James Harden traded to the Rockets

[peja drobnjak]

Am I the only one who thinks its a bit daft? I mean you cannot spin a 4-1 loss to a 4-0 win by just adding the point differential right?

lol yeah a 19 point margin over three games is the difference between a lotto team and a fringe contender

[carayip]

If you had to trade Harden then the value that OKC got was pretty good. The thing is that they didn't have to trade Harden. This shows us what kind of owner Bennett is. He's not the type who will open his wallet to get his team over the hump.

Actually Bennett/OKC's ownership would've payed, but Presti chose the model of sustainability over winning.

I would guess it's more of the ownership doing than Presti, despite the PR cover up.

Presti I am sure would like to roll out the Big 3 rather this wheeling and dealing. He comes from the SAS tree. I am sure he understands and values stability and chemistry more than most managers. The wheeling and dealing might or might not pay off eventually, but no manager without a lifelong contract would choose such long term future he might not even be able to oversee rather than immediate success.

But the ownership forced him to not exceed a certain amount. Bottom line, if OKC had BK Nets type of money backing, Presti would pay up the 60m and Harden would still be a Thunder.

Anyway, the Thunder should be okay as long as they have Kevin Durant. But exactly because they have Durant, I think they believe they could win without even going all out for the best talent around him.

[H-town]

taj gibson next ? or maybe Millsap

taj gibson for Patrick Patterson and Terrence Jones or White

[kombayn]

I saw a comparison of James Harden being a little bit better over Joe Johnson... Need anyone remind people that James Harden was on our Olympic gold squad. James Harden is the real deal, but I do say this... the Jeremy Lin signing may be one of Houston's biggest regrets as Harden should have the ball in his hands at all times.

[vincecarter4pres]

I'm not sure why Eric Gordon has to be torn down to lie filled name calling of an inefficient chucker with no impact just because one thinks Harden is significantly better.

I think Harden is significantly better, but I also think Gordon is a very very nice player and has a chance to either overtake Harden or be the next player in the overall shooting guard rankings if he can ever remain healthy.

I'm not even stepping in to defend him from the name calling all wah wah crying, I just wanted to point out how weaksauce, childish and empty the lying is as a counterargument here.

[Youthanasia]

taj gibson next ? or maybe Millsap

taj gibson for Patrick Patterson and Terrence Jones or White

take back taj to hou pair with his friend omer and watch teh DEFENSE

[og15]

I'm not sure why Eric Gordon has to be torn down to lie filled name calling of an inefficient chucker with no impact just because one thinks Harden is significantly better.

I think Harden is significantly better, but I also think Gordon is a very very nice player and has a chance to either overtake Harden or be the next player in the overall shooting guard rankings if he can ever remain healthy.

I'm not even stepping in to defend him from the name calling all wah wah crying, I just wanted to point out how weaksauce, childish and empty the lying is as a counterargument here.

It's really weird because Gordon is a career 18/3/3/.577 TS guy, which is pretty good, and his best season was 22/3/4/.566 TS, not really sure what world a guy with a career 13.5 FGA, and high of 16.2 FGA, along with a .570 TS% range is either a chucker or inefficient.

Some people think the only way to debate is to tear down the other side, or make false claims. Maybe is is just a by product of it being election time in the US.

[kakaman]

A Houston Rockets at the press conference just asked Harden whether OKC could beat LA in a 7 game series. Man, those fans are not the brightest bunch...

[Optimus_Steel]

I think OKC saw how Harden self destructed in the Finals and realized there that they cant justify giving him the allowable max. It was reported that Harden was more concerned about his numbers than winning. Woj said in his story that OKC was concerned that after they had just won the first game of finals, Harden was moping around about his performance and lack of touches.

[G R E Y]

There's so many intriguing variables from this trade. Half of the posters here will be right at some point down the line. Until then it's fun to speculate:

- could OKC have given him the max with the two sides being only $4.5M apart? Sure. But I wonder why they didn't even if the had the option to drop Perk or not pony up for Ibaka. Maybe they see something we don't, but it's nevertheless a gamble. Part of it, too, has to do with an article someone posted about Presti impressing upon the players to take less $$ to keep the team together. Everyone else but Harden did despite his saying that he would be willing to do so. Now I don't begrudge the guy for wanting to get paid, that's his choice, but the consequence is you don't get to be part of a better (at least for now) team.

- OKC sacrificed immediate talent for financial and trade flexibility, plus they've stockpiled potential talent (Lamb) along with good picks for the future. They're rolling the dice that this will be more valuable to them as a team going forward than having a max 6th man because of whom they'd be deep in luxury tax down the line.

- How do the other OKC players feel about the move?

- Harden is now the man. Is he up for it having D's being drawn up for him against starting D stalwarts? I wonder whether he'll take Houston's 4/60 or insist on getting 5/80 ? Scary that Houston can also sign another max player...

- How will all the new teammates on both teams mesh together?

There are many more balls in the air, but watching people's reactions is half the fun (although if I were an OKC fan I'd be crestfallen at losing a favourite player). It'll also be fun to see how the new teams gel and play throughout the year. As a bball fan, I love the trade because it'll be another dramatic thread to follow throughout the year.

[Blame Rasho]

I think OKC saw how Harden self destructed in the Finals and realized there that they cant justify giving him the allowable max. It was reported that Harden was more concerned about his numbers than winning. Woj said in his story that OKC was concerned that after they had just won the first game of finals, Harden was moping around about his performance and lack of touches.

The thing is that he is a Manu type player who should get Manu type money... no MAX money... it is that simple.

[Mr. E]

i'm not sold on harden.

the rockets now have 2 guys trying to prove themselves

Three.

Harden, Lin & Asik all have question marks.

You could even argue that other players like Patrick Patterson & Marcus Morris are on a mission to prove themselves as well. It seems that the team has found it's identity in the form of "the other guys."

I know that I come across as overly positive about my Rockets, but I look forward to watching a team full of guys trying to prove that they belong.