I just shudder to think what trades look like in the immediate future since teams will be looking at the Rudy Gobert haul and saying to themselves 'ahhh the guy we're giving up is better than Rudy'
Rudy could get flipped a year later for much less, which may help bring some balance back to the negotiations.
Marc stein on the Odd couple podcast: everyone around the league believes Harden and Houston are going to happen. Ima Udoka wants harden as well.
I would take Harden at 4 years 25 per with the understanding that he is coming to be a piece of the puzzle only. Year 4 would be team option of course. That would move KPJ to the sixth man role where he belongs and would leave enough cap space for two more significant signings. That’s not even counting talent added from the draft. If we could pull this off things could turn around quicker than expected in H town. A man can dream can’t he?
okay let’s assume that Harden is coming back and let’s assume that Brooklyn and LA won’t let Cam and Austin go since they are RFA’s. Let’s also assume Josh Hart stays with the Knicks. I see a realistic core rotation of: Sengun Jabari/Grant Williams ($18 mil) Tari Green/KPJ Harden ($35 mil)/Jevon Carter ($7 mil) Or Sengun/Lopez ($25 mil) Jabari Tari Green/KPJ Harden ($35 mil) plus our top 6 draft pick and vets via trade. I think those rosters, while improved, could still struggle. Mainly because of backcourt defensive deficiency. We are going to have to rely on Udoka to make Green Harden and KPJ significantly better defenders if we want to win.
I want Josh Hart for starting SF. A bit under sized but can defend and help with our rebounding. Harden can guard the bigger players and Smith can slide out to perimeter to defend when necessary. Acquire Caruso for Jaygup and Garuba. Sengun/Lively Smith/KMJ Hart/Eason Green/KPJ Harden/Caruso
There is noway harden is hitching his wagon to poor Joel. This guy gets injured every time around this time of the year. It’s not his fault either.
You are probably right. Id love to g Sengun Smith KPJ Green Harden but then we are just trying to outscore people unless we make our bench entirely defensively oriented. I want to build around Al but I do not see him working well for a lot of minutes with James Harden but maybe.
Once the Sixers get bounced from the 2nd round due to Embiid's injury, it's going to be even more obvious that Harden is leaving. There's no point in staying in Philly if Embiid is going to have an annual playoff injury.
