Thunder might trade James Harden tomorrow

[BrettM2]

We can't afford to keep Ibaka and Harden, period.

Quite frankly, I'm glad Presti is running the team and not you. We don't know what is possible. We don't know the salary cap rules, what these players will demand/be willing to accept. To say that we can't do something, period, is a bit extreme that this juncture. If we trade Harden tonight, then that'll be Presti's admission that it is true. Until that time, I will trust that Presti will do everything in his power to keep the team together.

[G.Walker]

Obviously you don't pay attention to the NBA and new the CBA. If Ibaka/Harden both want what hey are worth, then we will be entering the Luxury Tax, and will be taxed heavily by going over our salary cap. Not to mention Scott Brooks has yet to sign his contract also, which cost money. The only way I see Ibaka/Harden both staying if they play on reduced contracts. Time to wake up Oklahoma City, this is the NBA, players get traded all the time. I know we all love James Harden, but he might just have to go.

[BrettM2]

Obviously you don't pay attention to the NBA and new the CBA. If Ibaka/Harden both want what hey are worth, then we will be entering the Luxury Tax, and will be taxed heavily by going over our salary cap. Not to mention Scott Brooks has yet to sign his contract also, which cost money. The only way I see Ibaka/Harden both staying if they play on reduced contracts. Time to wake up Oklahoma City, this is the NBA, players get traded all the time. I know we all love James Harden, but he might just have to go.

Then you are obviously mistaken. I never said it was a sure thing, but it is most definitely not impossible. We are allowed to sign our own players, even if we go over the cap. Bennett may decide to do that. Harden/Ibaka may not demand max money (much like Westbrook didn't). For you to say that something is impossible or not going to happen is a gross simplification. We have until October to sign them both and even then we'll have the right of first refusal next year. This thing isn't even close to being wrapped up.

I believe everyone here is more than aware how the NBA works. Jeff Green was one of the most popular players on the team and was traded. These things cost money, we know that. Just because you don't expect it to go a certain way doesn't make that the only possible direction.

[ultimatesooner]

No way this happens and no way harden or ibaka get a max deal

[Bellaboo]

Dude, no one is taking cook and our 28th pick for Beal, who might go as high as the 2nd pick. We will have to give up a something more if we wanted the 2nd or 3rd pick.

Dude, You don't know that, they might package next years pick along with it.

[dankrutka]

We can't afford to keep Ibaka and Harden, period. By trading one of them for #2 pick, will free up some cap space, to give either Ibaka/Harden a max deal, and lock them in for 4-5 years. Because Beal's rookie contract will be really small, and will last 3 years. I wouldn't be surprised if Harden is traded tonight. Then Beal will probably fill his shoes, coming off the bench, they both play the same positions, doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what is about to happen.

You're not completely correct. THere are ways to keep them all (e.g., if they take slightly less money as they've suggested, amnesty Perkins), and the downgrade to our team would be tremendous. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how risky it would be to give up a top 5 SG for a poor shooting, hesitant, unproven, and overrated college player.

[BoulderSooner]

Dude, You don't know that, they might package next years pick along with it.

we do know that .. they can't give up 2 first round picks in a row and the #2 pick .. is worth about 20 picks between 25-30

[RadicalModerate]

If Harden is traded, I can see a serious downturn in the local market for baby-sized decorative beards. Not to mention the fact that the Thunder never would have made it to the Finals without him. So, if I could vote, I would vote for having him stick around.

[soonerguru]

We can't afford to keep Ibaka and Harden, period. By trading one of them for #2 pick, will free up some cap space, to give either Ibaka/Harden a max deal, and lock them in for 4-5 years. Because Beal's rookie contract will be really small, and will last 3 years. I wouldn't be surprised if Harden is traded tonight. Then Beal will probably fill his shoes, coming off the bench, they both play the same positions, doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what is about to happen.

This will not happen.

[OKCisOK4me]

Im not going to cringe if he gets traded. Its the NBA. Appreciate 'em while they're here because these deals happen all the time. You're a fan of Jeff Green? Fan of Derek Fisher (now)? Be a fan of James Harden if he goes. He's done some amazing things while he's been here. If there really is a trade deal in the works for him, then its amazing what kind of value that beard really does have.

[Bellaboo]

we do know that .. they can't give up 2 first round picks in a row and the #2 pick .. is worth about 20 picks between 25-30

If you look back at Presti's record with picks and trades you'll see a trend of him 'skinning' other teams. He's a master at removing salary cap and bad contracts. Wasn't it Steve Kerr that said that the worst deal he ever made was with Sam Presti...? (when at PHX with Kurt Thomes I believe)

[Bellaboo]

This will not happen.

I would say expect the unexpected. Presti will not make a move unless it has the potential to improve the team. Byrun Mullins may be the only shaky trade that's happened, but every now and then you have to gamble with 7 + footers.

[Bellaboo]

If Harden is traded, I can see a serious downturn in the local market for baby-sized decorative beards. Not to mention the fact that the Thunder never would have made it to the Finals without him. So, if I could vote, I would vote for having him stick around.

That poor guy up on Western that put the 'beard' on his building might get pissed.

[Jake]

The Thunder would be morons to trade Harden. If they HAVE to trade either Harden or Ibaka, it'd be Ibaka. Or if they wanted to keep both, amnesty Kendrick Perkins and trade Maynor/Jackson, etc.

[OKCisOK4me]

For defensive purposes...why on earth would you want to trade the player that had 100+ blocks more than any other player player in the league this past season. He may not score like Harden..but its defense that creates offense and we already have two huge scoring machines. If a deal keeps us out of the luxury tax and this is it...can't you accept that?

Id hate to see Harden go..but we're fans and we aren't making the decisions so we have to learn to live with them.

[BoulderSooner]

If you look back at Presti's record with picks and trades you'll see a trend of him 'skinning' other teams. He's a master at removing salary cap and bad contracts. Wasn't it Steve Kerr that said that the worst deal he ever made was with Sam Presti...? (when at PHX with Kurt Thomes I believe)

yes and kerr was force by owner ship to make that trade to lower salary .... but per NBA rule you can not trade 1st round picks 2 years in a row

[BoulderSooner]

The Thunder would be morons to trade Harden. If they HAVE to trade either Harden or Ibaka, it'd be Ibaka. Or if they wanted to keep both, amnesty Kendrick Perkins and trade Maynor/Jackson, etc.

you keep Ibaka and it is not a close decision ..

[Jake]

you keep Ibaka and it is not a close decision ..

Why? There are plenty of good power forwards out there that the Thunder could pick up. Just because Ibaka blocked a bunch of shots doesn't make him an amazing player. The majority of the time, those blocks just became offensive rebounds for the other team anyway.

The Thunder need a 3rd scoring option, and that's James Harden. If you trade him, who's going to step in and score when either Durant or Westbrook aren't playing well? A rookie?

Is this because Harden didn't play well in the Finals? Yeah, he didn't. But Harden is one of the reasons the Thunder got to the Finals in the first place. Also, Ibaka didn't fair much better in the Finals either. His defense accounted for around 3-4 open three pointers each game.

[wsucougz]

As much as I like Harden, Presti can probably only afford to keep 3 of the big 4. The odd man out in that scenario is Harden. If they try to keep all 4, Thunder will have an untenable financial situation on their hands next year. If they have found an ideal match now, why not be proactive instead of desperate in a year's time? By getting Beal, they would be locking him in for ~3.6 million a year. Harden is going to command around 10 after next season.

One of Harden's biggest problems is that he is a bad defender. He gets beat off the dribble a lot. Not only is Beal noted as a lockdown defender, but he supposedly has the best shooting form in the draft. I wouldn't have a problem with the move. Presti is a great judge of talent and he's rumored to have spent 3 days watching him workout.

That being said, it probably won't happen anyway. There are rumored to be about 10 teams in the mix for picks 2 & 3 and Beal could go 2.

[icecold]

No way this happens and no way harden or ibaka get a max deal

^^^^^^^^

This is about the only post one needs to read in this thread. Westbrook didnt get a max deal, yet its guaranteed (by some (bellaboo)) that Harden and Ibaka will get max deals. Laughable. There are only about 5 max dudes in the whole league. If Harden and Ibaka want/expect max deals then they both can walk IMO.

And trading Cook and the 28th pick for Beal. WOW, you really dont know what you are talking about at all. Might as well trade Royal Ivey and the 28th pick for Tony Allen since they both play defense.

[BoulderSooner]

^^^^^^^^

This is about the only post one needs to read in this thread. Westbrook didnt get a max deal, yet its guaranteed (by some (bellaboo)) that Harden and Ibaka will get max deals. Laughable. There are only about 5 max dudes in the whole league. If Harden and Ibaka want/expect max deals then they both can walk IMO.

And trading Cook and the 28th pick for Beal. WOW, you really dont know what you are talking about at all. Might as well trade Royal Ivey and the 28th pick for Tony Allen since they both play defense.

westbrook did sign a max deal and way more than 5 guys have max deals ...

ibaka is not a max guy but he would start at over 10 mil a year and harden as a free agent would get very very close to a max deal

[FritterGirl]

This talk reminds me of all of the times Bob Stoops' name came up in the coaching carousel, or NFL. It never happened. As a work friend stated. Presti always goes in a completely different direction that what the "speculators" think. Part of his genius.

[Snowman]

We can't afford to keep Ibaka and Harden, period. By trading one of them for #2 pick, will free up some cap space, to give either Ibaka/Harden a max deal, and lock them in for 4-5 years. Because Beal's rookie contract will be really small, and will last 3 years. I wouldn't be surprised if Harden is traded tonight. Then Beal will probably fill his shoes, coming off the bench, they both play the same positions, doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what is about to happen.

They can do that next year as well, all the picks are a risk. We have been unusually luck to get the level of play out of the picks we have gotten.

[wsucougz]

Yes, always. Except for when he doesn't.

[MikeLucky]

So, to those of you that think Harden is leaving OKC... I'm guessing none of you have seen this?

http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumbli...-built-in-okc/


Harden isn't going anywhere. And, as for signing both he and Ibaka.... if the team wants it, and both players truly want to stay... IT WILL HAPPEN. PERIOD.

Westbrook IS a max guy, but by signing his contract when he did he essentially left upwards of $15 million dollars on the table... he did that to better position the team to keep both Ibaka and Harden.

In the article above, Harden makes it clear that he's less interested in money, and more interested in building a dynasty here in OKC.

The only one we haven't heard something from is Ibaka... but, he'll be presented with the option of going somewhere else for bit more money, or staying here for a bit less... and don't be too shocked if he stays.