My favorite part about that article is even Bill friggin' Simmons was handing the Lakers the Western Conference title before they'd played a single game
On top of that they would have gotten much more in a trade from Westbrook than they got for Harden. Westrbook was more respected in during that time, and I do not think GS and Was would have turned Westrbook down. Overal a huge mistake, one that will cost them championships (if it didnt already)
Imagine if Presti had demanded Parson be included in the Harden trade. That to me is the magic of Morey.
Even worse is that Westbrook had more value at the time. The Thunder probably could have have got Curry, Thompson+Barnes, Paul George, Horford, or some other all star caliber player if they had moved Westbrook instead. I didn't hate the Harden trade for them when it was made but I did think that they should have moved Westbrook instead. If they don't make it to the WCF this year I would try to move him for Love if Love agreed to pick up his player option for 2015.
Soooo okc has a better record than the rockets and just beat them tonight easily. Who again has the tears guys?
Well lets see. OKC beats Houston with Harden and is a Championship threat for years to come. OKC beats Houston without Harden. Find themselves not making the WCF. Will find themselves severly beat up by the time the NBA Finals role around (if they even make it there) for the next 5+ years. AKA all of their players prime. Let's not even factor in the high likelihood that 1, if not 2 of their remaining superstars will probably not be in OKC then. So yes, once you use common sense you will see that it is OKC with the tears. Just flat out lulz thinking OKC taps their GM on the back saying good job everytime we lose to them.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: But trading Harden was a big mistake ... Huge ---> there is a big back story that that, that had nothing to do with $$</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444853506164674562">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: --> Harden wanted the kind of role he has in Houston, OKC didn't have that for him. Philosophically they were not on the same page.</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444853768098959360">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: ---> You can call it a mistake to trade him, but may have been a bigger one to pay him and try and force him into a bad fit.</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444853972705480704">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: ---> James believed he was a star and could be one of the greats in the league and OKC didn't see how that worked in their system</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444854248950755328">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: ---> James was right, but you see how tough it is for Durant and Westbrook to work together now - add a third guy needing the ball?</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444854492585287681">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: ---> James had his own goals as a player and they did not line up with what OKC wanted from him. That is why he was traded.</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444854683329634304">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: Are you saying Harden would not stay with OKC IF they offered a max contract? ---> Wasn't about James. He wanted to stay.</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444855500463960064">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>. <a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: --> change your perspective - if your a team, do you give MAX to a guy thats goals do no not line up with your goals?</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444856068284624897">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: ---> You are coming off the NBA finals, your guy didn't play well and he is saying he wants you to change the process for him.</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444856330000801792">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/jsho12">@jsho12</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a> and yet presti wanted him back. ---> of course he did. he wanted him back in the role he was in, not what James wanted.</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444864035474116608">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: get lucky enough to draft a core of 4 young players like OKC did, you don't break it up.. --> you do if everyone is not on-board</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444866957603786752">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>. <a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: you are saying Harden is really that selfish -> I don't think accepting third fiddle when you believe you a first tier is selfish.</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444868647350448129">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: -> Both sides wanted different things from each other. That is not selfish, thats reality. James believed he could be who he is now</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444868949688463360">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Atip4">@Atip4</a>: --> James wanted more than OKC could give him in their system and rather than force a bad fit, they made a change</p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/444869144786526208">March 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In other words, they should have traded Westbrook instead of Harden, and given the ball to Harden. Durant can play off the ball alright. Or they could have signed Beverley and told Westbrook he would fit better coming off the bench. :grin: j/k
Isn't Steve Kyler notorious for making stuff up? Or am I thinking of someone else? Either way, everything that's come out about the trade (from James himself) suggests that if the Thunder had been a bit more patient with him, he might have taken the offer. He was offended by the fact that they gave him very little time to marinate on the $50m offer, and that's why he was open to being traded. Above all else, it seems like he loved playing with Durant and Westbrook, but he wasn't ok with being under-appreciated.
