James Harden Traded....Others to Houston

[Teo9969]

don't think they "gave" harden away .... i think they got the better of the deal by a lot

We'll know better at the end of the year based on KMart's performance and seeing if Jeremy Lamb has the potential to replace Harden.

[BoulderSooner]

We'll know better at the end of the year based on KMart's performance and seeing if Jeremy Lamb has the potential to replace Harden.

also depends on how harden plays .. and depends on how Toronto does (what pick we get) and depends on if we resign martin ect.. .

[OKCisOK4me]

Lamb isn't coming to replace Harden...did you forget about Eric Maynor??

[MonkeesFan]

Rockets gave 80 million to James Harden, that is such a retarded contract, he is not worth 80 million!

[onthestrip]

Rockets gave 80 million to James Harden, that is such a retarded contract, he is not worth 80 million!

Says who, you? It might be a dumb contract but if someone is willing to pay $80mil, well then he's worth $80mil. You are worth what someone is willing to pay you and Houston did that.

Also, I hope anyone who called Harden greedy would take it back. The guy is getting $4mil a year more than we offered. Plus he got a 5th year which makes his deals guaranteed $25million more than OKC's. You try turning down $4 mil a year.

[MonkeesFan]

Says who, you? It might be a dumb contract but if someone is willing to pay $80mil, well then he's worth $80mil. You are worth what someone is willing to pay you and Houston did that.

Also, I hope anyone who called Harden greedy would take it back. The guy is getting $4mil a year more than we offered. Plus he got a 5th year which makes his deals guaranteed $25million more than OKC's. You try turning down $4 mil a year.

Yes, me, look at the Rockets overpaying for Tracy Mcgrady and Yao Ming with little results and now they overpaid James Harden and Jeremy Lin, if they get little results then it would be the stupidest contract in history! I do know how they feel though, I was very excited when the Magic signed Grant Hill to a big contract but he keeps getting injuried and barely played in his 7 year career and it was a waste of a big contract the Magic gave him

[dankrutka]

don't think they "gave" harden away .... i think they got the better of the deal by a lot

I can understand saying OKC could have won the deal (which I disagree with), but to say they won it by a lot is not really defensible unless Lamb makes a big contribution this year (unlikely) or the draft picks have great value (we won't know for years). There is no question that Harden is a better player than Martin. Here's a good breakdown from today that explains why Harden is a unique talent: CourtVision: The James Harden–Kevin Martin Shot-Chart Comparison - The Triangle Blog - Grantland. I hope this works out for OKC, but it is certainly risky.

[dankrutka]

Lamb isn't coming to replace Harden...did you forget about Eric Maynor??

Maynor is a PG. Harden is a SG. Lamb, Martin, and Thabo will play almost all the SG minutes this year. If Maynor is ever in a small ball lineup then Russ would move off the ball, not Maynor.

I am starting to think the Maynor could get traded this year. The staff seems to be gaining confidence in Reggie Jackson, and he would be cheaper for a couple more years. We'll see...

[dankrutka]

Rockets gave 80 million to James Harden, that is such a retarded contract, he is not worth 80 million!

First, you should really avoid using "retarded" as a derogatory adjective. Second, that's today's NBA. Eric Gordon got the same contract and he isn't worth what Harden is.

[dankrutka]

Says who, you? It might be a dumb contract but if someone is willing to pay $80mil, well then he's worth $80mil. You are worth what someone is willing to pay you and Houston did that.

Also, I hope anyone who called Harden greedy would take it back. The guy is getting $4mil a year more than we offered. Plus he got a 5th year which makes his deals guaranteed $25million more than OKC's. You try turning down $4 mil a year.

I only agree in principle that you are worth what the marker pays you. Of course it's technically true, but the new CBA really is going to make teams either sign players to good contracts are find themselves financially strapped down in the future (e.g., Joe Johnson syndrome - which they were able to rid themselfves of this year).

[dankrutka]

Yes, me, look at the Rockets overpaying for Tracy Mcgrady and Yao Ming with little results and now they overpaid James Harden and Jeremy Lin, if they get little results then it would be the stupidest contract in history! I do know how they feel though, I was very excited when the Magic signed Grant Hill to a big contract but he keeps getting injuried and barely played in his 7 year career and it was a waste of a big contract the Magic gave him

I agree that Houston's strategy of tearing down their team to build around Jeremy Lin, Omar Asik, and James Harden probably will bump them from the 11-8 seed range to the 9-7 seed range. Is that worth it? Nope...

[OKCisOK4me]

Maynor is a PG. Harden is a SG. Lamb, Martin, and Thabo will play almost all the SG minutes this year. If Maynor is ever in a small ball lineup then Russ would move off the ball, not Maynor.

I am starting to think the Maynor could get traded this year. The staff seems to be gaining confidence in Reggie Jackson, and he would be cheaper for a couple more years. We'll see...

OK, let me rephrase that since they said the same thing on the Sports Animal (which doesn't necessarily justify my reasoning). Harden may be gone but despite the over all position, SG or PG, Maynor is a backcourt player just like Harden was and people seem to have forgotten that he exists and his value will re emerge this year.

[dcsooner]

Rockets gave 80 million to James Harden, that is such a retarded contract, he is not worth 80 million!

I agree, way overpaid at 80M

[OKCisOK4me]

It's not stellar opposition but in 17 minutes playing time at Detroit, Harden has 19 points. Not too shabby. We'll see how his second half goes...

[zookeeper]

It's not just the players we got from Houston, don't forget those all important first round draft picks. Presti is salivating at that, he loves building young players.

[Just the facts]

Harden is lighting it up tonight.

5:33 to go in the 4th and he has 34 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 block, 2 steals, and only 4 turnovers.

[dankrutka]

It's not just the players we got from Houston, don't forget those all important first round draft picks. Presti is salivating at that, he loves building young players.

The last time he had an equivalent pick he wasted it on Cole Aldrich. This isn't likely a top 5 pick. Lower lotteries picks often don't pan out.

[dankrutka]

Harden finished with 37-6-12. No player in the NBA did that all of last season. Anyone think Inaka could have a game like that? (See my earlier posts about signing Harden over Ibaka).

[MonkeesFan]

Harden played well but let's see if he can keep it up

[Jake]

Harden only has to do that every game from here on out for Houston to have a shot.

[dankrutka]

Harden played well but let's see if he can keep it up

I'll go ahead and end the suspense... He can't keep that up.

[Teo9969]

Well, aren't we glad we have Thabo Sefolosha

[TaoMaas]

I'll go ahead and end the suspense... He can't keep that up.

Even if he can, it still gets old putting up big numbers, but not making the playoffs. Just ask KMart.

[BoulderSooner]

I agree that Houston's strategy of tearing down their team to build around Jeremy Lin, Omar Asik, and James Harden probably will bump them from the 11-8 seed range to the 9-7 seed range. Is that worth it? Nope...

houston can sign another max player next summer

[CaptDave]

Harden finished with 37-6-12. No player in the NBA did that all of last season. Anyone think Inaka could have a game like that? (See my earlier posts about signing Harden over Ibaka).

He had a great game and I am happy for him. I still like James Harden and always will - except when the Rockets are playing the Thunder. However, I doubt he would ever have the opportunity and freedom to consistently have games like this playing behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. These two would have taken many of the shots James got last night had this been the Thunder. Harden is a great player and always had this ability, but he was a team player and accepted his sixth man role here. Houston is a different situation and he is expected to be the first option there. If you can make any judgements after one game, he looks to be up to it. No one should get upset this talented 23 year old young man took the opportunity to take on the responsibility for leading a team AND an $80million pay day.