Yeah, but wow. Must be a kick in the balls to the OU/OKC fans getting drilled by ND and finding out about this trade.
Durant was at the game too.
Yeah, but wow. Must be a kick in the balls to the OU/OKC fans getting drilled by ND and finding out about this trade.
Durant was at the game too.
On ND's sideline
So if you're Presti and you can keep two of three you stick with Durant and Harden and let Westbrook walk?
I think the Thunder made the right move here
I don't think you say one way or any other until the draft pick situation shakes out. All you can definitively say about this trade is that it was a gamble
Even without the draft picks, they dealt their sixth man for Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb. Lamb could very well end up being Harden anyway.
There isnt much of a talent gamble here. It is only a chemistry gamble.
Marc J. Spears @SpearsNBAYahoo
New @okcthunder guaed Kevin Martin to Y! Sports: "Oh my Gosh! Feels like a dream. Sometimes words can't describe it."
Harden is way overrated. He's really good, but OKC was smart to flip him now if he was intent on max money. I think it's a good trade for both sides. OKC still clear No. 2 behind the Lakers, and it's not close between them and No. 3.
You just said they gambled on Lamb. Martin is in a contract year too. It's a gamble. You had a team in the finals and you traded the guy that got you there. It was a gamble. The Lakers got better, and the Spurs stood pat. I'm not seeing how this trade helps them better unless the picks pan out.
Losing Lamb sucks. He's shown all the attributes of a true scorer so far... Glad we held on to Motiejunas though. The Aldrich Asik Motiejunas rotation should be a fun white out.
After next year (when the Thunder would have had Harden and time to trade him), the Thunder will be definitively weaker unless they can move up in the draft to get Noel or Zeller.
Harden could play PG or SG. He was a match up nightmare and allowed the team to rest Westbrook and Durant.
Ok Lamb, could be considered a gamble, but everything he has shown in preseason and summer league makes it look like he will be a solid player.
Either way my point is they traded away Harden in his contact year for Martin who is just as prolific if not more of a scorer than Harden.
Martin doesn't create his own shots. He doesn't pass or defend close to as well as Harden. Martin needs support. Harden is a leader. Martin gets hurt a lot. It's not even close.
I think it is also a valid argument that Harden getting/holding out for a max deal could have hurt chemistry when every other major player on the team had sacrificed their contract/value for the good of the team.
I'd make a significant bet that if you asked Durant and Westbrook, they would have said "Pay Harden."
Texas, do you like this deal? I mean I have always loved Morey's aggressiveness, but now he has tied up the Rockets with a future of Lin, Harden, and Asik (contract wise). Sure hope those guys play to their contracts
Probably true. Those guys love playing together, which is awesome.
Its why I think chemistry is the biggest thing at stake here for the Thunder
Ok Lamb, could be considered a gamble, but everything he has shown in preseason and summer league makes it look like he will be a solid player.
Either way my point is they traded away Harden in his contact year for Martin who is just as prolific if not more of a scorer than Harden.
I think it is also a valid argument that Harden getting/holding out for a max deal could have hurt chemistry when every other major player on the team had sacrificed their contract/value for the good of the team.