ClovingWestbrook
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2012 NBA Preseason |OT| The Rich Get Richer, The Poor Get Rasheed Wallace
- Thread starter Rodeo Clown
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Syphon Filter
Member
not really bad for okc. lamb may turn out decent,kmart is decent.
theignoramus
Member
homey JLin's gotta have a shit eating grin on his face right about now. He's the winner in this. team gets better and he dont have to carry the weight of the franchise.
Hi i'm Caleb
Member
In Moary we trust...lets go!
I think the question is, do they get to the finals without him. Thats the thing, he didn't show up in the finals, but prior to that he was sort of doing his thing in the playoffs. It just seems so sudden, like they barely thought about it.
But meh, I havent watched this Lamb guy in the preseason. Supposedly he is a really good player, so who knows.
Rodeo Clown
All aboard! The Love train!
He has less value after Wednesday's extension deadline and you don't want that kind of distraction over the course of the year.
MetalFearSolid
Banned
Funny how the last two Sixth Man of the Year award winner were traded from the team that they won the award from. Perhaps it is the start of something new..
Ninja Scooter
Member
his performance in the Finals has ZERO to do with this. It has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that having a max Harden/Durant/Westbrook on the same team as Perk/Ibaka means the Thunder are going to be at or over the salary cap, will have to pay penalties and (IIRC) will not be privy to any more of that socialist revenue sharing money. This was all about Bennett and co. going cheap. Not every owner puts winning as the number one priority the way Dr. Buss does. Shame.
Dominican Power
Member
People, the owner doesn't want to ante up. End of story. You honestly think if Presti's owner was Jim Dolan, Jim Buss or Marc Cuban, he'd trade Harden?
darkside31337
Tomodachi wa Mahou
It's literally impossible to say that kind of stuff.
But the Thunder are a worse team now than they were yesterday. There is no question about that. And the Rockets are a hell lot more interesting now than they were before. Not sure how good the Rockets will be this year but they are going to be fun to watch.
I've never been a Harden guy but he was a great fir on that team. Kev Mart doesn't have the ability to carry a second-team unit like Harden. At least the draft picks will be high.
ViewtifulJC
Banned
friskykillface
Banned
LOL Harden gone
RIP to him ever getting a ring now.
Do it Ainge
RIP to him ever getting a ring now.
Do it Ainge
Harden doesn't strike me as a guy who wants to be The Man. Building around him and Jeremy long term means the Rockets are going to wallow in mediocrity for a while.
Ninja Scooter
Member
Thats my littlefoot.
I am thinking the same thing. Feels like a L for the Rockets, and a 'maybe' for OKC.
Red Blaster
Member
Feels like Joe Johnson to Atlanta part 2
Dominican Power
Member
No more FThunder. Harden use to live at the line.
darkside31337
Tomodachi wa Mahou
Didn't realize that the picks the Thunder got were protected like hell. Dallas pick is top 20 protected and the Raptors pick is top 3 protected this year and scales from there. So not a ton of upside there.
The Dwight / Harden deal is a bit apples to oranges. Dwight wasn't willing to resign with anyone - hes going to test FA while Harden is signing an extension. Still shit sucks.
The Dwight / Harden deal is a bit apples to oranges. Dwight wasn't willing to resign with anyone - hes going to test FA while Harden is signing an extension. Still shit sucks.
Great analogy. Suns would have made it to at least one Finals if he had stayed.
You believe this?
theignoramus
Member
OKC with a quality distributor would be godly doe. Jose Calderon's on the market this year.
darkside31337
Tomodachi wa Mahou
I don't think its a lock he's in LA next year. More so if somehow the Lakers stutter in the playoffs this year.
No I really don't believe this. Just let me feel better about myself please.
Harden to become a god.
theignoramus
Member
lol, the brothers be about dat cheese. Manu took a paycut and won three rings.
James Harden is such a goddamn delusional fucker.
Not re-signing because he isn't getting a max contract? He's a really good role-player. That's like Toni Kukoc demanding a max during his Bulls days.
If the Rockets actually pay him that much, they're stupider than any of us thought possible. You're not winning shit with Harden as your best player.
Not re-signing because he isn't getting a max contract? He's a really good role-player. That's like Toni Kukoc demanding a max during his Bulls days.
If the Rockets actually pay him that much, they're stupider than any of us thought possible. You're not winning shit with Harden as your best player.
Ninja Scooter
Member
How is he delusional? He's getting his max deal.
The trade wouldn't have happened if he wasn't going to get his max.
Also, Asik is going to get tested on defense. Parsons, Harden, and Lin guarding the perimeter is going to have people running inside like its Black Friday.
And he'll think he's actually worth it.
Rodeo Clown
All aboard! The Love train!
Harden could even get a 5 year max now. I think it worked out pretty well for him.
I don't think that's the issue given that they've managed to sign Durant and Westbrook and overpaid Ibaka.
I just don't think OKC values Harden as highly as the rest of the league. I guess they could pull an orlando and overpay anyone even halfway decent, but what did that get the magic in the end?
Long term I'm not convinced this is a worse move than adding another max contract to the payroll. It remains to be seen what other moves they make.
Short term it seems strange because everyone thinks they were ready to win it all this year, but maybe the front office had doubts about the construction of the team. I could see how they could think that Harden doesn't do anything to help them compete with the Laker's frontcourt, but nothing they got back in the trade helps them at all either...
Ninja Scooter
Member
If he's getting it he's worth it. You are worth as much as someone is willing to pay. He had no reason to waver or take less money.
You're wrong. The fact that they resigned Durant, Westbrick and Ibaka is why they couldn't resign Harden. Owner is afraid of the luxury tax. You are crazy if you don't think they value Harden highly.
On the Rox.
Shocked if they do anything with Lin, Harden and Asik as their core.
Colonel Nasty
Member
What? Parsons is a good defender. Also Brook Lopez, Roy Hibbert, and Eric "Mr Glass" Gordon got the Max.
Have you seen the lakers bench?
Ninja Scooter
Member
They got banks in Houston too.
On second thought, OKC probably made a smart decision. Relying on a guy who cares so much more about money than winning wouldn't be good for long-term success. How much more is he getting now? Couple million? Surely, endorsements are easier to get when you're on a good team, right? Stupid move by Harden.
darkside31337
Tomodachi wa Mahou
Sabr dream team right there. Will be completely fascinated to see how it works. Or doesn't.
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