Steph's team is loaded, he couldn't do what Westbrook is doing

[G.O.A.T Squad Spokesman]

Harden was an MVP candidate in 2012?


Actually what position they play, plays a significant part. You don't go giving three players who play more or less the same role for a team all max money.

So you have Micheal Jordan, Scottie Pippen and you have the chance to sign Penny Hardaway in his prime pre-injury and you don't?

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

Harden was an MVP candidate in 2012?


Actually what position they play, plays a significant part. You don't go giving three players who play more or less the same role for a team all max money.

Sheeiiitttttt

You can say what you wanna... We can play that game..... But I don't need a NBA GM salary to see that the kid had tools to be a top 20 player, let alone a top 10 guard in a few years

And they knew it..... OKC is a small market and was scared to spend big.... They struck lightning in the draft 3 times in a row, and only got 1 finals appearance in 5 years to show for it, when they really should at least have one ship....

The GM\Brooks dropped the ball...if they didn't wanna pay the tax, maybe they should have explored more options and shopped Ibaka for a first round pick.....That's what I would've done out the gate, especially in today's league.....

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

who play more or less the same role for a team all max money

Nah....Brooks make it looks like they played the same role...

Any top tier coach would have had the offense highly structured, since Harden wouldn't have been required to take a lot of shots unless he absolutely needed too

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

Sheeiiitttttt

You can say what you wanna... We can play that game..... But I don't need a NBA GM salary to see that the kid had tools to be a top 20 player, let alone a top 10 guard in a few years.

No game being played. Don't use him being an MVP candidate as a scale for where he would be on the Thunder had he stayed. He was NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER going to have the impact he now has in Houston, in OKC playing Catwoman to KD and Westbrook. His production, role, impact on that team would have never warranted a max contract. I don't know why this is so hard to understand.

And they knew it..... OKC is a small market and was scared to spend big.... They struck lightning in the draft 3 times in a row, and only got 1 finals appearance in 5 years to show for it, when they really should at least have one ship....

They weren't scared to spend big, they were just smart in what they spent the cap on.

And they knew it..... OKC is a small market and was scared to spend big.... They struck lightning in the draft 3 times in a row, and only got 1 finals appearance in 5 years to show for it, when they really should at least have one ship....

Even if Harden stayed, they still wouldn't have won a ship. Your point?

The GM\Brooks dropped the ball...if they didn't wanna pay the tax, maybe they should have explored more options and shopped Ibaka for a first round pick.....That's what I would've done out the gate, especially in today's league.....

Why trade one of the best defensive anchors in the league?

If that's what you would have done out the gate, you would have failed miserably as a GM.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

Nah....Brooks make it looks like they played the same role...

Any top tier coach would have had the offense highly structured, since Harden wouldn't have been required to take a lot of shots unless he absolutely needed too

So on one hand you're advocating that Presti should have given Harden the max, then in turn saying if they had a "top tier" coach that would have the "offense highly structured" - they wouldn't need Harden to take a lot of shots unless absolutely necessary? What you basically described is that Harden would have a role player's offensive load yet be on max money.......

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

The Thunder now are better team than they would be had Harden stayed. It's not even debatable.

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

What you basically described is that Harden would have a role player's offensive load yet be on max money.......

Not at all. Russ moves over to the 2(since he's a combo guard any way) and Harden is my starting PG.

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

The Thunder now are better team than they would be had Harden stayed. It's not even debatable.

But what is this based on? and how can you say its not even debatable.... of course its debatable...

So basically you're saying that OKC will be completely out of the playoff hunt if Harden was on that squad? ok

 

[who_better_than_me]

 

[TheSpook]

I fukk with both guys heavy. fukk this thread

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

But what is this based on? and how can you say its not even debatable.... of course its debatable...

Based on the fact that from top-to-bottom they're a better team. It's not debatable.

So basically you're saying that OKC will be completely out of the playoff hunt if Harden was on that squad? ok

How did you come to that conclusion? Let me guess you took their seeding as it stands now, without weighing into account that their record isn't true to form due to their three best players being out injured for at least a one month at a time. Yeah because obviously if this team as you see now, completely healthy would be no more than an 8th seed.

Why am I not surprised.

*rolls eyes*

 

[G.O.A.T Squad Spokesman]

The Thunder now are better team than they would be had Harden stayed. It's not even debatable.

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

Based on the fact that from top-to-bottom they're a better team. It's not debatable.



How did you come to that conclusion? Let me guess you took their seeding as it stands now, without weighing into account that their record isn't true to form due to their three best players being out injured for at least a one month at a time. Yeah because obviously if this team as you see now, completely healthy would be no more than an 8th seed.

Why am I not surprised.

*rolls eyes*

I don't deal in hypotheticals.... I deal with reality....and the reality is, this team is hurt, Harden is healthy.... So I cannot fathom a Durantless\Ibaka OKC team being out of a playoff spot with a healthy Harden on board......

There is a gang of ways to play all 3, and they should have made a stronger effort to keep all 3.....

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

Kanter, Augustin and Singler wouldn't be on this team if Harden was still in OKC.

 

[G.O.A.T Squad Spokesman]

Kanter, Augustin and Singler wouldn't be on this team if Harden was still in OKC.

Harden more valuable than all 3 of those guys. If Houston put Harden on the market right now they would want more talent than those 3 as fair compensation.