James Harden Traded....Others to Houston

[venture]

@RealGM: James Harden, Cole Aldrich, Lazar Hayward, Daequan Cook Traded To Houston For Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, Future Picks

[Jake]

What a nightmare.

[MonkeesFan]

I am shocked at that trade

[CaptDave]

We thought trading Jeff Green was going to have a negative effect but the Thunder improved dramatically. This is similar even though Harden was a better player than Green. Don't forget, we have Eric Maynor back to run the second unit and a couple of these players from Houston are pretty good. Then add in the draft picks and this looks like a good trade. Sam Presti has a pretty good record so far and I think the team will be fine and may even improve.

[Hawk405359]

This years draft class probably isn't going to have anyone major in it, so I'd look to see them shop the picks around to maybe get something for it. Either way, it'll be interesting to see where this goes. I'd have liked to keep Harden, but that wasn't in the cards.

[OKCJapan]

The real problem for the Thunder now is who becomes the sixth man off the bench and gives the needed spark in scoring for the second group? Have mixed feelings about this trade.

[dankrutka]

The real problem for the Thunder now is who becomes the sixth man off the bench and gives the needed spark in scoring for the second group? Have mixed feelings about this trade.

I bet that Kevin Martin just steps into Harden's role and minutes.

[Dustin]

Time for Maynor to step it up!

[adaniel]

It stinks because James Harden was such a fan favorite, but only in his world is he worth more than $52 million. All that talk about sacrifice and playing with "my brothers" was BS. Presti and the team did what they had to do. Very disappointed in Mr. Harden.

I hope he appreciates that extra $8 million for no championships playing for a crappy has-been team like Houston.

[dankrutka]

It stinks because James Harden was such a fan favorite, but only in his world is he worth more than $52 million.

Well, he's getting 5 years $80 million. While you have your opinion, the market determines your value. Practically every team in the NBA would sign Harden for that $52 million figure. That is way under his value.

[G.Walker]

Well, he's getting 5 years $80 million. While you have your opinion, the market determines your value. Practically every team in the NBA would sign Harden for that $52 million figure. That is way under his value.

Incorrect, he will get 4 year $60 million deal from Houston only $4.5 million more that what the Thunder offered.

[dankrutka]

Incorrect, he will get 4 year $60 million deal from Houston only $4.5 million more that what the Thunder offered.

Incorrect. Harden will sign a 5 year $78 million deal. Houston can offer an extra year. You can do that for one player under the new CBA. The Thunder used this option on Westbrook already (KD is under the old CBA).

[Stew]

It stinks because James Harden was such a fan favorite, but only in his world is he worth more than $52 million. All that talk about sacrifice and playing with "my brothers" was BS. Presti and the team did what they had to do. Very disappointed in Mr. Harden.

I hope he appreciates that extra $8 million for no championships playing for a crappy has-been team like Houston.

Who in their right mind would leave $8 million on the table. I can't fault Harden for choosing fair market value for his skills. Pretty much what most would do. Also, there is no guarantee of championships if he stayed. As they say a bird in the hand...

PS

Texas has no state income taxes.

[Bellaboo]

Who in their right mind would leave $8 million on the table. I can't fault Harden for choosing fair market value for his skills. Pretty much what most would do. Also, there is no guarantee of championships if he stayed. As they say a bird in the hand...

PS

Texas has no state income taxes.

Does not matter for half the games, as a player pays taxes in each state they play in. When Kobe plays at the 'Peake, he pays Oklahoma state income tax for the amount he earned for that game. For that matter, the opposing team ownership pays Oklahoma state income taxes for profits for any game their teams make at the Peake when they play the Thunder.

[CaptDave]

Probably Kevin Martin. He has a pretty good scoring average. We have Eric Maynor back to run the second unit so barring another catastrophic injury, I think the team is going to be fine.

[SoonerBoy18]

Imagine all the upset children that was going to be Harden for Halloween. Lol. But Kevin Martin is a great player, we should fine this season. The question I will always wonder about is why would a player turn down 52 million dollars if he had'nt grown up with that kind of money? That is the ultimate sign of greediness to me.

[dankrutka]

The question I will always wonder about is why would a player turn down 52 million dollars if he had'nt grown up with that kind of money? That is the ultimate sign of greediness to me.

First, the way you framed this question is weird. Second, everyone calling Harden "greedy" for asking for his market value is really being hard on a young man that gave the Thunder everything he's had for the last few years. I wish him nothing, but luck in Houston. I wish things would have worked out.

[OKCJapan]

All the stores in Oklahoma are going to have to clear all the JH merchandise from their inventory; or move it to the 90%off racks. Still have mixed feelings.

Why would JH not be happy with 4 yrs 55 mil. And continue the quest for the title.?

I guess Tremble and Carlson from the Oklahoman were calling it right all along.

[OKCisOK4me]

All the stores in Oklahoma are going to have to clear all the JH merchandise from their inventory; or move it to the 90%off racks. Still have mixed feelings.

Why would JH not be happy with 4 yrs 55 mil. And continue the quest for the title.?

I guess Tremble and Carlson from the Oklahoman were calling it right all along.

Send the shirts to Africa. They'll make more money via the tax write off than expecting Thunder fans to take the bait. Best of luck to Harden though. Him and Lin playing together will be an awesome duo.

[BoulderSooner]

All the stores in Oklahoma are going to have to clear all the JH merchandise from their inventory; or move it to the 90%off racks. Still have mixed feelings.

Why would JH not be happy with 4 yrs 55 mil. And continue the quest for the title.?

I guess Tremble and Carlson from the Oklahoman were calling it right all along.

tremble and carlson .. did not think the thunder could offer 55.5 mil ...

the thunder owners stepped up in a huge way ....

i don't think Harden is a "max" player and i bet that presti didn't either .... (yes i know harden would get offered the max by teams next summer)

this puts the thunder in great shape going forward ... maybe and i repeat MAYBE they are not as good this year .... but they could be much better off down the road ..


and to those saying that we overpaid Serge ... no he took 10+ mil less than he would have gotten on the open market ..

[OSUMom]

I agree that this was greed on Harden's part. He was one of my favorite players. But he is making a huge mistake. Sure he can get more money on a contract and maybe be starter for some other team. But the money that was offered was a lot of money in anyone's world AND at the end of 4 years he has a very good chance of walking away with one or more rings. This was a bad call on his part.

[ljbab728]

For better or worse, this was a business decision. Time will tell who made the best decision. I hold nothing against Harden and I hope he plays very well when OKC beats Houston this year.

[bluedogok]

For better or worse, this was a business decision. Time will tell who made the best decision. I hold nothing against Harden and I hope he plays very well when OKC beats Houston this year.

Yep, pretty much a "business decision" by both sides.

[MonkeesFan]

For better or worse, this was a business decision. Time will tell who made the best decision. I hold nothing against Harden and I hope he plays very well when OKC beats Houston this year.

When? You mean IF

[Stan Silliman]

Only negative I see on this trade is the question of who going to be the
back up center. Giving up Harden is one thing but Kendrick still appears gimpy
and Cole A seemed to be the only one with moderate experience.

At least in the pre-season, I didn't see any other center log many minutes,
neither Thabeet nor Daniel Orten seem to be ready for meaningful minutes.

Does Presti have other targets in mind?