I agree with 95 % of this. I was going to throw out Giannis as one of the guys. Less confidently, I would Include KAT. I don't have to tell you, I would be happy with the multiple picks/development move as well. (a top 5 overall, and future first rounders) I'm not judging Harden on championships, as you said, that won't happen without the others, but even with upgraded other parts, it's going to take some improvement from Harden to complete the championship puzzle, unless one of the other parts is equal to, or better than Harden.
I have much less faith in Morey drafting a top 5 players (no matter where the draft position is) than him trading for one. Under Morey's regime, I have become apathy about the draft long time ago. I believe it is a lot more realistic to wait for him to trade for a superstar than to draft or sign one. If Harden is indeed a top 5 player, then you don't have many choices of finding someone that is better than him to trade for.
Do people have any idea how hard it is to land a guy like harden ? When we traded for him we had no clue he would be this good . We were hoping that he could turn into a top 20 player. Many drafts don't have a player that turns into a top 10 guy . The chances a true top 5 player ever hits the free agent market in the prime of his career is also pretty low . Usually the team that had him has a huge advantage ... Even if they don't the bias will be to go to a big market/ form a super team ... Or form a super team on a big market/ coastal team . The assets required to land a top 5 guy in a trade are very high and most teams that have a top 5 guy won't trade him unless it's the most dire of circumstances. Think of all he franchises that have been stuck in limbo the last decade(s) just trying to get that star to build around . James isn't even 30 yet . If you can lock him up you absolutely do it , because having James gives you a punchers chance almost every year . Yeah it's difficult to put the right talent around him . If it was easy then you or I could be GMs
Lol is this even a debate, do we want to keep winning 41 games or less every season? Remember when Yao went down and we were struggling to make the playoffs. Screw that, Extend
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...y-max-contract-extensions-making-all-nba-team Houston Rockets star James Harden and Washington Wizards star John Wall have qualified to sign new contract extensions this summer after making the All-NBA team on Thursday. Under the new collective bargaining agreement that takes effect on July 1, both players are eligible to bypass free agency in 2019 and add four years and approximately $160 million to their contracts. Harden has an option to be a free agent in two years, and Wall's contract expires at the same time. If their teams make the offer and they agree, they can commit to stay until 2024. Wall and Harden are new additions to the exclusive list. Harden and Westbrook both signed contract extensions last summer -- Westbrook added one year to his contract; Harden added two. The players' union and the owners worked out a special dispensation that allows them to sign new extensions this summer, which otherwise would not have been allowed.
Do we need to have cap space to extend him? Or can we extend him over the cap? If we can extend him over the cap, then obviously yes extend him to the largest amount possible over the longest period of time possible. He's a top 5 27 year old player who's entering his prime, healthy, with a game that will age well anyways. Lets lock him up for as many years as we can, lets make him as happy as possible.
well, we'll get a real signal of James's commitment to the team if he signs on in July to stay until 2024
What value does the team get in extending Harden this offseason? They just renegotiated his contract and gave him more money last offseason. Like why should they do this? Will they not be able to next offseason?
When you have a superstar, the max salary limits don't allow you to pay them market value. So you do them favors you wouldn't do for normal players. Like extend them way earlier than necessary, when possible. Lebron and Durant have a player option every year so they can opt out and resign for an even higher salary when cap jumps occur or the rules change, or if things go to hell within their organizations they can bolt, and because it's a player option if their knee blows up they still have a guaranteed contract for years to come even if they're a shell of their former self. I would be shocked if James didn't extend this summer. He'd effectively be under contract for 6 years at $200M+. The only thing to watch is the player/team option years. That's a courtesy to James like they did this past summer plus it lets them market James to free agents by saying "he won't leave you and bolt because he's under contract".
Just need to draft another all star caliber or solid player.... how insightful... Capela is 23 years old and will be on the last year of his contract after his first season of being the starter, do you just give Capela no chance of becoming a solid defender? Dekker essentially had his rookie season on a team that was competing. He is still a big question mark but could be a decent contributor. We got Harrell and Onuaku waiting in the weeds. We had TJones and DMo who both had their careers derailed by injuries, but one or both had stayed healthy then what? It's like drafting his hard and more often than you'll get a mediocre player. Do you realize how many players are drafted relative to the total players each year? There's a lot of luck involved as if you guy isn't there at your pick, then you don't have much options but to pay to trade up which isn't a sure thing.
Agreed, off course yes. Top 5 player in the league What are a lot of pleople thinking We are in the mix to go for a champ, without Harden we are nothing
I don't like Harden, but I say yes you do. You don't let superstars walk, and you don't trade them for less than equal value.
