James Harden TRADED to Rockets

[kbdullah]

Originally Posted by seifer0406

OKC and/or Houston might be losers in this trade but the only party that's definitely not a loser in this deal is Harden. I would understand if Harden is closer to 30, but at 23 and have never been a full time starter, is it really that absurd to think that he might want to try to be more than just a role player? On top of that he got more money to go with the increased role. OKC is asking Harden to make a sacrifice on and off the court and while people might praise Harden for going along with it it's not wrong for him to turn down the offer.

True. Plus Lin and Asik contracts are only three years. The preseason prior to Harden's last year, the Rockets will have cap space entering into Harden's contract year and beginning of his prime. Plus, they'll have at least made the team relevant and changed the culture. You tend to have to overpay to get that first guy in there that makes free agents think your destination is worthwhile.

[Diable]

Originally Posted by hobojoe

It's pretty funny how you guys can sit behind your computers and call a guy a "****ing idiot" for making a decision that just resulted in him inking a max contract. Funny stuff.

Under the current system everyone who is actually a good player is going to expect a max deal. It really looks like every team is going to have two max players. What people don't realize is that most of these guys are going to look at that Max deal as a status symbol. They're going to look at all of the above average players who have max deals and think that they are just as above average as that guy.

[Hyperion]

Not so, the new cba really penalizes going into luxury tax.

[Jace]

I'm thinking Houston thinks Harden can be prime Brandon Roy. Does anyone see that happening?

Originally Posted by Cris

Another crazy NBA offseason. Since June, we've had 31 trades involving 96 players. And 29 of 30 teams - all but the Spurs - made a trade.

Who'd Miami trade?

[Jamel Irief]

Stupid Lacob could of probably got Harden for Monta and Harrison Barnes. Now he has that loser Bogut instead.

[Jace]

Was just about to bring up Monta, similar stats to Roy, but was put in a role as THE guy, kinda like what's happening with Harden.

I don't think OKC wanted Ellis.

[MemphisX]

Originally Posted by Jace

I'm thinking Houston thinks Harden can be prime Brandon Roy. Does anyone see that happening?



Who'd Miami trade?

Roy had the X-factor. His on court abilities actually exceeded his physical abilities. He was one of the few players that I always checked for on league pass because he was just so lethal down the stretch. Not sure Harden can be that for Houston but they definitely added a couple of story lines to an already highly anticipated season.

I hope Harden really blossoms as the #1 guy. He wore it well in college.

[Jace]

I just have trouble seeing him be what Roy was as a leader in the NBA. Houston took some big risks, but off the court they're good moves.

[Wade County]

Originally Posted by Jace

I'm thinking Houston thinks Harden can be prime Brandon Roy. Does anyone see that happening?



Who'd Miami trade?

Arnett moultrie for Justin Hamilton and a future 1st?

[Porn Player]

Kevin Martin is being underrated in this thread. He's basically been a 20+ scorer for 7 seasons, he hits the boards well and had a pretty impressive passing game.

Thunder just bent Houston over.

[R-Star]

Originally Posted by Porn Player

Kevin Martin is being underrated in this thread. He's basically been a 20+ scorer for 7 seasons, he hits the boards well and had a pretty impressive passing game.

Thunder just bent Houston over.

But... but... he's 28!


You should have realized by now that around here, whichever player has a ton of hype is the best. And a decent guy on a non exciting team like Kevin Martin gets underrated like crazy.



I said last year that Harden was the most overrated player on these forums. Its pretty clear I was right.

[RollWithEm]

James Harden was better last season than Kevin Martin will be this season on the Thunder because he is just the better player. Additionally, Harden is a MUCH better fit on the Rockets than he was on the Thunder. He is certainly worth as much to Houston as Hibbert is worth to Indy. He should get Hibbert money, IMO.

[kbdullah]

Grantland has a quality article on the transaction.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...ouston-rockets

...
But spare me the dreck about how James Harden should have sacrificed for the greater good. He's under no obligation to do so. The Thunder's owners haven't sacrificed profits here; why should Harden? The Thunder brain trust believes in the importance of sacrifice for the greater good, harking back to Tim Duncan taking less than the max in 2007 to help San Antonio afford its complementary stars. They wanted Harden to make that sort of sacrifice. He didn't, and the Thunder voluntarily chose to cut their championship odds in order to save the equivalent of about $1.5 million in salary and a few million more in tax payments every season.

...

As for the Rockets, they've paid a steep price, as you can trace all the assets they've sent in this deal back to Kyle Lowry (the price for the Raptors pick) and Samuel Dalembert (the price for the pick that became Lamb). Harden isn't a top-three overall player like Howard, Houston's first choice, but he has the potential to be a top-15 or even top-10 player when unleashed as the focal point of his team. He flopped in the Finals, and it is astounding how many fans and writers are judging Harden's contributions based solely on his play in that series — and against one of the league's most athletic defenses.

[Jamel Irief]

Originally Posted by kbdullah

Grantland has a quality article on the transaction.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...ouston-rockets

Heres the thing, and I'lll say it again, fans are beyond fickle. So if their lasting memory of Harden is him bombing in the finals they'll use that to judge him more than they should. It's like I was telling Dre in the finals last year when he was stating that Harden was due to get "near max" dollars until he slumped in the finals, GMs are smarter than the posters here.

[E.H. Munro]

Originally Posted by R-Star

But... but... he's 28!


You should have realized by now that around here, whichever player has a ton of hype is the best. And a decent guy on a non exciting team like Kevin Martin gets underrated like crazy.

He's also played three full seasons in a nine year career. Maybe we can give him a pass his rookie year, but that still leaves us with a 3/8 chance that he plays a full season for the Plunder. He's also a black hole on offense and a mediocre defender to boot. As a Rockets' fan I'm glad to see the last of him.