Blazers after Asik again?

[Run BJM]

Harden wouldn't be a loser. He'd be on a perennial winner. I haven't said a thing about what I would or would not do. But both OKC and Harden passed on being a champion. That much is true. And if Harden wanted a max offer, he could've played better in the Finals.

So what would you do? And why do you expect Harden to do something different? Why is Harden expected to take less money than hes worth when everyone else gets EVERYTHING they want? And IIRC he would have had to play for like 10-12 mil/year? Thats a pretty healthy paycut from max. Meanwhile Durant and Westbrook refused to give up anything at all.

 

[Run BJM]

And OKC should've given Harden the max. They were both wrong. Neither OKC or Harden cared about winning. And yes, I want Lillard to get the max.

If OKC should have given him the max, then aren't they wrong? Harden would have stayed and continued to come off the bench if they paid him what he's worth. How can OKC be wrong to not give him max and Harden be wrong to leave for the max?

 

[KingSpeed]

Dude. You don't read very well. How many times must I say it?? They were BOTH wrong. Both sides put money ahead of winning. Now if you can't understand what I'm saying, I give up on you.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Are people really arguing whether Harden is a max player or not? He just is. He is a star. He gets star calls.

 

[KingSpeed]

Philly on 19-4 run to lead by 4!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Do not trade CJ without knowing how good he is.

This.

 

[KingSpeed]

Are people really arguing whether Harden is a max player or not? He just is. He is a star. He gets star calls.

If I advised OKC, I would've told them to give him the max. If I advised Harden, I would've told him to take less money. I would've told them to put winning first. They were both given the chance to act like a winner and they chose money instead.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Philly on 19-4 run to lead by 4!

Tied with 6 min to play. Young, Haws, and Wroten haven't played. Yikes.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

If I advised Houston, I would've told them to give him the max. If I advised Harden, I would've told him to take less money. I would've told them to put winning first. They were both given the chance to act like a winner and they chose money instead.

Harden's contract hasn't really effected the Rockets negatively. They brought in Howard still.

 

[KingSpeed]

Harden's contract hasn't really effected the Rockets negatively. They brought in Howard still.

I meant OKC

 

[KingSpeed]

if I advised OKC, I would've told them to give him the max.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I meant OKC

Oh I see. Still I don't blame Harden wanting the money. Careers can change so fast due to injury so get the money while you can. Plus he wanted to be a #1. He couldn't do that in OKC.

 

[Run BJM]

Dude. You don't read very well. How many times must I say it?? They were BOTH wrong. Both sides put money ahead of winning. Now if you can't understand what I'm saying, I give up on you.

If I advised Houston, I would've told them to give him the max. If I advised Harden, I would've told him to take less money. I would've told them to put winning first. They were both given the chance to act like a winner and they chose money instead.

Thank you for finally acknowledging the question I posed, even if you did kind of side step it by qualifying yourself as an "advisor" and not Harden himself.

And I stand by my argument that Harden would be a moron to walk away from what I assume would have been well over a $10 million dollar difference for just that contract and likely more money in the long term. He was willing to be a team player and come off the bench, but he wasn't willing to lose tens of millions to do it all the while also being the guy to be 3rd fiddle.

Again you keep harping on Harden to be the team player, why is he the only one? Your argument is predicated on OKC being a team-first kind of place yet no one was willing to give up a fugging thing, so why would Harden concede so much when no one else was?

 

[Run BJM]

Oh I see. Still I don't blame Harden wanting the money. Careers can change so fast due to injury so get the money while you can. Plus he wanted to be a #1. He couldn't do that in OKC.

Exactly, there's a human element here. Harden needs to look out for himself and his family. Hes expected to concede everything for his team, but what kind of team mentality is it when everyone's saying "I'm getting mine, now you need to take whatever's left over."

I get Kingspeed's point totally and it would have been great if Harden did stay for less. But as a human with self respect and pride, you've got to put your foot down at some point.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I can see a three-way that lands HOU Illyasova.

Keep. CJ.

 

[riverman]

Asik is talented and has been to the Chicago Thibs school of defense, no better teacher out there. He commands 8.8 mil I think this season and Lopez is 4mil and change. I thought when Houston gave us TRob for a pack of gum that Olshey could call in a favor. Leonard, Claver and Barton or Crabbe could be moved. I wondered about this when Leonard didn't travel. They don't want to risk an injury to him for some reason and it could be a trade in the works. More than likely a 3 team deal but Olshey never ceases to amaze me. As to Harden and his value, that has nothing to do with this scenario and he's a franchise player so Houston pays him. Houston is a lot bigger market than OKC. Harden is a guy who needs the ball and like Kobe, keeps it when he's got it. Portland is building a TEAM and not catering to high maintenance superstars. It's working. I'm more than happy to stand pat with the roster we have. Add Asik and our bench gets thinner instantly. He's not cheap.

 

[KingSpeed]

Exactly, there's a human element here. Harden needs to look out for himself and his family. Hes expected to concede everything for his team, but what kind of team mentality is it when everyone's saying "I'm getting mine, now you need to take whatever's left over."

I get Kingspeed's point totally and it would have been great if Harden did stay for less. But as a human with self respect and pride, you've got to put your foot down at some point.

Good

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I was arguing that we should trade Aldridge for Harden (well, AND Ibaka) way back when. But back then I thought Harden played defense. He seems to have forgotten how. And remember this? And why is it that his team plays better without him?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I was arguing that we should trade Aldridge for Harden (well, AND Ibaka) way back when. But back then I thought Harden played defense. He seems to have forgotten how. And remember this? And why is it that his team plays better without him?

I was in that same boat too.

In OKC he at least tried to play D.

Being the first option has turned him into a Melo clone.

 

[MARIS61]

Asik is better than Lopez in defence and in rebounding. He's a defensive monster.

He was the #1 rebounder last season. Not much more than that. His negatives and sloppy play cancel most of his value if winning games is your goal.

YAHOO Fantasy league rated Lopez 62nd last year, and Asik 142nd.

Lopez was 13th in blocks last season. Asik was 29th. Don't even get me started on fouls and turnovers.

Asik shot 299 FT's and made 168.

Lopez shot 207 FT's and made 161.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He was the #1 rebounder last season. Not much more than that. His negatives and sloppy play cancel most of his value if winning games is your goal.

YAHOO Fantasy league rated Lopez 62nd last year, and Asik 142nd.

Lopez was 13th in blocks last season. Asik was 29th. Don't even get me started on fouls and turnovers.

Asik shot 299 FT's and made 168.

Lopez shot 207 FT's and made 161.

Aaaaaand thread.

 

[Strenuus]

Aaaaaand thread.

Took the words right out of my mouth. lol.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

He was the #1 rebounder last season. Not much more than that. His negatives and sloppy play cancel most of his value if winning games is your goal.

YAHOO Fantasy league rated Lopez 62nd last year, and Asik 142nd.

Lopez was 13th in blocks last season. Asik was 29th. Don't even get me started on fouls and turnovers.

Asik shot 299 FT's and made 168.

Lopez shot 207 FT's and made 161.

(drops mic)
(walks off stage)

 

[BigGameDamian]

I hope not. Asik doesn't have a big body like Lopez.

Dude Asik is 7" 255lbs Lopez is 7" 255lbs.

 

[riverman]

Asik may just turn into the next Hedo Turkeyglue! There was a time when everybody wanted him and after he got paid, well it was never quite the same.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Dave (B-Edge) said Asik only makes sense if we keep Lopez.

But our already weak bench will become even weaker.

 

[maxiep]

I fear our lack of a substantive Turkish community may make him unhappy here.

 

[Samuel]

I fear our lack of a substantive Turkish community may make him unhappy here.

Or his wife.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

I don't like it, especially if Lopez is involved. Houston is desperate. Portland making this trade would mean Houston doesn't really solve the issues then have at PF. On a side note, I don't like Asik's attitude.

Bingo

and I am loath to let Freeland go..he has that Brian Grant factor, tons of heart

 

[Natebishop3]

Dave (B-Edge) said Asik only makes sense if we keep Lopez.

But our already weak bench will become even weaker.

Our bench isn't that weak. We had Earl Watson come in last night, without having played a single minute this season, and make a huge impact in the win over the Warriors. How is that a weak bench?