[lynchburgwildcats]

The Thunder acquired guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick in the surprising deal that was completed Saturday night. Oklahoma City also sent center Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to Houston.

One of the first round picks is Toronto's 2013, so a lottery pick for sure, and the second rounder is Charlotte's 2013 second, so OKC will still be able to get a low first round quality player with that pick. The additional first rounder is the Dallas first in 2013

Not surprised by the trade, I knew with the contract Harden was going to take (a max or nearly max deal) from OKC was going to precipitate an exit from OKC by either Westbrook or Harden. I am shocked that they made the trade now though. It doesn't make them much worse as Kevin Martin can score buckets left and right in his sleep, but it does take them down a slight bit this year. Likely out of championship contention status unless Jeremy Lamb emerges quick as a defensive guy who can score - basically a Thabo Sefolosha type that can score. Kevin Martin is an atrocious defender, but it's not like James Harden was locking down his opponent, and James Harden played about as bad as a max contract player can play in an NBA Finals.

I think Sam Presti ran circles around Houston in this trade.
1) Presti got a significantly better deal out of Harden than Orlando got out of Dwight Howard even though it wasn't a well kept secret that Harden or Westbrook were virtually guaranteed to be traded if Harden refused to sign for less than the max.
2) I don't really buy Harden as a max contract type of player. Right now he's basically Manu Ginobili in his prime, but a lesser defender and playmaker than Ginobili, and was Manu never offered a max contract as far as I know. He has definitely never signed a max contract, I know that with 100% certainty
3) They gave up more straight up talent to get Harden. Martin gives nearly the same offensive value at a cheaper price and they gave up a promising rookie that has the best value contract in sports - an NBA rookie contract.
4) Martin is one of the most efficient scorers in NBA history. Martin has the fifth best career offensive rating and sixth best true shooting percentage among active players. He rankes 23rd and 21st respectively in those two categories in NBA history. And that efficiency comes as the go-to scorer on every team he's been on since his third year in the league, just imagine what he will do when surrounded by two elite scorers in Westbrook and Durant! His offensive efficieny is likely to be off the charts by coming off the bench as the sixth man going against backups while also getting more open looks and more room to penetrate with Westbrook and Durant freeing him up.
5) On top of that, Houston gave up a very likely lottery pick, another first, and a near first in the 2013 draft. With how well Sam Presti drafts, you can basically book it that he'll get at least one quality player out of those three picks if not two or three.

[Sly Fox]

Keep in mind the Rockets salary cap position is ridiculously open. Max contract means nothing to a team full of guys making the MLE or less. This was a flat out steal of Harden. The Rockets have a TON of draft picks to deal and plenty of cap space. Outside of Linsanity, there was absolutely no reason for Houstonians to even acknowledge the Rockets existence until this trade.

[thepostman]

Harden is not worth a max contract. Not even close. The Thunder knew he was demanding more then he was worth and got a great deal in return. The Rockets are reaching here, but maybe it will work out for them. We shall see

[lynchburgwildcats]

Keep in mind the Rockets salary cap position is ridiculously open. Max contract means nothing to a team full of guys making the MLE or less. This was a flat out steal of Harden. The Rockets have a TON of draft picks to deal and plenty of cap space. Outside of Linsanity, there was absolutely no reason for Houstonians to even acknowledge the Rockets existence until this trade.

It's only a steal if Harden can play the role of THE man up to the level he is expected to be for a franchise that I assume would like to be a contender if the near future. The jury is out on that. It's a lot easier to look like you can be the man for a team when you're the #3 option on a stacked team. There's a long list of people who looked outstanding as second and third fiddle on a stacked team that weren't able to live up to the billing as the #1 option.

Does he have that potential? Of course, but he's got to prove it too. Is he the next top quality star on a contending team, or is he going to be a top quality star that can't be the man on a legitimate title contending team like Joe Johnson?

And how are the Rockets full of guys making the MLE or less? Lin and Asik will make 25 million over three years, but both contracts are really backloaded at $15 million in the final year. That's basically two max contracts in the third year of the deal. Combine that with Harden, that will make three max contract type deals in the 2014-15 season.

Asik and Lin got payed like they are nearly all-stars, and Harden is about to get paid like he is an All-NBA player. They better hope Lin is more than just a flash in the pan (remember, he's really only been relevant for about 25 games), that Asik can do more than just rebound and defend which is about all he has done on a consistent basis, and that Harden can be the man on what I assume they hope to be an eventual contending team. Those are three HUGE question marks considering the cash being given out to them.

[Sly Fox]

No one in Houston expects to contend anytime soon. And check the salaries after the three you mentioned. Nearly all are league minimums.

The Rockets went all in to clear cap space to make an ill-fated run at Howard. After that failure, the only thing the team had going for them this offseason was tons of cap space, expiring contracts and a slew of draft picks.

K-Mart is not going to be missed even a bit. Dude disappeared in close games and was out due to injury at the most inopportune of times.

Who knows what Lamb is capable of producing. That was a gamble but I don't think anyone in Houston is regretting it right now.

We can argue all day whether or not Harden is a true max contract player. But the fact of the matter is that trying to obtain top tier talent in the league is growing tougher everyday for teams not in L.A. or Miami. Otherwise the draft is the only real relief.

[jinxy]

If martin was so good i dont think the rockets would have been offering him in EVERY deal over the last year. Nice player and some used decent parts but okc took a step back in my opinion

[Sly Fox]

Martin was reportedly a bad locker-room guy and a major defensive liability. Combine that with his nagging injuries and the Rockets were looking to dump him on just about anyone who would take him.

[thepostman]

It looks like Harden is willing to take a long term deal with the Rockets. With that as part of the equation, and even though I think the Rockets will be overpaying him, its a win-win for both sides in my opinion.

[Sly Fox]

Have we mentioned that Harden is 23 and hasn't the opportunity yet to show if he is a true #1 option yet? I really like this move but there is certainly risk associated with the acquisition.

[thepostman]

Yeah I agree the Rockets could be at least halfway decent if they play their cards right within the next few years.

I just don't want the owners complaining yet again that players are overpaid when they continually overpay for talent. Its on them.

[Sly Fox]

The NBA collective bargaining is a mess. They seem to have managed to keep the entry-level & draft salaries under control. But the second contracts for players are ridiculous.

As for the Rockets, they likely are landing right back in one of the mediocre #6-8 seeds where we have become accustomed to playing for most of the past decade. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or awful. It depends on what I had for lunch.

[lynchburgwildcats]

hasn't the opportunity yet to show if he is a true #1 option yet?

And that's why you don't give the guy a max contract, especially a five-year max contract. Teams are now only allowed to have give out one five-year contract. So now Houston will only be able to give out four year maxes until Harden's contract comes off the books. That could end up effectively eliminating them from the competition for other players who will have a good chance to get a max deal. The 2013 free agent class is relatively weak, but depending on how contract negotiations turn out, the 2014 and 2015 classes are going to be absolutely loaded, and Houston just prevented themselves from being able to give the best offer to these guys so they can get a player who hasn't proven he can be the man on a team.

As for the Rockets, they likely are landing right back in one of the mediocre #6-8 seeds where we have become accustomed to playing for most of the past decade. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or awful.

If my team was in that position, I'd rather them trade away players to get back into the lottery so they can have a chance at drafting a stud. There's nothing worse than being in the position where you can't compete but you also don't get the chance at drafting studs. Very hard to improve on that positioning without some major luck in the draft or having cap flexibility to get significant acquisitions in crafty trades or free agency.

But yes I agree with you Sly that the CBA is a mess. The owners locked the players out and for one reason being small market guys cant keep talent. But then they mad all these rules that hurt small market teams. Like teams only being able to hand out one five-year max deal. I don't know if Harden would have signed with less per year over five years to stay with OKC, but us and OKC management never even got to see if he would because Westbrook was given a five-year deal. Can't fault a man one single bit for leaving to take a contract that pays $20m more guaranteed.

[Purple Haize]

Have we mentioned that Harden is 23 and hasn't the opportunity yet to show if he is a true #1 option yet? I really like this move but there is certainly risk associated with the acquisition.

He's certainly no Granville Waiters, Mitchell Wiggins or Jim Peterson!

[bballfan84]

Harden is not worth a max contract. Not even close. The Thunder knew he was demanding more then he was worth and got a great deal in return. The Rockets are reaching here, but maybe it will work out for them. We shall see

Yea he looked pretty bad last night didnt he???

[thepostman]

Haha, touche.

It was one night though so lets not get to carried away. I did say maybe it will work out for them, we shall see...

Its not like I am the only person shocked he got the kind of money he did. Especially after the owners complained so much about how overpaid the players are during the lockout last year.

[NotAJerry]

Why would people be shocked at Harden getting max money? He just won 6th man of the year, was great in the playoffs, has improved every season, and put up 17 pts/4 reb/4 ast in just 31 minutes last year while shooting 49% overall, 39% on 3s, and 85% on FT. He's not going to put up 37/6/12 every night but he's a top tier shooter, can score from anywhere, has good rebound/assist totals for a 2 guard, and at 23 is still improving. He's one of the safer bets to get a max deal.

[RubberMallet]

Why would people be shocked at Harden getting max money? He just won 6th man of the year, was great in the playoffs, has improved every season, and put up 17 pts/4 reb/4 ast in just 31 minutes last year while shooting 49% overall, 39% on 3s, and 85% on FT. He's not going to put up 37/6/12 every night but he's a top tier shooter, can score from anywhere, has good rebound/assist totals for a 2 guard, and at 23 is still improving. He's one of the safer bets to get a max deal.

yes....6th man award screams max contract.

[NotAJerry]

Why would people be shocked at Harden getting max money? He just won 6th man of the year, was great in the playoffs, has improved every season, and put up 17 pts/4 reb/4 ast in just 31 minutes last year while shooting 49% overall, 39% on 3s, and 85% on FT. He's not going to put up 37/6/12 every night but he's a top tier shooter, can score from anywhere, has good rebound/assist totals for a 2 guard, and at 23 is still improving. He's one of the safer bets to get a max deal.

yes....6th man award screams max contract.

Moreso than your reading comprehension skills.

[thepostman]

Nothing he has done previously in his career has warranted max money. If he turns into a great player then it justifies what the gamble Houston took.

I don't quite understand why that is so hard to understand. I like the guy and think he is talented so its not an insult on him. I don't blame him for wanting to get paid. I just think Houston is gambling by taking away the flexibility they had for a player that has not proven he can be the man.

But if he continues to play even close to how he played last night then it will be at least justified.

[lynchburgwildcats]

Haha, touche.

It was one night though so lets not get to carried away. I did say maybe it will work out for them, we shall see...

Its not like I am the only person shocked he got the kind of money he did. Especially after the owners complained so much about how overpaid the players are during the lockout last year.

Yes, one nice night being guarded by no defense Rodney Stuckey. Still a nice night, but let's see what he can do against all league defenders like Tony Allen, for example.

[lynchburgwildcats]

Why would people be shocked at Harden getting max money? He just won 6th man of the year, was great in the playoffs, has improved every season, and put up 17 pts/4 reb/4 ast in just 31 minutes last year while shooting 49% overall, 39% on 3s, and 85% on FT. He's not going to put up 37/6/12 every night but he's a top tier shooter, can score from anywhere, has good rebound/assist totals for a 2 guard, and at 23 is still improving. He's one of the safer bets to get a max deal.

Sure, he's a very, very good player offensively, but his defense is subpar at best. In fact, OKC was 6.7 points per 48 worse defensively with him on the court than when he was off the court. And he was playing against several backups a lot of the time he was on the court. People who get max contracts SHOULD be playing at a high level all game, not just when they get to make the highlight tapes. And this is not some anti-Harden statement, I disagree in general with giving a max contract to guys who don't put in much of an effort on defense.

[TDDance234]

It has the potential to be the worst defensive backcourt in the NBA this season - but it's going to be a lot of fun watching Lin and Harden run that offense for the foreseeable future!

[thepostman]

Harden keeps this up then he really will be worth that money

[Sly Fox]

Perhaps he has just been waiting for his turn behind KD & RW. I doubt he can keep this up but dare I say he is off to a Linsanity-type of start to the season.

[NotAJerry]

Nothing he has done previously in his career has warranted max money.

Being the best player for the Thunder when they took out the seemingly unbeatable Spurs last postseason was worth max money. Every chance he's gotten he's proven he's an elite scorer and he has a more complete offensive game than most SG. I'd much rather have Harden/Durant than Westbrook/Durant.