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

Only superstars /franchise players get max money. Harden is neither.

 

He fits the age group!

 

Harden has a greater chance than any other young SG in the NBA to become a superstar. Go for it.

 

What basketball league have you been watching? This is the NBA. Everybody gets paid.

 

You will never know, he might surprise everyone.

 

FA stars certainly will get overpaid.

 

I don't have ESPN Insider! Was there any specific amount mentioned?

 

very interesting.

 

Just watch.. we end up with Perkins


jk

 

I don't get why people don't see this. It would be a success if any of our guys reached Harden level as of now. Harden still has potential to get even better than he already is. He's also only 23 years old which younger than Parsons and Lin.

For those saying he doesn't deserve the max, Eric Gordon got the max and he can barely get on the court.

 

Superstars are worth a lot more than max money. Under current system, the second best player on team is worth max as well. Harden is that good.

 

Im not so sure about this being an option at this point. Even if they are going to potentially let Harden walk at the end of the year, it still might be preferred as a better short term solution than another short term solution in Manu or Kevin Martin.

Assuming Manu, Kevin Martin, or any other offensive wing replacement at this point would sign for less to stay in OKC would be a mistake on Presti's part. Sure we could all assume that nobody would offer that much money to a player like this next Summer, and that both would be more interested in winning.

YOu are taking another risk of losing that player for nothing if a team came in and offered a huge front loaded contract that forced OKC to let that player walk.

IF somehow Presti decides to trade Harden before the deadline he will definitely want some sort of wing scoring replacement, but he's probably going to want much more than just that to make it worth his while, and taking the risk of that player NOT signing for less next Summer to stay.

-In Houston's case I could see them wanting to not just give them Kevin Martin + picks, but also take on the Perkins contract & offer more depth in the paint with Patrick Patterson or Jones. Something Im not sure Morey would want to do for Harden.

-In the Spurs case it does make more sense for the Spurs to do this, but not necessarily for OKC. Other than capspace, and Manu(short term), they really dont have other significant assets to give away unless they are willing to part with Leonard as well.

-Another dark horse IF Presti decides to move Harden might be Atlanta. The Hawks have the capspace to resign Harden to the max, and take on Perkins' contract.

They could offer Josh Smith & Lou Williams after William's contract becomes tradeable I believe some time in January. Williams becomes a much more affordable viable solution to a 6th man, and Josh Smith could be a huge steal in this deal. All the while moving out Perkin's contract and freeing up capspace to TRY TO resign Smith next Summer. Even if they cant resign him, they still upgraded their team in short term, remained contenders long term, and put themselves in a better situation financially moving forward.

Smith, unlike Manu or Martin, is worth taking a risk on especially after you have already filled the 6th man need on a value contract with Williams. Even if Smith walks in the Summer, you are still a contender with a balanced roster.

 

The concept of max money has made people oblivious to the fact that max money differs from player to player. Harden will be getting the lowest max money, 4yr/$58mil. This is not exactly bank-breaking money. And if the Rockets get two decently high lottery picks next year, plus our current young core, and there's a good chance we can have a solid group for the next few years.

And besides, a lot of western superpowers will have been wilted away in 2-3 years. If a couple of current youngsters blossom, a great draft next year, plus Harden as a FA, this team could at least be a 2nd tier contender in a few years.

 

Well, we lost a couple of good floppers, didn't we?

 

Rockets is not the only one targeting on Harden.

http://www.sportando.net/eng/usa/nb...ted-in-offering-a-monster-deal-to-harden.html

Mavericks, Rockets interested in offering a monster deal to Harden
Harden wants to stay with the Thunder
NBA
League sources say the Mavericks, located in the fifth-biggest TV market, and the Rockets, in the 10th biggest, are already interested in offering a monster deal to Harden. Not to mention that his mother lives in Phoenix, near Harden's alma mater. The Suns might decide to carve out extra millions to bring Harden home.

Harden is probably also ripe for a four-year, $60ish million deal, around the size of the one free agent shooting guard Eric Gordon inked this summer to stay with the Hornets. Or he could stay in OKC with his teammates, which sounds pretty good. "We hang out all the time," Harden says. "Off the court, we're at someone's house playing video games, relaxing, talking and enjoying each other's company. It's rare that you find that in this league." At the Olympics, he, Durant and Westbrook baffled their teammates with a dialect only they share. Andre Iguodala recently told ESPN.com: "I don't know what they're talking about. Their words mean like the opposite thing."

 

For Houston, I would expect the Rockets offer would center around Lamb and a PF instead of Martin. Two manageable contracts that will be locked in for a good part of their window would seem to have more value to them instead of a possible rental. I expect Lamb to play well and have decent value come trade deadline.

 

As i've posted in our random trades before.. OKC could work a deal with Houston.

Kevin Martin, Patrick Patterson, future 1st for Harden.

Both sides would benefit from this trade.

Rockets will get a playmaker they need and OKC would still be a contender and IMO, deeper with KMart and PPatt leading their bench mob.

 

2009 Draft Class - of course Murrray is interested.

(Tonye Douglas is another that can be checked off the list. Murrray has to be trying to win a bet.)