Official 2012-2013 NBA Thread
 

Looks like James Harden has been To the Rockets for Jeremey Lamb, Kevin Martin and future picks. Plus... this is a general NBA thread.

God ****ing damnit mother ****er!!!!!


Oh well. We had no choice.

It's good we traded him instead of watching him leave in free agency

Well...that's a bad trade for OKC. Their team just took a serious value hit today....Harden was one of the best players in the NBA last season when he was on the court (see his rate stats).

Who's going to beat the Heat this year now? The answer would seem to be nobody.

I love Lamb's upside, but Martin is a terrible fit there.

Harden is going to be a stud there.

Lol, I was looking for a thread to post this in, but couldn't find one. This was going to be my opportunity to really add something that hadn't been posted already!!! Mr. Bundy, you have ruined my breakthrough, shining moment.

http://www.vh1.com/celebrity/bwe/ima...eek-crying.gif

Why not make this move at the deadline? I mean, Harden was essential to their success in the post-season. He was a matchup nightmare from the standpoint he could dominate the ball, and he was probably the best at attacking the basket late in games when teams were worried about Durant on the wing.

Kevin Martin is a nice spot up shooter, but he offers little else.

Thunder will be fine, but I think the Lakers are clearly the favorites now in the West.

Cole Aldrich is involved in the trade too! Why don't you mention that, hmm?

The Lakers in the finals maybe.

Since I have no team to root for I'll again root for KU players and against the Lakers.

Kobe and Nash aren't exactly the same as they used to be. Certainly a better chance for them of getting there now, though.

No but they're still quite good and Dwight Howard is as good as he used to be. Note I said "maybe."

They are still better than 95% of the rest of the players in the league.

.

Dan Le Batard Show ‏@LeBatardShow

OKC trades Harden to Houston, and sign-and-trades the Western Conference Championship to the Lakers.

I love Harden, but once the shock wore off I like the trade. A first from Toronto will be a lottery pick. The first from Dallas could be a decent pick. I like Lamb, and Martin can at least provide scoring off the bench. I love getting rid of Cook, Cole and Hayward.

We now have 2 open roster spots. I think there maybe more trades coming. If we stay pat, we won't be as good this year, but the long term looks better.

They offered him 55 today and he took 60 from the Rockets. Really, don't understand it from Hardens perspective at all. I guess he wants to be the man. We'll see how he handles it

I don't know about the Toronto lottery thing. I like the squad they have put together. Really good PG, front court is upgraded with the young center that I can't spell his name.

True. But that 5% includes LeBron and Wade.

Jonas Valanciunas, he's looking like a serious improvement. I'd expect them to win 35-40 games, which is as good as they've been in 5-6 years and might be good enough to get them in the playoffs.

I thought they would give that team at least a few years. I guess Harden wanted to start. i really cant blame him and his stance, but damn, as a laker fan, this is great.

Anyways, season starts in 2 days, lets do it!

LAKERS!

Bargnani?

Lol! What team other than the Celtics have won 16 Championships? Oh that's right...THE LAKE SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And number 17 coming soon...Also Ive been hearing your boy LeBron may become a Laker next year...He knows the place to go to win multiple CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I'm more concerned about how this effects chemistry than anything. Harden isn't a good defender, and not a max guy IMO. Westbrook and Ibaka took a little less to keep it together. I'm pretty shocked Harden wasn't willing to do so. It's better to trade him with 3 throw away players now for a couple of scorers, and give yourself time to play together than do it midseason. Then you have a couple of picks to package or keep.

It will be interesting to see how Harden handles the spotlight. I really like the guy and hope he succeeds.

I thought the Lakers were the favorites in the West anyway, so nothing changes there.

When Kobe and Nash retire, a Lebron/Howard team would look like ass. No better than any of his Cleveland teams if Lebron can't have another guy on his team that can create his own shot

A Lebron Howard team would win multiple titles.

That's 2 of the top 5 players in the NBA. 2 of the top 10 defenders in the NBA. In 2 years, they are also both still under 30.

They wouldn't be the only pieces there either. LeBron has never played with a dominant big like him.

No, Valachenus or however you spell it.

Whoa man, cut down on the exclamation points.

#17 may be coming soon, but I doubt it's going to happen as long as LeBron is playing for the Heat.

I assume the Lakers would pull off a trade to get another scorer, because they would need it. Possibly get rid of Pau for a veteran somewhere.

In 2 years, Pau is off the books, which is when LeBron would be a FA.

Of course they would need another scorer.

Lol no. Dwight has more talent in his pinky toe than the rest of the Cleveland teams combined.

We're talking about teams where Ilgauskas was the 2nd best player after LeBron.

Harden is a far, far better defender than Kevin Martin (who is really pretty useless outside of his shooting ability).

There's no question the Thunder took a hit at their 2013 championship hopes tonight with this loss. What they do with that freed up money will determine whether it will be a hit in the future years beyond that.

I think I'm going to be a Bucks fan this year. They need a fan.

Sounds almost as bad as being a Raptors fan.

Good luck.

Steve Nash will have the only active contract for the Lakers in 2014 (if he hasn't retired already). LeBron and Dwight having max deals still leaves room for at least 1 more top 15 guy and a few MLE type players.

I'm a Royals and Chiefs fan man... do you think I'm concerned with winning?

I hope Ron is still around then.

Feel free to start watching hockey and become a Devils fan. We do alright overall.

Nope he's gone too.

Think he's an expiring contract in 2013.

I think the draft picks are the most attractive part. Plus, Martin is expiring so he may have some value at the trade deadline.

Lamb is nice, but how the Thunder adjust late in games will be very interesting.

I watched a few Blues games several years back (during a good year for them) and really tried. Just didn't keep my interest.

Wow,you act like Lebron has won multiple titles,lol! He has won only 1 title. Lakers have won 16 CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!! LeBron does not worry me.

It's a diehard sport for the most part. I can't get enough of it. Good thing they aren't having a season.....AGAIN.

I go look at the Lakers roster and I totally forgot they still had Pau Gasol. Yeah, they're winning the West.

And once again my Bulls didn't do shit to be taken seriously. Poor Rose.

He should. He's the best player in the NBA by far, he just willed his team to a championship last season, and he will probably do it again many more times (whether it's for the Heat or somebody else).

This really ruined my evening. I love Harden.

[QUOTE=KC_Connection;9055607]He should. He's the best player in the NBA by far

Really? Really. Really?

Totally.

1 measly championship and he is the best in LEAGUE! lol....

Kevin Martin will be there 1 year. I know he's a horrid defender. For the overall future of the franchise it's a good move. Hardens not worth 60 Mill. IMO. Maynor is back to run the second team. A spot up shooter, PJ3 and Lamb will still mske the Thunder the number 2 team in the West. IMO we weren't beating the Lakers or Heat with Harden.

How the hell did you forget that? Nash and Pau running the pick and roll had me concerned before Howard even came into the picture.

While the Lakers are no doubt the favorites, I refuse to completely count out any team that has Kevin Durant on it.

The picks are definitely what makes it a damn good deal. I was raging when I just heard Martin and Lamb. Another thing I like is I see Perry Jones gets more minutes now. I REALLY like what I've seen from him.

I agree, but the Lakers are going to be tough for the next 2 years. EVEN for the Heat.

I like the trade to be honest. Harden, as good of a player as he is isnt worth a max contract. The Thunder already have scoring. Thats not the problem, so I kinda feel Ibaka was more important to keep. As has already been said, Martin is a nice stop gap player and should be useful as a scorer. Thabo is going to start anyway. Lamb has as much potential as anybody in last yrs draft. Best part about this is the two draft picks.PJ3 looks like a stud in the making. If you let Harden walk, you get nothing. If you do it at the trade deadline you mess up team chemistry. And, I dont buy that the Lakers are a shoe in for the NBA finals. As seen with the Heat, it can take teams luke this a couple yrs to jell right and the lakers just dont have that time. I honestly think OKC got the better end of this deal. Remember this is a Houston team who played Chase Budinger all year, doesnt let Marcus Morris play, and overpaid for the asian tim tebow.

I have nothing against hockey, just never had had a team to root for so never got into it. I can't root for teams 1000 miles away. I need a hometown tie to feel the love.

Its not that bad. Especially today being able to see every game. Hell, 1,200 miles apart hasn't kept me from giving up on the Chiefs even with all the fail.

Like I said without a hometown team to root for I just can't care that much. I'm a KC fan... the city, the teams. The Blues are close now but it wasn't a sport I grew up with (no KC team) so even though I tried I just couldn't get into it. Plus they're from St. Louis and that city really sucks aside from not being my hometown.

True. Well they did use to be the KC Scouts.

Join me... be a Golden State Warriors fan. They actually have several good pieces in place, especially if Andrew Bogut can get and stay healthy.

That's a pretty big IF :)

Unless LeBron gets hurt he will championships until Durant turns 28. That is when the torch will pass.

I guess I just found him easy to forget with the other three big names and with Lakers fans always hating on him even though he won them a championship.

Sounds like A Rod. I wasn't fully sure where he went either when I went on a 2 month NBA hiatus. The fact that people thought he would be pissed after the almost trade makes you feel he was gone. Add to that getting Howard and its easy to have thought he was on his way out.

harden isn't a franchise player, that's an excellent trade....OKC found a desperate team and fleeced them...

and harden not wanting to stay on a championship caliber team for 4 mill over the life of the contract is just stupid...have fun failing to meet expectations in houston

being #3 behind durant and westbrook was the sweetest gig in the nba...ego is a terrible thing

I also disagree that Harden is not worth what he's asking. Only LeBron, Durant, and Paul had a better win share per 48 minute rate than Harden last season (http://www.basketball-reference.com/.../NBA_2012.html) While that will likely decline with more playing time and playing more of a primary role rather than a tertiary one, he's a great player. If OKC isn't going to give him the money, somebody else will and they'll reap the benefits of his production.

Root for the Blues. They are the Chiefs and Royals all wrapped into one.

We hate on him because there are moments when he shrinks and just plays awful for games at a time. What's worse are that these moments tend to happen in the post season most of the time.

He also fills the generic image of a European(especially Spain/Italy) flopping baby.

I haven't heard Gasol mentioned or read about him in regard to the Lakers at all this month. It's been all Dwight, Nash, and of course Kobe.

It could be worse. He could be Bargnani.

he's not a #1...his stats don't mean squat to me in the absence of durant and westbrook...they bear the responsibility for that team night in and night out..

we'll find out...

Harden's getting a lot more than 4 million over the life. He's going to get a 5 year 80 million dollar deal and play in a state with no state income tax.

is all i've seen reported...

anyways, time willl tell....i think okc bent houston over...very smart move by the GM...he made a legit offer, and then maximized harden's value in a trade

He'll get a max 80MM deal in Houston.

He's not worth a max contract to OKC. We will find out if he can be the man somewhere. Honestly, even when Thabo went down and they tried to start him he struggled mightily. He had a role he was comfortable in and had the light shinning on KD and Russ. I think it's a bad decision on his part. I have watched every game he's played in the NBA and I love his game, and what he brought to the Thunder, but that number you love so much is about to drop like a rock.

He's certainly a #1 in Houston. He'd definitely be the #1 for the team that I follow in Toronto. He'd honestly be a #1 in a lot of places...I don't blame him at all for wanting to be paid like a #1 instead of being low-balled by OKC.

He'll be getting $25M more out of Houston. Well worth it for him.

But this wasn't really a decision on his part. He just wanted his market value which is completely understandable for a player in his position. It was a decision on OKC's part to deal him and hinder their championship hopes for this season to get something for him.