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James Harden TRADED to Rockets

38K views 694 replies 62 participants last post by  kbdullah 
#1 ·
James Harden turned down a four-year, $52 million contract extension offer from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Harden is seeking a maximum-level deal worth $60 million over four years.

The Thunder have until Wednesday to sign Harden to a contract extension or allow him the opportunity to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports
 
#585 ·
Is James Harden the best driver in the NBA?

Harden averages nine drives per game, which is fourth among players whose teams have the cameras. The top four: Tony Parker (10.8), Rajon Rondo (10.1), Russell Westbrook (9.3), and Jrue Holiday (9.2). As an aside, that Holiday number is a fantastically good sign for Philly. He ranked below average by this metric last season, and he’s piling up about twice as many drives per game this season, according to the 2011-12 data I’ve reviewed. Philly is still below average as a team in drives per game, which tells you how much heavy lifting Holiday is doing for a very limited bunch.

Back to Harden: Houston is scoring 1.51 points per possession on trips in which he drives at any time in the shot clock. That is easily the highest mark among all players in the 15-team database with more than a token number of drives. It is a mammoth number; keep in mind, teams average just about one point per possession overall. Harden has drawn a foul on one-third of his drives, which is among the highest numbers in the data set, and sort of amazing when you think about it.

He has turned over the ball on just 4 percent of his drives, one of the lowest numbers in the data set. The dude is scary. These numbers paint him as even more valuable than we might think.
Just some more interesting data that confirms everything I have seen out of him this season.
 
#600 ·
To give myself credit, when Westbrook got hurt I did say the Grizz would like it.

They would be ecstatic if Lebron and Tony Parker get in car accidents too.
 
#612 ·
True, once Westbrook went down Reggie Jackson became the Thunder's second option, because future first ballot hall-of-famer Kevin Martin still sucks. And Durant just isn't good enough to carry a squad on his own.

At the time I gave Presti an incomplete, because I figured that with a team on the brink that he just had to make a move to convert those assets into a player that would put the Thunder over the top. Instead what they've got out of the deal is the right to overpay Kevin Martin and a mid first round pick in the worst draft since 2000. As a Rockets fan I'm ecstatic. Thunder fans have to be sick.
 
#626 ·
Also, as far as the idea that they could have received more for Harden, that's possible. Maybe if they held out until this offseason, they could have done a sign-and-trade and received a pretty nice package. It's also possible they would have lost him without any compensation or very little. I am of the opinion that striking unexpectedly is the best way to get the most value. Once teams know you're on the ropes looking for a deal, they aren't too eager to give you a whole bunch.
 
#627 ·
Also, as far as the idea that they could have received more for Harden, that's possible. Maybe if they held out until this offseason, they could have done a sign-and-trade and received a pretty nice package. It's also possible they would have lost him without any compensation or very little. I am of the opinion that striking unexpectedly is the best way to get the most value. Once teams know you're on the ropes looking for a deal, they aren't too eager to give you a whole bunch.
There was no chance of him walking for nothing, because he was a restricted free agent. Worst-case scenario, you match the four-year max offer he was going to get and deal from a position of strength at the trade deadline.

However, like I've said, the Houston trade can still be salvaged if Lamb turns into a high-level third option (very possible) or if Presti can turn the 12th pick in a surprise stud (happens in the teens in almost every draft).
 
#629 ·
OKC got fair value all things considered. If you're trading a star these days you basically get rapped. Look at the Magic, although that was definitely a different situation.

If Kevin Martin resigns it will be for much less and they'll have a good third option for the price. Or they'll get a ton of cap coming off the books which could turn out to be even better. I'm not sure of OKC's cap situation, but if there's room, it wouldn't be tough to lure in a quality FA this offseason with that money.

Couple that with Lamb and another decent draft pick and I think OKC made a good deal.

If Westbrook didn't go down there'd be less people losing their minds right now. They lost their second best player and lost to a very good Grizzlies team.
 
#634 ·
They didn't get Martin to put them "over the top". No one thought Martin was going to be an improvement on Harden, so I'm not sure why you're saying that. It was very clear then that Martin was supposed to fill Hardens role, which he did quite well prior to the Westbrook injury. They did this as a money saving move and Martins huge contract is coming off the books.

Add Lamb whom most posters outside yourself see as a very solid young prospect, and another 1st round draft pick and its a very fair trade.
 
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