James Harden TRADED to Rockets

[Diable]

I'd guess that the Toronto pick probably ends up around 8 to 12. They aren't going to more terrible than everyone in the East, but they won't be good either. A lot of the other bad Eastern Conference teams will be tanking after the season is a wash and since they don't have a pick to tank for they won't.

[Floods]

Originally Posted by King Joseus

NBADraft.net:

Ah. Still, getting one guaranteed lottery pick out of this is a good deal. Ideally for OKC the pick would be top 3 this year (and stay with Toronto), but end up in the 3-5 range for the loaded 2014 draft. Chances of that are slim though.

[Hyperion]

And..... bye bye Harden.

Link: The ESPN

Unable to work out an extension with James Harden, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded the Sixth Man of the Year to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, breaking up the young core of the Western Conference champions.


The Thunder acquired guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick in the surprising deal that was completed Saturday night. Oklahoma City also sent center Cole Aldrich, and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to Houston.

Wednesday's deadline to extend Harden or allow him to become a restricted free agent next July had been hanging over the Thunder from the moment they reported to training camp.

Harden will become a free agent next summer if Houston doesn't sign him to an extension by Wednesday, but sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein late Saturday the Rockets intend to sign the swingman to the max contract extension he was seeking from the Thunder before Wednesday's midnight deadline.

The Thunder offered Harden $55.5 million over four years -- $4.5 million less than the max deal Harden coveted and will get from the Rockets, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard.

"We wanted to sign James to an extension, but at the end of the day, these situations have to work for all those involved. Our ownership group again showed their commitment to the organization with several significant offers," Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement.

[Floods]

nvm

[HKF]

Horrible deal for Houston. Just horrible. Nice work Morey.

[E.H. Munro]

Originally Posted by FSH

That Raptors pick could seriously be a top 3 pick..What if OKC ends up with Noel or Zeller?

It won't be because the conditions on the pick prevented Houston from cashing in if the pick was good.

[E.H. Munro]

Originally Posted by HKF

Horrible deal for Houston. Just horrible. Nice work Morey.

Morey will finally have his dream, though, a 41-41 team that underperforms his magic formula by 20 wins.

[Dean the Master]

Fear the Beard!!! It's going to be a fun season down in Houston.

[rocketeer]

nice move for the thunder. martin expires and they have lamb and picks to restock on cheap salaries.

i like the deal for the rockets as well even though they gave up a ton. the harden/lin backcourt is going to be a pretty interesting pairing.

[MemphisX]

Good deal for Okc? They are going to need to make some more moves now. As a Grizzlies fan, I love this deal both ways.

Also, I think Okc and other people are taking for granted how close they were to winning it all. To squander that based on $1 million per year is asinine IMO. They should have fought that fight with Ibaka. I am not saying Harden is some future great but he was a great fit. Not to many other players are going to not start and not bitch about it especially after you send the message that your sacrifice will not be honored by the franchise.

[Ballscientist]

Pretty good deal for Thunder, not great at all.

Rockets sent Raptors first round, Mavs first round and a 2nd round to Thunder. It is not much.

Rockets total team salaries = 40 million after the deal, highest paid player = $5 million

Rockets starters -
Omer Asik
Patrick Patterson
Chandler Parson
James Harden
Jeremy Lin

[Ballscientist]

Harden has agreed to sign with Rockets for 4 years max before the deal.

One thing I completely don't understand is that you guys are discussing another team will sign him next summer.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Wait...the Toronto pick is protected??

[Ballscientist]

Originally Posted by King Sancho Fantastic

Wait...the Toronto pick is protected??

I think both first rounds are protected.

[Floods]

1-3 and 15-30 protected.