Comments on: Oklahoma City Thunder: What if James Harden had signed?

By: Okcfan

Okcfan — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 19:40:39 +0000

Its all about ROLE players to without them you cant win a championship so thabo should stay i would say trade perkins for draft picks(2nd RD) and keep harden

By: tyler

tyler — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 04:36:20 +0000

Okc.. signing perkins was their mistake.. he has not put up the numbers.. hes over paid and for sure overrated!!!! LETS GO ROCKETS!!! Harden is ten times the player of sefolosha.. cut thabo and o ya overrated perkins and thunder could of had harden..

By: Chris Sullivan

Chris Sullivan — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 18:04:18 +0000

BT, that’s great your empathy for billionaires over millionaires.
Looking forward lots more articles like this, and insights into this overlooked, under appreciated perspective. “Never has the Thunder declared an all-in philosophy on trying to win a championship. Paying James Harden the maximum would have been a change in that philosophy.”

Laudable indeed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz3tOc_qItU&feature=related

By: northcyde

northcyde — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:50:00 +0000

The real mistake by Presti, is that he overpaid Serge Ibaka. There is no way that Ibaka shoud’ve been locked up before Harden. Ibaka may be the Defensive Player of the Year, but that didn’t warrant the type of deal that he received from the Thunder.

The minute Presti signed Ibaka to that deal, he painted himself into a corner. He committed to the 4th wheel before he did the 3rd wheel. That’s bad basketball management.

Also, paying the luxury tax is simply a fact of life for championship level teams. If you think squads like the Lakers or Nets or Heat or Bulls are going to change their business model on how they build teams, you are sadly mistaken.

This was a catastrophic move by the Thunder. Harden will prove to be a top 10 – 15 player in Houston, while Ibaka will be no more than the PF version of Tyson Chandler.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:20:29 +0000

What the woners should do is put some of that 75 mill they’ve made back into the team for the 3-5 year run. Runs like this don’t happen very often, and when they do, you go for it, especially in a small market.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:12:53 +0000

As a Sonics fan, I had no doubt that this team would be good, how could it not with a player the caliber of Durant. In 08′ I told everyone how Ibaka was going to be the man. Being a Pac-10 follower I had seen Westbrook and Harden on numerous occasions and thought they were great picks. The one thing I did think though is that this franchise won’t be willing to do what it takes to win a championship by going into the luxury tax for an extended period. As the Harden trade shows, they are more worried about profits than actually winning a championship. Kmart is a URFA next season and if someone offers him more than 53 mill, he’s gone. Same goes for Lamb and the 2 first round draft picks. I have no doubt that Presti will draft fine players, and if they can garner large contracts there is little to no way that management could sign 1, and no way all of them. Revolving door as long as Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, and Perkin’s contracts are on the books. This is where they’ll want the money for a new stadium, or a more lucrative lease, and sell it to the public as the only way they can keep players.

By: Todd

Todd — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:50:57 +0000

Well John, lots of cute little ex-Sonics fans used to come on here every week screaming at us about how OKC would never have a winning season. We’re still waiting for them to come *back* on here and admit they were wrong. They show up like clock-work to wish evil things on us during the playoffs, but never admit they were wrong about, well, everything where the Thunder and OKC is concerned.

Just as it won’t happen that you’ll come back on here and admit that you were wrong about 1.) The Thunder’s long-term prospects after this trade, and 2.) KD or Westbrook being gone after three years. Although it’s cute that you think such a thing. But, we both know that you’ll never come on here and admit you were wrong when it doesn’t happen.

And Larry, pay closer attention next time when you call someone an apologist, and quote numbers that have little if any relevance to the situation. And I’ll start reading Simmons’ stuff again when he grows up. Meaning no time soon.

The more I hear about this whole situation Harden, the better it seems that OKC did not meet Harden’s demands, and probably a good thing that Harden did not agree to Presti’s offer. Dead horse or not, moving on….

By: redriverndn

redriverndn — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:27:00 +0000

John Gait won’t pay up, nothing but an empty statement from an empty mind….

By: John Galt

John Galt — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:42:03 +0000

It’s cute how OKC fans (and media) reside in a “puppy love” stage with this franchise. Time will prove this to be a bad move by Presti. There was genuine and almost impossible to come by “chemistry” between Durant, Westbrook, and Harden. There goes your real chance at a decade of dominanace and possible title or two. Financial prudence in this manner land OKC into mediocrity – Portland Trailblazers like success at best (41-41 year in/year out and a first rind playoff exit). Which is ok I guess. What is the over/under on Durant and Westbrook playing in LA, Miami, New York, Brooklyn, or Boston? I give it 3 years tops.

By: sauza

sauza — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:50:09 +0000

I applaud the Thunder’s decision. As tough as we all know this decision was; it was what needed to be done. Without this trade the organization would have had to increase ticket prices to compensate for the luxary tax. As a fan I appreciate keeping the tickets at a reasonable price while still putting a qualtiy, entertaining product on the floor.