James Harden Traded To Rockets. REACTION!!! (merged)

[goCeltics]

thinks it's horrible for okc, do not like kmart, think the picks will be in the teens in a weak draft, not enough intake for a star, harden is a star, the upside here is that people especially simmons will hopefully stop pimping presti and telling us how he ripped ainge in the perkins trade, looks like perkins bloated contract just cost the thunder a star.

Also aldrich is quite good on a per minute basis, if he gets minutes he could break out.

[indeedproceed]

Seems like a win-win - OKC wasn't willing to pay Harden so they got back an expiring deal (and K-Mart could start for them), couple of prospects, and two 1sts.  Houston finally gets to make that all-in move they've been shooting for all year.

This hurts OKC's title chances this year, I do like it better for them long-term - more cheap rookie deals to fill out their rotation going forward.  Plus, I'm not quite as big on Harden as a lot of people.  Not sure if he's got the chops to be a #1 guy and lead a team to significant wins.  Seems like a better #2/3 option, both in terms of his game and his mentality.

Harden is probably a 2nd option star. A Pippen, not a Jordan (to make it overly simplistic), but he works on a lot of levels here.

1) if they ever do manage to develops a legit star or acquire one, Houston could be a fully furnished contender. Harden, one or two of their youngsters getting consistent (my money is on Parsons and White), and Asik a perfect defense first anchor if he pans out.

2) Harden complements Lin better than any 2 guard in the league would, aside from maybe a healthy Chauncey Billups. His passing deferential game, and his independent potential for shot creation means ball movement and distributions will be a considerably less potent vulnerability. If Royce White pans out, it'll be a strength.

[indeedproceed]

If Lamb can start, Martin plus a few of those picks for Milsap and Hayward makes OKC a complete team. A complete juggernaught, a steel sword in a land of brass and copper gladiuses (gladiui?).

[KCattheStripe]

Darryl Morey, a genius without a plan.

[GreenFaith1819]

Just listened to Mark Stein from ESPN on this trade. He spoke of the Chemistry hit that OKC just took with this trade.

IMO, I think this will be OKC's Kendrick Perkins-BOS effect - all over again. Looking at OKC from the outside, the entire team seemed to have great chemistry, but Westbrook, Durant, Harden formed the core of that as I think their best three. Their saving grace is that the season hasn't started yet, so they'll have some time to adjust to the change.

OKC will feel this one for a bit. They will still crush the lesser teams out there, but OKC took a HUGE chemistry hit, here.

[Lucky17]

If Lamb can start, Martin plus a few of those picks for Milsap and Hayward makes OKC a complete team. A complete juggernaught, a steel sword in a land of brass and copper gladiuses (gladiui?).

Gladii. But who cares, you're rolling.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

USA Today says the picks involved are 2 first rounders and a second rounder.

Huge steal for OKC imo. I mean, I know Harden is borderline superstar but KevMart can still provide the scoring that Harden does. Lamb has great potential, on both ends of the floor. And with two 1st to play around and get more pieces, WOW.

I think Thunder wins this trade. Don't get me wrong, Harden is a great pickup for Rockets, and Aldrich will be big time, trust me. But giving up 2 first rounders, really?

[Lucky17]

Plus, with Dwight Howard in the West and on the Lakers ...

Still haven't come around to thinking of Dwight in purple and gold. You're absolutely right, Perkins will be quite valuable in that matchup.

[indeedproceed]

Darryl Morey, a genius without a plan.

Reporter: James Harden is really good, but is he the ideal player you had in mind when you had all those assets to get a superstar?
Morey: Anytime you can get a player who has a true shooting percent of 84 when driving left on the second day of a back to back while on a extended road trip in odd-numbered monthes, you just gotta do it.

[Lucky17]

1) if they ever do manage to develops a legit star or acquire one, Houston could be a fully furnished contender.

So, what remaining assets does Morey have to acquire this legit star to add to Lin, Harden, and Asik?

[Yoki_IsTheName]

1) if they ever do manage to develops a legit star or acquire one, Houston could be a fully furnished contender.

So, what remaining assets does Morey have to acquire this legit star to add to Lin, Harden, and Asik?

Terrence Jones, Royce White???

[scaryjerry]

doest make OKC better this year, simple as that. reminds me somewhat of orlando trading lee and getting a fraud in vince carter a year after making and losing in the finals..while this trade could benefit them in the long run Kevin Martin is a fraud and adds nothing but chucking...hes never made a team better...lamb is irrelevant this season

[KCattheStripe]

1) if they ever do manage to develops a legit star or acquire one, Houston could be a fully furnished contender.

So, what remaining assets does Morey have to acquire this legit star to add to Lin, Harden, and Asik?

Terrence Jones, Royce White???

Chandler Parsons.

[indeedproceed]

1) if they ever do manage to develops a legit star or acquire one, Houston could be a fully furnished contender.

So, what remaining assets does Morey have to acquire this legit star to add to Lin, Harden, and Asik?

Royce White, Terrance Jones, Parsons, Dontas Monte...whatever, and an astute ability to maneuver salary cap loopholes to mock the cba.

Also, just a little future star stretch 4 who will dominate the league for decades named Jajuan Johnson. Maybe you've heard of him, he's kind of a big deal.

[Celts Fan 92]

OKC won dis deal by a landslide lol K-Mart can replace Harden's 17ppg Lamb is good for da future nd da 3 first round picks is straight robbery. iont see Harden as a number 1 option nd if he is he wont be efficient wit it