Harden not so cool with the Howard signing (Laker Fan in Bleacher says)

That's the problem, he wasn't considered a star back then.

 

WTF?

 

Thought it was going to be a random with a Bleacher account, Kevin Ding is actually a popular journalist for the Lakers. Key thing is: He writes for the Lakers. They're all butthurt over in LA and are sulking.

Harden is probably sick of talking about Dwight is all, but he was recruiting him hard. Maybe not as hard as Parsons but Harden was on the D12 wagon.

 

"Some say that Harden wanted to keep flying solo"

See we know this isn't true, Harden has talked about the necessity of adding more star players to the roster in pursuit of a championship. LA beat writer just trying to sell a hit piece.

 

So the guy that went to L.A to sign him didn't actually want to sign him. Laker fan logic, so not surprised.

 

He was considered star enough to cost a premium price in a trade and receive a max salary immediately after he arrived in Houston. So clearly People in the NBA considered him a star regardless of your opinion.

 

We will see

Ding is in fact a credible writer who works for OC register, unlike most of the BR writers who are living in their parent's house and deliver Pizza as living and write from the basement for BR as hobby.
Ding's comments may not entirely groundless as he has his sources, which can be biased due to his favorite Laker. However, one has to remember when Harward signed on with Lakers, all laker fan expected same if not more than what the Houston's fan does. We can only be convinced that the this workes after at least 15 or 20 games later.

 

Ding ding! The only thing holding Harden back statistically was usage. The league saw him as a star, he saw himself as a star, and he was obviously correct. Thus, he deserved his max deal.

 

Not sure why you guys are surprised. It's a dead time for NBA news and writers will reach for anything to get readership. At least Harden hasn't stomped on anyone :grin:

 

Didn't Stephen a smith say Harden was hanging out and was in Dwights ear all offseason and even part of last season to bring him here?. SAS might be a loud mouth, but he is legit interms of Dwight insider news.

 

He could have, Westbrook could have gotten the 30% supermax (his 2011 and 12 all nba team selections qualified him for it) but only took the 25% max.

 

Compare that to the four years, $52 million they offered to Harden. A few pennies is absolutely nothing compared to the deal they offered Harden, and Ding knows it.

 

reigning 6th man of the year not a star?

 

Martin's expiring contract + Lamb + picks is not a premium price for a 23 year old star, not to mention the deal they wanted to do with the Wizards (a rookie Beal + Singleton). He was definitely underrated both by the league and the Thunder. It only goes to show how good of a GM Morey is.

A few pennies = 15 million dollars


He left more money on the table than Harden would if he singed the 4years /$54 million extension.

Is J.R. Smith a star? How much money he got this off-season?

 

That's disingenuous and you know it. The entire reason that's technically true is because Westbrook accepting the 5-year deal with OKC is the very reason that Harden couldn't. The "table" comparison isn't relevant because they were at two completely different tables -- all because Westbrook wasn't willing to make the sacrifice.

Westbrook got a max deal ($80 million), and for 5 years, at that. It wasn't the supermax, but it was the max and of the longest possible tenure. Harden was offered well under the max and for 4 years. Those are two completely different scenarios.

 

Harden had a great year in 11-12, shooting 49-39-85% while averaging 16.8 in 31.5 minutes per game. Morey took a calculated risk in that the numbers would go up if given the "main man" position...and scoring wise they did.
A star???? yes....All-Star??? again a calculated risk.

 

1. J.R. Smith is older
2. he has known attitude issues
3. he will be coming off a patellar tendon and a torn meniscus, both in his left knee. he is not likely to be 100% next season...
4. J.R. smith choose to stay with the knicks for a lot less money

he would have gotten a lot more if he played free agency...

 

Just saying he was already a star... not saying all-star... but then again, very difficult to be an allstar while playing beside KD and Westbrook...

 

That $15m was the difference between what westbrook could have been paid and what he is, about $3m a year, Westbrook was eligible for Rose's current contract, this isn't a "extra year $30m sheningans" like Dwight, this is a straight $15m more, same time frame.

 

thats not a lie, its true. The rose rule
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....stbrook-agrees-to-max-extension-with-thunder/