Count me in the group that thinks Presti doesn't care enough about the here-and-now. I was shocked they didn't get another veteran big man after failing to move up far enough to get an impact player in the draft. Don't know if I agree with your comment that Morey "over-values" his players. He's been fairly aggressive on the trade front since joining the Rockets. Regarding Harden, he has plenty of chances to show his stuff and Scott Brooks got all over his case early in the season to be more aggressive. They WANT him to take more jumpers and drive to the basket when he's on the floor. The problem is he started the season playing like an undrafted rookie. Then he improved for a few games and slipped back again. In December, Harden played like the guy OKC expected when they drafted him. The last 2-3 weeks he's gone back into unproductive mode. Harden has to learn to play with purpose every time he steps on the court. When the 2nd team is in the game, he's supposed to play lead dog but seems to forget that most of time now. When he plays with the big guns his role is to take advantage of single (or no) coverage and punish defenses. He did this effective at times last season and many times this year. OKC doesn't know which James Harden will show up from game to game. The aggressive guy that attacks the rim and draws a bunch of FTs? The marksman that drills open 3s? Or the passive slug that accomplishes nothing? Harden's problems have nothing to do with KD and Westbrook. It's mental. When his switch is turned on, the guy makes an impact. No doubt about it. He just needs to do it more often. Last season, Westbrook was playing like a yoyo until OKC traded for Eric Maynor. Immediately Westbrook took his game to another level. He was spectacular sometimes. Maybe Daequan Cook's recent emergence will push Hardin to deliver the goods.
If I remember the conversation correctly, I dissed the notion you put forth that Harden was a bust as a rookie. That is still a ridiculous idea. Or maybe that wasn't you and we had a different discussion. My goodness, I don't underrate Scola at all. Without him the Rockets would crumble like a house of cards. I'm just telling you that (right or wrong) Sam Presti doesn't want him. Is that clear now? Regarding Ibaka, you do realize it's just his 2nd season and OKC has him cheap for the next 2 seasons and then the qualifying offer after that, right? LOL, signing him to an extension at $10 million per year is the last thing they need to worry about now. This reminds me of when people were saying the Blazers would never be able to re-sign Rudy Fernandez, Jarryd Bayless, Greg Oden, etc. A bit premature.
I love this trade, and I've thought about this trade for a very looooong time, but I don't see how the Thunder is willing to do this unless we throw it some kind of SG replacement. I think a more likely scenario would be: Scola + Battier + Lee for Harden + Aldrich Then we start Harden at SF and we'd have a pretty good future. OKC is one of the most, if not THE, most shrewed teams in the league. What makes you think Presti will give up the 3rd pick in the 2009 draft for a 30 year old no-defense player?
I do think Hardin has a bit of a mental thing going, but I also think he NEEDS to play extended minutes to maximize his talent. I think Cook's recent resurgence will do more bad then good for Hardin because his minutes maybe cut a bit more. Not sure he may ever turn into Dwayne Wade but I think, with consistent playing time, he could become a really good SG. I'm one for rebuilding so this comes from that point of view when I say he over-values his guys. He keeps waiting for the right piece to put along side these guys and expected them to contend for at least a playoff spot even if Yao went down, pretty obvious he was wrong. Would Melo make this squad a title contender or how about Melo and Nene? Why not trade Scola or Martin in a lateral move but acquiring someone who plays both ways instead of just being one-dimensional and are Scola and Martin that valuable that neither go unless it's for a star?
Harden gets 25 mins/game. That plenty enough for him to flush out whatever needs to be flushed out. At this point in his career, he's definitely not a 30+ mins/game player. I don't think there is much argument. Thabo Sefolosha hasn't played well the entire season and Harden has had a golden opportunity to seize more minutes. I will give him credit for finishing more games and for improving his defense immensely. I agree with you that he will figure it out eventually an be a consistently dynamic 6th man.
So you're saying Harden as a 3rd pick wasn't a bust? I think this should be pretty clear by now, esp. if you use WB and Ibaka as benchmarks for lottery picks. I don't think its a bad thing to plan ahead. If Presti think Ibaka-WB-Durant is their big 3, it makes sense to pile on contracts now, while they still have flexibility. If they stand pat now they won't be able to add quality pieces later when then Durant and WB eat away their capspace.
Correct. Calling Harden a "bust" at this point is silly. Have you seen him play this season? Last season? "Busts" don't make major impacts on games like he has. Harden's problem is consistency. People were on Westbrook's case until midway last season for the same exact reason. Duuuuuuh, of course planning ahead isn't a bad idea. Who says it isn't? Not "piling on contracts now" by not wanting Scola isn't the same as not planning ahead. Who considers Ibaka part of their big 3? He ain't there by a very long shot. You love to rushing to judgement. Harden is a "bust" and Ibaka is part of the Thunder's "big 3". Okay.
Seems like Harden is at his best when he is starting though - certainly he is far more engaged in the game when he gets big minutes. I doubt he will ever be a legit star but I can totally see him being a solid starter on a contender. If the Bulls could get him that would be a big step up for them. I know this doesn't help Houston but... Chicago gets Harden and Aldrich OKC gets Gibson and Brewer Chicago gets a legit SG who will likely be able to hit open shots Rose can create for him and they stay young. They lose a cherished defensive prospect(who was losing minutes once Boozer returned) but gain a rawer defensive prospect which might be okay given Asik's surprising development. OKC loses the best player in this trade but gains a quality young mobile defensive big to pair with Ibaka and a decent bench SG - both young players with no baggage.
OK. Basically, Presti is indeed planning ahead. Amidst all the vagueness of what comes out of his mouth, he makes it very clear he has a long term plan. The fact those plans don't include "piling on contracts" like Scola doesn't mean he isn't thinking forward.
This trade does nothing for the Thunder. They don't need Brewer with Sefolosha already on the team as the offensively challenged "stopper". With Ibaka and Collison, I don't see where Gibson would help much. What the Thunder would trade for is (1) a center that is clearly better than what they have and (2) a veteran SG that is a clear upgrade. Over the summer, they have to add an older player (or two) to their rotation to contend next year.
jeff green would be a beast if he stayed at his natural position. (small forward instead of power forward.).
