The Rockets have landed James Harden!

very interesting yet enigmatic person

He and Royce may hit it off well

 

I know it's your opinion, but what are you basing this on? He had an OK showing in summer league, didn't show much in pre-season and he's all of a sudden top 5 talent? Not knocking you, but I didn't see top 5 talent, I saw someone with "potential" and a nice wingspan.

Harden was a catalyst in brining the Thunder to the finals. The guy has proven himself in the playoffs every season, and he knows how to win which could help our young team. We've "seen" that.

 

Yeah, cause Les knew Linsanity was going to blow up. He was just playing the game by releasing him and waiting for injuries in NY.

You don't honestly believe that he's just after Asian money do you? You sound like a "Stern hates us" type.

In which case, why am I responding

 

Man... Everything happens with Morey when I'm doing other stuff! lol

Though I would have like to see how Lamb developed I do think Harden is a good player... I'd like to mull on the rest of his cost for a bit before I decide who won the trade

 

So would this be considered Harden-hysteria??

 

I don't like the trade. I don't live giving Harden a max deal, and I don't like giving up assets to pay a guy that another team didn't want to pay max to.

I don't think James Harden is a #1 player. Also, we give up 2 backcourt players and get more frontcourt players. Would have been nice to move some PFs instead, but they wanted what they wanted.

I think we will be stuck in playoff mediocrity now.

 

Seems like Rockets will give 5 year $80 Mill deal to Harden:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/e...and-losers-okc-trades-james-harden-to-houston

It's probably true, since Harden will not be coming to Rockets for 4 year deal.

 

Also, i love how big news from the Rockets brings out all the Clutchfan lurkers.

 

We gave up 2 backcourt players (Martin and Lamb), and gained 2 backcourt players (Harden and Cook) and a center (Aldrich). I think both Cook and Aldrich are good enough to make it into our rotation.

 

The Thunder didn't not give him a max contract because they didn't feel he was worth it.

 

FIFY.

Big difference between didn't want to and couldn't due to tax implications and lack of flexibility in the future.

 

I voted yes, even though I do have some reservations about losing two first-round picks, particularly the Toronto pick.

Still, to me, that's the trade: the picks. Martin was not a valuable player to the Rockets, anymore. In the end, trading one fairly high-value 1st rounder, a low-value 1st rounder, and a 2nd round pick for a top 3 SG is a good trade.

 

This is a win-win.

Thank god Presti doesn't have **** for brains like the Orlando GM. He knew who had the best package to offer and pulled the trigger without warning.

And credit Morey for having the smarts to not haggle too much on this one. He recognized that this opportunity would not present itself with these same conditions again. To land a 23 y/o budding superstar without drafting one just doesn't happen.

We will get to see the BEST years of Harden on OUR team as opposed to trading for someone of his caliber after he has already given his best years to someone else.

Give me 5 years of Asik and Harden over 1 drama filled season of Dwight any day!

 

I think the luxury tax complicates this statement.

 

is this real life?

 

I think it supports it.

 

He did some haggling. The initial trade included Parsons and and our own 2013 pick.

 

The odds that lottery picks will turn into a player as good as James Harden are not very promising.

 

IIRC Morey still haggled. If you think Woj is credible (and I think he is), the original asking price is Martin, Parsons, Lamb and 3 first round picks lol.

 

Okay. Good then. He didn't haggle to the point of pissing off Presti was my point.