[RealGM] Grading The Deal: James Harden, Rockets Commit To $228M Extension

Trust the Process

 

anyone want to find and link the main thread when we traded for harden? would love to read through it

 

I get that JH is a corner stone of the team. But how are we going to sign... anyone with half of salary cap locked up for one player? Don't we need like 8 legit players to play a game?

 

he won't be getting half of the salary cap and every player that qualifies for the Designated Veterans Extension or has over 10 years of experience that gets a max will be making similar money...the cap will also be higher

 

I understand your concern, but do realize that the cap will most likely continue to rise. Just like why his initial extension when he signed with us was like NOTHING. If he did not sign that restructured contract last year, as a gift from Les and Morey, he'd be making what, $17M or something this season? MVP candidate in his prime? Making less than most role players are in the league today?

So while it is a rich extension now, it will be more reasonable in time. But more importantly, today's NBA is so player driven, they all want superteams. You can't win without one it seems. In a market like that, cap space is kind of irrelevant unless you started with GREAT picks that developed into young stars (so you can sign a new one).

No superteam can be formed without an initial star. Unless we drafted them (or traded for one on a rookie contract), the cap will be high on said superstar (look at KD taking a discount at like $27M or something ridiculous lol)...like Curry or LBJ or etc., any superstar. We now have one...Harden.

So signing a second star is just as possible in a few years depending on the contracts we shed. Morey loves playing that game. And the third? Now we're working trades and assets and going above the cap with smart moves.

My point is, cap space just is not what it used to be imo. Superteams mean you have to overpay to get multiple stars, and the cap is too low to straight up "buy" those players. You either draft them (and paying Harden does not affect that) or trade for them (again having Harden paid does not greatly affect that). Only teams able to afford multiple superstars require a star on a rookie scale or a ton of draft picks (like Boston).

 

OT!

 

That is the max if you don't pay him some other team will. We are already lucky we traded for him so he isn't eligible for the super max like Curry was.

 

Ya, but that was always an emotional response. With a little time to regain perspective, I think most can see that he is still the best player that is feasibly going to be available to the Rockets in the next few years.

 

You aren't even betting the franchise on him. Locking up a top 5 player from age 27-33 is unheard of in today's NBA. Even if Morey had no desire to build around Harden it makes sense. You could flip this contract for Tatum, Nets pick, and Lakers pick with one phone call.

 

Statistically, superstars are worth more than the max. Let's say you're a pessimistic a-hole and think Harden is not in the top 8-10 player, but he is between 10th and 15th. That range is still worth what the max allows. No one can really be questioning this. Teams are built this way: pay the F out of superstars, find underpaid players to surround them, go into tax to make tweaks to win. Simple strategy, happens to work.

 

Its great that we got him for atleast 6 more years. I know it is a lot of money but the great thing is that he won't be a free agent until he is 34 years old. It is very important to have a Superstar player on a team in order to attract other free agents. Salary Cap will keep going up in the NBA and we will still be able to sign 2 to 3 max players. Constructing a really good supporting core could be a challenge but if anyone can do it, it is Morey. He is a genius in finding players for bargain deals.

 

This extension doesn't change our cap situation for the upcoming season and 2018-19. Also, it is 35% and not half.

 

Rest of the superstars are taking notice of Rockets paying up their main guy