At the same time, OKC is a really good team at developing rookies. Lamb might get better on OKC than he ever would have here.
It's win win trade. Harden could win scoring title, but MVP usually goes to best team(think about TMAC in orlando). OKC got our best scorer as a guy from bench, and lots of flexibility and potential to continue buildng championship team. They can use all those assets to upgrade and develop in various ways down the road, the opened-up cap will enable them to sign or trade in enhanced ways...Presti and Morey both win.
Really though, lots of people didn't think he could reproduce another 37 point performance, and he got 45 points today. So many Debbie Downers on this board.
except a) he wasn't an MVP there because of the talent around him b) they created a lot of flexibility in their team over the next 5 years financially c) they are flexible with assets now too (all the picks) for any trades coming up Win win still
We kinda stole him... but OKC won't be much worse with Martin's production because of his contract year
Kevin Martin will be a good player, but he's no Harden. And that other thing....he's old./ This looks like a best thing we could have happened at this time period. Ok Daryl u r now King of the World this weekend. Portland will be some kinds test as a back/back, Nobody saw this coming..except James harden Coach and GM.
You don't ever trade away MVP candidate type players, ever. Sure, they have Durant and Westbrook, but OKC could've easily amnestied Perkins, and signed Harden to the max. Come on now.
To make matters worse for OKC, Serge Ibaka, the player they insisted on locking up before Harden, has been super mediocre since he was signed.
Presti drafted him though. The ONLY rea$on they traded him wa$ $alary related. Put simply, they couldn't afford to max him, and needed him to take a few mill less per season. Harden's agent believed he was max-worthy (as he clearly looks to be) and so the move was on. Ultimately a small town franchise like OKC can only afford so many huge contracts, and they felt like Durant was a no-brainer, Westbrook took less than the max and so did Ibaka. Since Harden wasn't willing to stick, they traded him away and hope to replace the bench scoring in other ways. I'm loving the trade for Houston - looks like we got ourselves a bona-fide superstar at 23 years of age. But hard to be harsh on OKC when looking at their bigger picture.... [[if they'd stayed in Seattle they might've been able to max him out??]]
I believe both teams benefited from this trade. The Thunder knew they weren't going to be able to resign him, and got a great offer with trades, Martin's contract expiring, and a rookie who has shown some promise. On our end, we got the super star we needed. Hopefully this will attract another star, and we'll really get the ball rolling. Hardens ability to not only shoot, but drive to the basket is something else. Reminds me of Martin with his ability to draw fouls, but there's a difference in their game. Martin flops, flails, anything to get the whistle. When Harden goes to the basket, he's thinking finish, and if he gets fouled it WILL be an and one in his mind. There is no just going for the whistle. That's what I love about him. Teams will begin to focus more and more on Harden, so our role players will show their true colors in the next few weeks/months. This is a time for them to show what they have. IF Morris can hit that 3 on a semi consistent basis, that will stretch the floor enormously. Not to mention on some teams, I wouldn't mind going small, and playing Parsons at the four. This will allow Harden to drive, draw the 4 out, and have a 3 point threat out there in the corner. Asik can handle his own on rebounds, and Parsons does a great job getting his hands on the ball to at least tip it to a teammate, or grab it himself. Sorry for going away from the topic, but I believe we both benefited from the trade, and the main thing is our team....and we got a great....great player.
This wasn't a bad trade for the Thunder. KMart will do really well with them as he doesn't need the ball in his hands so much.
