As the title says, what would you give up for Harden? OKC can't afford both Ibaka and Harden. ??/Harden/Batum/Aldridge/?? Is a pretty solid core, IMO. If we can hang on to at least one of our draft picks, sign a free agent, that puts us in a pretty good position.
How 'bout Felton, Flynn, Babbitt, both Smiths and Thabeet? Yes, I know that some of them are FA's but thought I'd get ahead of the curve in posting the most outrageous trade I could think of (I should have put Crawford in there as well). Gramps...
Why would OKC trade with Portland? I just can't get over that part. It would have to be something like #6 and #11, and a future first? They don't want salary back at this point. I just don't see it.
Yeah... That's kinda far fetched, IMO. I was leaning more towards #6, Wes, Nolan - etc. Not a bunch of scrubs -.-
Despite us being in the same conference/division, they need to take the best package available to them. They can get some legit options out of us, that they wouldn't get elsewhere. We have Freeland, Elliot, #6, #11, cash, second rounders, etc. I think they would get the most they can from their asset, rather than just straight up losing him.
OKC's cap situation with the new luxury tax system kicking in soon is going to really hamper them IMO. They will have to get rid of either Harden or Ibaka. They owe ~42 million to Perkins, Westbrook, and Durant. Ibaka is going to get AT least 10 mill, same with Harden. 62 million to 5 players with a harsher tax penalty system? Good luck.
Set up the cap for next summer to throw the full max at Harden. You weaken a powerhouse and force them to lose one of either Harden or Ibaka.
Harden wil command more than $10 mil if Eric Gordon thought he could get $12.5. I hope no team takes Perkins' contract off the hands, which would make retaining them a lot easier.
Not necessarily - they still owe approximately 38 million to solely Durant and Westbrook after 2014. If you add on Ibaka, (Hell DeAndre Jordan got 43 mill over 5 years? Ibaka gonna get probably around 12ish - so if you add that, thats 50 mill to 3 players... - add another 10+ makes 60 mill for 4 players.. with more spots to fill... It's virtually impossible for them to keep the core 4 unless Bennett wants to pay money out the ass in luxury tax) http://www.hoopsworld.com/oklahoma-city-thunder-team-salary
Harden would take more than we can give (outside of Aldridge). They're gonna say no to the number 2 pick, so do you really think packages like the 6, Wes and Nolan will do it? Even 6/11, E-Will, and Wes would probably fall short. They're really high on him, and for good reason.
They may be really high on him, but they aren't in a position of strength if they are trying to essentially salary dump him because they will lose him. I gave an example, personally, I think #6, Wes (or elliot), Freeland, cash, second rounders, would do it.
1. OKC will keep Hardin. Unless he develops a heart condition or gets hit by a bus. 2. A "solid core" without a dominant C or a dominant PG, or both, is neither "solid" nor a "core". Harden, Batum and Aldridge are excellent complimentary players, buit useless without better players to compliment.
Why wouldn't he pay it, and quite jubilantly? He has the best team in the league, he can certainly afford to pay the luxury tax, and it's financially wise to spend the money to maintain what will be a huge money-maker for years to come. If you had a brand new Ferrari you'd spend the money to have a mechanic service it regularly, wouldn't you?
Isn't the main guy in the Thunder ownership in financial trouble right now? I remember reading that a while back.
That doesn't work because you would have to S&T Batum and he will only make a bit less than Harden. It would have to be picks and/or cheap players.
