i don't know why they didn't try to package him and perk for howard. they'd have cruised to a title this year. even if howard wouldn't resign, it would've been worth it.
Lou is a point guard and Jenkins is a role player off the bench. They do need a 3 but I don't see 1 coming off the books that's a max player.

They can just sign and trade Harden, and fill the void w/ a swingman that can shoot, and a backup pg. It's foolish to cripple your franchise for a 3rd option, when you can easily take that 9-13 mil for Harden and spread that around for role players.
it's being cheap . It's nothing to say you get instant offense in another role player. Teams are searching for reliable sg so it's hard to say oh he's replaceable . He's like there ginobili you act like lots if teams don't need a sg like him. And they can alway amnesty perk to free up money .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.
brook lopez ain't making bron money 

I respect your opinion fam. I will settle for around 23 ppg which is doable for him if he get the green light on another team. Could probably do it on the rockets if they move Kevin Martin. The Rockets roster is

Houston here he comes
Adrian WojnarowskiVerified‏ @WojYahooNBA
Oklahoma City has traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets, league sources tell Y! Sports.
https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/262383975711006720
