Jazz get james harden

[BluesRocker]

Couldnt they justify paying the tax for at least one go around at a once in a lifetime opportunity to chase a dynasty and cash in on multiple championship runs? I bet OKC wins at least three, maybe more championships in the next ten years. This all assuming they could afford to run in the red for a while. It could really elevate that franchise and its worth. It might be worth the investment. Im pretty sure millions of front runners will switch and be fans, and buy a bunch of jerseys.

Heepeeceepeecee

I talked myself into believing they are going to do it. I say they keep all four.

Quote me

 

[theNBAnerd]

i don't think OKC will have to pay the max to keep harden. that's just me.

 

[Dr. Jones]

i don't think OKC will have to pay the max to keep harden. that's just me.

Agree .. But close.

 

[JayCamjazzfan]

4yr12-14 mil per year for harden is what I think he will get. And I would give it to him

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

i don't think OKC will have to pay the max to keep harden. that's just me.

You don't think he'll get a max offer or do you think he'll get a max offer and sign with OKC for less anyway? What do you think he'll sign for?

 

[NUMBERICA]

Someone is going to offer Harden the max, whether he signs an offer sheet is irrelevant, he's not going anywhere. They're keeping their Four, Sefolosha, and Collison and will be just fine.

 

[Bodhi]

Agree .. But close.

^This^

 

[franklin]

Someone is going to offer Harden the max, whether he signs an offer sheet is irrelevant, he's not going anywhere. They're keeping their Four, Sefolosha, and Collison and go bankrupt.

Fixed.

 

[orangello]

Someone is going to offer Harden the max, whether he signs an offer sheet is irrelevant, he's not going anywhere. They're keeping their Four, Sefolosha, and Collison and will be just fine.

^This^

If Joe Johnson is making over $100 million over the life of this current contract then someone will certainly offer Harden the max.

 

[orangello]

Fixed.

That is the hope right? Then they will have to start to shed as much as they can just to keep the team around.

 

[Dr. Jones]

^This^

If Joe Johnson is making over $100 million over the life of this current contract then someone will certainly offer Harden the max.

Not sure I agree with the logic .. but I do agree Harden will get a max offer from someone.

 

[orangello]

Not sure I agree with the logic .. but I do agree Harden will get a max offer from someone.

The logic is that Joe Johnson is not worth his contract and that teams over pay in order to get or keep stars. Joe Johnson is worth maybe 12 million a year but instead he will be making $19.7 million next year.

 

[theNBAnerd]

You don't think he'll get a max offer or do you think he'll get a max offer and sign with OKC for less anyway? What do you think he'll sign for?

i just don't see him as a max player, especially with the new CBA. if somebody offers him that, they'll be desperately trying to dump his salary by the third year of the contract.

 

[franklin]

i just don't see him as a max player, especially with the new CBA. if somebody offers him that, they'll be desperately trying to dump his salary by the third year of the contract.

Doubtful. Harden is young and still progressing. He'll be a 20,5,5 guy shooting nearly 50/40/85 on a team not loaded with scorers. If he was 27 it might be a different story, but he's only 22 and ready to hit his prime.

 

[Med_Phys]

I hate to deflate everyone's dreams, but Harden can sign an extension this summer. The Jazz or any other team might not even get the chance to make him an offer.

 

[NUMBERICA]

i just don't see him as a max player, especially with the new CBA. if somebody offers him that, they'll be desperately trying to dump his salary by the third year of the contract.

No they won't.

And are you talking about the new CBA that makes max salaries less expensive? No team in their right mind sheds worthy salary, especially not perennial contending ones with basically no fat to cut. I know this is hard for some people to understand, but you usually have to pay money if you want to be really good. The Kings would pay OKC's Four, as would the Spurs. You toss one of those guys, and you're tossing rings.

Unless we're talking about Westbrook, who I just don't like and am certain will be the one left out if they need to save money.

 

[theNBAnerd]

Doubtful. Harden is young and still progressing. He'll be a 20,5,5 guy shooting nearly 50/40/85 on a team not loaded with scorers. If he was 27 it might be a different story, but he's only 22 and ready to hit his prime.

probably not. right now he's at 16-4-4 with over 10 shots per game and the best shooting of his career. the shooting numbers aren't going to go up from there, and in fact if he was called upon to be a teams 1st or 2nd option, they would go down. so there's just not a lot of upside left. on top of that, i just don't think he works that hard. watching the WCF and the finals, i see him standing around a lot. he's not a good defender. and his body reminds me more of baron davis than of deron williams or derrick rose.

you might be right that somebody will give him the max. but i'm pretty sure i'll be right that they'll regret it.

 

[vslice02]

I'm more in agreement with NBAnerd about Harden. I think he'll be a very good player and get alot of money, but I do have some significant questions about him ever becoming a franchise player.

I've mentioned it before, but the biggest concern I have is Harden's ability to score as a franchise player in the halfcourt, which sounds crazy, but his entry-point of attack always begins outside the 3pt-line off his own dribble. Every scoring opportunity for him either comes out of high screen-roll at the top of the key or playing on the weakside off Westbrook/Durnat where they kick the ball to him and he either shoots the 3 from the wing or drives if they close out hard. That's a major liability because to put it in simple terms - the farther out you being your offensive attack the easier it is for a defense to rotate and cut off lanes when geared entirely towards stopping you. When you look back in history all the elite perimeter wings - while they had the range out to the 3pt line - they all had that ability to score in the halfcourt where they catch the ball inside the 3pt line, come to a stop, and look to iso their man 1-on-1. It puts tremendous strain on a defense when you catch the ball closer to the basket, and as a player it keeps you fresh late in games when you're not attacking off the dribble on every possession. With Harden it's all about being on the move, getting the ball 30-feet from the basket and beginning your screen-roll weave. He's pretty darn effective at it - but I think it will be a little different when you take Durant and Westbrook off opposing scouting reports and play predominantly against first-units. Is this nitpicking a litle, probably - but if you're going to offer someone the max you sure as heck better pick their game apart.

I am a huge advocate for saving our cap space in 2013 - but personally I would make a hard push for Ibaka before Harden. He won't be a max-player, I think OKC would choose Harden over him, and if I'm going to overpay someone by $2-3 million per year, I'd prefer it be Ibaka instead of Harden.

 

[theNBAnerd]

wow, i didn't expect to have someone take my side in this argument. i figured i'd get flamed with criticism, especially now while harden is getting all kinds of praise during the finals... but it doesn't mean that his flaws aren't being hidden on that team.

players with the most similar career comps to harden's at the three-year mark include names like norm nixon, eddie jones, reggie theus, hersey hawkins, mo cheeks. those are all good players who had nice NBA careers, but none of them were franchise names. the best player in his top 10 comps based on three years of stats is allen iverson -- a franchise player, sure, but one of the least efficient ones in the modern era.

 

[freakazoid]

And are you talking about the new CBA that makes max salaries less expensive?.

I'm not sure exactly what you're talking about here, but it's not quite that simple. The restrictions on tax payers still make it so teams have to take a harder look at who they throw that kind of money at.

you might be right that somebody will give him the max. but i'm pretty sure i'll be right that they'll regret it.

Agree with this.