ESPN Insider: Rockets are considering offering a "monster deal" to James Harden?

Agree with this!

 

I know it sounds crazy but I still think there's a chance the Thunder look to move Westbrook and keep Harden. Fan backlash aside, Harden is so much more efficient and point guards are far easier to come by, plus you don't need an elite point guard to win titles, especially one that takes the ball out of your best players hands and/or your most efficient players hands. At the end of the day it's a tiny chance but to me it just makes more sense.

 

This summarizes what all sensible people have been saying for several months.

The one exception is OKC's beat writer who believes Harden might be traded at the deadline because he doesn't believe Presti will pay him $58 million. He thinks Presti values Perk more than Harden.

 

Glad to see you don't just troll Texans threads

 

Harden is NOT a max player. If he gets max, he'd be the next Rashard Lewis

 

Let's not be ridiculous. Why would he be the next Rashard Lewis? Do you have any idea what you are talking about?

 

At this point, there's a better chance of the Thunder trading Westbrook then there is that they let Harden walk or trade Harden. A lot will hinge on this season. How far do they get? What happens if they don't win? Does Westbrook break down under pressure again?

I'm convinced that if Westbrook blows this season up by having a melt down under the intense pressure of the playoffs that Presti will look to trade him for a king's ranson and go with a more conventional point guard that can dish to Durant and Harden. I think Westbrook is gone from the Thunder before Harden is.

 

I think he just means that in the sense that Harden is not a lead dog type of player.

 

If I were Presti I'd trade Harden for Manu if the Spurs end up not being contenders in the beginning of the year.

Manu's contract ends this summer and he would resign for half of what it would take to sign Harden. Manu is the original Harden and would come off the bench thus saving his energy. The Spurs would have to throw in picks but I could imagine RC and Presti being great trade partners.

OKC could easily fit WB, KD, Manu, Ibaka and Perk under the cap.

Edit: not to mention Manu's impact as a vet leader and clutch playmaker.

 

Yeah....that's why you're not Presti.

 

Here is a good analysis of the Harden situation.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8486795/the-harden-dilemma

 

how does this thread have 4 stars? there's literally no news here. thanks for the ****-tease

 

this just in. a source close to me has said the rockets and the moreyman are wanting to land a star. more to come later!

=/

those espn guys make me chuckle sometimes.

 

You're going to lose Harden for nothing that comes close to his value? OKC doesn't want young players or draft picks, they are in win now mode.

If you amnesty Perkins you are even more vulnerable to not making the finals because you can't defend Howard without him.

Who's Perks replacement? Aldrich? Give me a break.

OKC needs Perk to win the west. Maybe not last year but they need him now.

 

They're not going to amnesty him now. They're gonna play out the season Reeko. And then they're gonna match whatever offer Harden gets if they haven't gotten him to agree to an extension before then. And then sometime after this season and before next season, they're gonna figure out whether to amnesty Perk, or trade Westbrook, or keep everybody and pay the tax for one season. Nothing is going to materialize with Harden in trade for at least a year...at least... and most likely longer.....if ever. UNLESS somebody overvalues Harden and Presti is presented with a trade that he obviously wins. And Morey isn't going to do that.

 

Agree! Please not the bank for harden. He is in a slow decline mode. Relax and wait for free agency or draft. No rush. No rush. Slow and easy.

 

PrePrePrePrePremature speculation. Harden is going nowhere this season; Perk likely parks elsewhere next season.

I'd love to have The Beard. I'd rather LamBo made it an irrelevant discussion point.

 

Harden is in slow decline mode... at 23 years old?

Harden is a complete player.

Handles - check
Shooting - check
Finisher - check
Free throws - check
Defense - check
Rebounding - check
Size - check
Strength - check
Age - check
Durability - check
Team first player - check
Can he be a top 5 player at his postion - check

He has never been the man in OKC so I don't know how he would handle being the leader of a team but I think he would handle it fine base on what I have seen and heard from him while living in OKC.

 

WTF? He keeps getting better. That's the opposite of a decline.

 

The incentive to do a sign and trade has been reduced as teams it doesn't increase a player's salary and teams over (or would be over) the apron can't do a sign and trade. OKC gets their best offer for Harden at the trade deadline. I don't know if they risk losing him for nothing.