Wizards Rejected Trade For Harden?

[crownontherocks]

The Washington Wizards declined a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder for James Harden, according to multiple people with knowledge of the proposed deal.

Wizards' owner Ted Leonsis was unwilling to commit to an $80 million max contract offer over five seasons to Harden.

Bradley Beal and Chris Singleton would have been traded to the Thunder in return for Harden, according to sources.

Harden was ultimately traded by Oklahoma City to the Rockets.

One Wizards official denied that Oklahoma City had offered Harden in exchange for Beal and Singleton, stating that the Thunder was also seeking an established player — which the Wizards didn’t have — in return.

“That’s not true,” the official said about the proposed deal.

Via Michael Lee/Washington Post

[Who]

James Harden would have been perfect for John Wall.

[Fafnir]

The report says that they didn't want to hit the luxury tax with their current squad plus Harden. Which if true just shows you how bad the Okafor/Ariza deal was.

[RJ87]

The report says that they didn't want to hit the luxury tax with their current squad plus Harden. Which if true just shows you how bad the Okafor/Ariza deal was.

A Wall, Harden, Ariza, Okafor, Nene starting 5 would've been pretty good though - definitely a playoff team in the Eastern Conference. However, I can kinda see the hesitation. If you're an owner paying the luxury tax, you wanna be a legitimate contender. Still... A Harden/Wall backcourt is something you can build around for sure. Not to mention the influence Harden could provide to Wall.

[ScottHow]

I don't know about anyone else, but I also didn't think Harden would be this good off of OKC. I thought he was a nice player, but not what he's been in Houston. That's me anyways.

[BballTim]

The Washington Wizards declined a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder for James Harden, according to multiple people with knowledge of the proposed deal.

Wizards' owner Ted Leonsis was unwilling to commit to an $80 million max contract offer over five seasons to Harden.

Bradley Beal and Chris Singleton would have been traded to the Thunder in return for Harden, according to sources.

Harden was ultimately traded by Oklahoma City to the Rockets.

One Wizards official denied that Oklahoma City had offered Harden in exchange for Beal and Singleton, stating that the Thunder was also seeking an established player — which the Wizards didn’t have — in return.

“That’s not true,” the official said about the proposed deal.

Via Michael Lee/Washington Post

  I'd tend to believe that the Thunder wanted an established player to plug into Harden's spot.

[MJohnnyboy]

The report says that they didn't want to hit the luxury tax with their current squad plus Harden. Which if true just shows you how bad the Okafor/Ariza deal was.

A Wall, Harden, Ariza, Okafor, Nene starting 5 would've been pretty good though - definitely a playoff team in the Eastern Conference. However, I can kinda see the hesitation. If you're an owner paying the luxury tax, you wanna be a legitimate contender. Still... A Harden/Wall backcourt is something you can build around for sure. Not to mention the influence Harden could provide to Wall.

You really don't know how awful Okafor and Ariza have been this year do you?

EDIT: It's a shame the Wizards had to amnesty Blatche instead of Okafor. I'd be interested in Emeka as a defensive pest off the bench, even if he has been horrible for the Wiz this year.

[CantBeRight]

As a Rockets fan,

Thank you Washington.

[nickagneta]

James Harden would have been perfect for John Wall.

I seriously doubt that. Both are Alpha ball handlers. Look what Harden being paired with Lin has done to Lin's game.

Lin is basically a spot up shooter whenever Harden is in the game with him and he's failing miserably at that role. I could see Harden having the same effect with Wall.

Harden is best suited being paired with someone like Step Curry or other PG that can still be effective without the ball being in his hands to initiate the offense.

[Moranis]

James Harden would have been perfect for John Wall.

I seriously doubt that. Both are Alpha ball handlers. Look what Harden being paired with Lin has done to Lin's game.

Lin is basically a spot up shooter whenever Harden is in the game with him and he's failing miserably at that role. I could see Harden having the same effect with Wall.

Harden is best suited being paired with someone like Step Curry or other PG that can still be effective without the ball being in his hands to initiate the offense.

Westbrook and Harden got along fine.  Lin just isn't that good and never was.  He had a great 10 game stretch, but was always going to come back down to earth. 

[nickagneta]

James Harden would have been perfect for John Wall.

I seriously doubt that. Both are Alpha ball handlers. Look what Harden being paired with Lin has done to Lin's game.

Lin is basically a spot up shooter whenever Harden is in the game with him and he's failing miserably at that role. I could see Harden having the same effect with Wall.

Harden is best suited being paired with someone like Step Curry or other PG that can still be effective without the ball being in his hands to initiate the offense.

Westbrook and Harden got along fine.  Lin just isn't that good and never was.  He had a great 10 game stretch, but was always going to come back down to earth.

They got along fine because they were on the court together only about half the time. Harden was the main ball handler when Westbrook was on the bench and when they were together they shared the duties. As a starter alongside another major ball handler, Harden will cause a problem for that type of PG playing most of their minutes with him.

[Who]

James Harden would have been perfect for John Wall.

I seriously doubt that. Both are Alpha ball handlers. Look what Harden being paired with Lin has done to Lin's game.

Lin is basically a spot up shooter whenever Harden is in the game with him and he's failing miserably at that role. I could see Harden having the same effect with Wall.

Harden is best suited being paired with someone like Step Curry or other PG that can still be effective without the ball being in his hands to initiate the offense.

Westbrook and Harden got along fine.  Lin just isn't that good and never was.  He had a great 10 game stretch, but was always going to come back down to earth.

They got along fine because they were on the court together only about half the time. Harden was the main ball handler when Westbrook was on the bench and when they were together they shared the duties. As a starter alongside another major ball handler, Harden will cause a problem for that type of PG playing most of their minutes with him.

I agree with Moranis. Jeremy Lin is the problem there. James Harden can function perfectly well alongside a guard like Westbrook or Wall and vice versa.

That said, I hope Houston doesn't write Jeremy Lin off because of the pair's (Lin's) initial struggles. I think Jeremy Lin will improve gradually over time and could be a really good player 2-3 years from now.

[BballTim]

James Harden would have been perfect for John Wall.

I seriously doubt that. Both are Alpha ball handlers. Look what Harden being paired with Lin has done to Lin's game.

Lin is basically a spot up shooter whenever Harden is in the game with him and he's failing miserably at that role. I could see Harden having the same effect with Wall.

Harden is best suited being paired with someone like Step Curry or other PG that can still be effective without the ball being in his hands to initiate the offense.

Westbrook and Harden got along fine.  Lin just isn't that good and never was.  He had a great 10 game stretch, but was always going to come back down to earth.

  If you look at 10-11 and 11-12, Harden scored about 14 points less per36 with Westbrook in the game than he did with Westbrook out during the regular season, about 9 points less per36 during the playoffs.

[pearljammer10]

OKC certainly made a much better trade with Houston. Martin lamb and a first is much better than beal and singleton. Wall and harden would have been an interesting back court.