Eliminating max contracts would just inflate salaries everywhere. There's no easy way out. It's all in how teams view Harden, and even if he's not truly worth the max, it's a matter of how much extra you wanna pay to get him out of OKC.
You take away the max and salaries would be more in line with what guys are actually worth because it would all be based on that individual player rather than a slot.The Suns will make the offer, they already tried with Eric Gordon.
52 million for one of the 20-25 best players in the NBA is kinda low.....But then again he is not even starting and hasn't shown what he can do as the guy.

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They were gonna have to let one go, and I think 99% of folks would agree Harden is the most expendable. Don't get me twisted Harden is a great player but you gotta stick with Durant and Westbrook by any means
If I was Durant I'd reconstruct my deal to help increase the OKC offer to Harden. Durant is making major dough from every angle, he could afford it - put he has another contract in him at least. Perhaps that would show Harden he's really valued, although of course he could still take way more money from another team
Ask Agent Zero for advice about that
OKC should trade him for Reke and a future 1st rounder.
Nobody said you had to be the best player on your team to get maxed out.lets deal with reality
no team with james harden as their best player
is making the playoffs
dat pretty much tells you right there dat him gettin a max is retarded
hes a solid solid role player dat benefits from playing with 2 top 10 players in da league
i like his game but come on
Brook Lopez is NOT making the same amount as LeBron. The max deal you get after your rookie scale deal is up is different from the one you get later. LeBron makes more.Not true as long as there is a cap. The only salaries that would inflate would be the true max players aka the guys who deserve it. All max salaries do is give front offices an excuse not to think and non-max players something to reach for. You didn't see nikkas in the pre-max days asking to make as much as Mike yet in today's league you got Brook Lopex making the same as Bron.You take away the max and salaries would be more in line with what guys are actually worth because it would all be based on that individual player rather than a slot.
He will get the MAX from another team. There are not that many talented SGs in the league. He has leverage because Kobe is about to retire soon, Dwade is going to slow down in a couple of years. The SG position is going through attrition and teams need instant offense and that is what he provides. I always felt that Harden is being used to come of the bench to lessen his value when his contract is up. That will now work any more. He is a legit 25 ppg scorer if he gets starter minutes and more touches. NBA executives know this.
slow down their he's no where near close to being that type of player
. hes a good 2nd/3rd option, he'd be a worse first option then rudy gay is right nowHe will get the MAX from another team. There are not that many talented SGs in the league. He has leverage because Kobe is about to retire soon, Dwade is going to slow down in a couple of years. The SG position is going through attrition and teams need instant offense and that is what he provides. I always felt that Harden is being used to come of the bench to lessen his value when his contract is up. That will now work any more. He is a legit 25 ppg scorer if he gets starter minutes and more touches. NBA executives know this.
slow down their he's no where near close to being that type of player
. hes a good 2nd/3rd option.
I've never believed this a day in my life. There's a big difference between getting buckets off the bench and getting 25 when teams are zoning in primarily you. Russell Westbrook has yet to average 25. 4 players did it last year and only a handful do it annually. That doesn't mean guys like Harden and Bynum would be locks to do it in their own situation.
