if Martin starts, that will pretty much end that myth.

i'm not sure what you're even trying to elude to by calling it a "myth". why else would harden come off the bench?

Obviously because Sefolosha is better than Harden.

[Wolves21]

I love all of this hate for the Rockets,their GM and Harden.The Rockets made out big time with this deal.They got a top three SG and a all-star caliber player,who's not really even in his prime yet and have a solid team with Lin,Asik and Parsons.Plus they still have their own draft pick for the upcoming draft and even after signing Harden to the max have enough money for another max player.Rockets made out big time and will be a playoff team next year.


As far as the Thunder go they'll be fine.Still have two of the best players in the league and a pretty young team with a ton of picks coming in the upcoming draft.Their still a title contending team and can build a young cheap team around Durant and Westbrook.

[FlipTSO]

We'll see now about the myth that Harden only came off the bench because he balanced the roster. Because if Martin starts, that will pretty much end that myth.

i'm not sure what you're even trying to elude to by calling it a "myth". why else would harden come off the bench?

Obviously because Sefolosha is better than Harden.

Because Harden is a defensive liability?

[D Nice]

Once the wow factor of Harden no longer being in OKC has settled, you realized Presti got himself quite a nice severance package. They get K-Mart for a year who will be able to replace most of what Harden brought (outside of ball-handling/playmaking) and get a future stud 3rd option who happens to be a great fit in Lamb. Not to mention now Maynor definitely has a future with that team.

Maynor, Lamb, Westbrook, Durant, Ibaka? Yeah, they're just fine. Appreciate you guys making these next two years smoother sailing though.

[mid-post]

For right now Lamb is probably best suited as a supporting player. At this point in his development I really don't think he looks like he was ready to be "the man" on a good team, especially if you look at what he did at UConn as a freshman vs. as a sophomore. He still has work to do get better in 1 on 1 situations, but I think off the ball he's going to be deadly.

So I think looking at it like that, this deal makes sense. And this is also a roll of the dice for both OKC and Houston; Houston needed someone to step in and lead an offense right now (Harden theoretically) and OKC needed someone (Martin and Lamb) who could provide some decent scoring off the bench.

I still think OKC came away ahead in this deal. They got bench scoring, a former all-star (who is still in his prime) and lottery picks for one guy who was theoretically a supporting piece on a potential champion squad. Houston got a potential All-Star who might be good in a lead role, but still has to prove himself as a guy who can lead his team to win. Seems like a lot more of a gamble on Houston's part than it does OKC.

All that said, this could end up hurting OKC's chemsitry a little bit. Not that I'd mind, since that lets my Grizz have a crack at breaking through in the West. Watch out for Memphis this year.

[dockingsched]

i guess thats why he finishes every game, which of course is secondary to who starts the game.

[BrooklynBulls]

Because Harden is a defensive liability?

And you surmise that if Martin starts, he is not?

[Guy986]

For right now Lamb is probably best suited as a supporting player. At this point in his development I really don't think he looks like he was ready to be "the man" on a good team, especially if you look at what he did at UConn as a freshman vs. as a sophomore. He still has work to do get better in 1 on 1 situations, but I think off the ball he's going to be deadly.

So I think looking at it like that, this deal makes sense. And this is also a roll of the dice for both OKC and Houston; Houston needed someone to step in and lead an offense right now (Harden theoretically) and OKC needed someone (Martin and Lamb) who could provide some decent scoring off the bench.

I still think OKC came away ahead in this deal. They got bench scoring, a former all-star (who is still in his prime) and lottery picks for one guy who was theoretically a supporting piece on a potential champion squad. Houston got a potential All-Star who might be good in a lead role, but still has to prove himself as a guy who can lead his team to win. Seems like a lot more of a gamble on Houston's part than it does OKC.

All that said, this could end up hurting OKC's chemsitry a little bit. Not that I'd mind, since that lets my Grizz have a crack at breaking through in the West. Watch out for Memphis this year.

Which former allstar did the rockets include in the trade?

[UGA Hayes]

Lamb might turn out to be good but I think people are ignoring how much most rookies struggle in their first season. When rookies have good seasons its usually good for a rookie and not compared to an estblished NBA player. In other words its hard to see how OKC who ran an obscene amount of their offense through RW, KD, and JH, and were the number one offensive team in the league (depite leading it in turnovers )aren't going to suffer by losing a third of that offensive production and not even addressing the turnover problem.

[Showtime:Part2]

okc wins big on this trade. lamb and kmart combined should equate to 90% of harden's production plus they got 3 friggin first rounders. rockets are not a playoff team out of this one trade. still have a garbage pg and no frontcourt. it's like theyre trying to be a worse version of last year's hawks.

[mid-post]

Which former allstar did the rockets include in the trade?

My mistake, thought he had one all-star reserve appearance.

[RatherUnique]

WHOOOAAAAAA this is some shocking news, damn.

Just for a few more million? REALLY HARDEN?

He gets an extra year & like 20 mil more from HOU. So, not just "a few more million"

You can't realistically expect a 23 year old to pass up anything short of the max.

[Jase]

I think "wow" really covers this.

You could go either way with whether or not OKC got good value. But there might not be a solid answer until you see where the Thunder end up with the picks they acquired.

[Mass Rig]

Oh my, what a steal by OKC. Their trade flexibility is astonishing now - a big expiring contract, 3 picks and a young talented player.

And the amnesty provision still applicable.

This in the hands of the best GM in the league. Expect some other big time moves in the next few months.

All of this for a player who is just way overvalued by the market.

[Mehar]

First of all Harden is a fine player, but he is not a MAX player. People are criticizing Presti, but down the line paying Harden the max would have hampered their cap situation. Let us see how Harden does when he does not have the likes of Durant, and Westbrook alongside of him. Good for Harden to get the contract he did get. Not bad for a 6th man.