James Harden has added the Blazers to his list

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Fuck it why not--we're probably not going to do much with our current lineup. Either we still are a mediocre team with Harden or we actually make some serious noise in the league. If it blows up in our face then we rebuild but at least we tried to do something with Dame's prime years.
 
A lot of the reservations in this thread sound like Raptors fans when the Kawhi for Derozan deal went down.

"We've been a 50+ win playoff team in the last 5 years"
"We just won 59 games last year, and we've been to the ECF"
"Our stars love playing with each other, everyone is happy together, why compromise that for a Diva who is going to leave in one year?"

But they took the risk. It may well have not worked. They may have been a Kawhi bounce from getting ousted in the second round. But that trade gave them a chance, and ultimately the results speak louder than words.

The number of people in this thread that don't wouldn't at least try to get it done is astounding to me. The Blazers are the Raptors of the west before the Kawhi deal. Constantly banging their head against the wall each year with the same players and hoping the results would be different. Each year getting destroyed by LeBron in the exact same way.

Who cares if Harden is best when he's ISO? The difference between Harden ISOing every possession and CJ ISOing every possession is that Harden averages 61% TS and 33% AST%, where as CJ is 55% TS% and 17% AST%. Forget Dame, Harden is the best one man offense in the entire league and an even better playmaker than Dame. We can finally play Dame off the ball. Even if you don't believe Harden can un-learn his offensive ways, you can at least believe in Dame's ability to work around Harden. Dame as the secondary playmaker on offense instead of Westbrook or Paul would be unstoppable in the playoffs.
 
B-Roy said:
A lot of the reservations in this thread sound like Raptors fans when the Kawhi for Derozan deal went down.
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When was Kawhi suspended/fined for flouting league rules and clubbing during training camp while skipping practice? I'm all for talent, but character matters. and it affects winning on the biggest stage. Not sure Harden is all about bball, unlike Kawhi. I don't see the parallels. Kawhi was a former finals MVP before going to Toronto. Harden has historically choked in the playoffs.
 
OneSport3 said:
Olshey was a coach at Artesia High School where Harden played. Not sure if he actually coached Harden though.
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ah thanks for the insight. i was trying to figure out where this connection came from.
 
illmatic99 said:
When was Kawhi suspended/fined for flouting league rules and clubbing during training camp while skipping practice? I'm all for talent, but character matters. and it affects winning on the biggest stage. Not sure Harden is all about bball, unlike Kawhi. I don't see the parallels. Kawhi was a former finals MVP before going to Toronto. Harden has historically choked in the playoffs.
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Kawhi was "injured" and basically sat out an entire season on the spurs, the franchise everyone holds as a model franchise, with the greatest coach in the game.
 
I'd offer houston anything aside from Lillard. Chances like this don't come around too often.
 
Strenuus said:
Like, I want to trade cj, but not for a more ball hogging cj. We saw cj doesn't work with dame... why would a more cj player then work with dame?

So, ill do what harden never does, and pass.
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Harden is on another level
 
Is Harden a Blazer yet? I heard that Neil has a good relationship with him.
 
RR7 said:
Kawhi was "injured" and basically sat out an entire season on the spurs, the franchise everyone holds as a model franchise, with the greatest coach in the game.
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My point remains.

This isn't someone who inspires confidence

https://theathletic.com/2284237/202...rade-destinations/?source=user-shared-article

Houston, we have a (protocol) problem
First things first, Harden has to make his way through the NBA’s medical protocol before he can return to the court. The league’s medical staff on Thursday ruled that Harden will have a four-day quarantine that began on Tuesday as a result of his choice to attend a private indoor party on Dec. 21. Sources say the event took place at The Velvet Room in Houston.

The league fined him $50,000 for violating the league’s rules, but he managed to avoid losing a game check because the Wednesday night tilt against Oklahoma City was postponed. If the Rockets hadn’t had so many other players unavailable — nine in all due to a combination of contact tracing concerns and injury — Harden would have lost approximately $572,000. Per sources, players who violate league protocol don’t get paid for games missed and are docked 1/72 of their annual salary (in accordance with the 72-game season).

In the end, the too-good-to-be-true timing of quarantine couldn’t be any more advantageous for both the league’s and Harden’s purposes. The Rockets are not scheduled to play again until Saturday at Portland, meaning Harden won’t pay that price. From now until then, the Rockets will attempt yet again to stabilize this soap opera situation that has been front and center in the league’s spotlight since former coach Mike D’Antoni left so abruptly in mid-September.

With the coronavirus pandemic raging throughout the United States and the NBA’s meticulous plan to play games in-market rather than in a bubble setting, it’s imperative that Houston — and all other 29 teams — stay within league guidelines to ensure a successful and safe 2020-21 season. Internally, there was a sense of disappointment surrounding Harden’s decision to attend the Christmas party on Monday evening.

Sources say Houston’s displeasure with this week’s actions stem from the trust and confidence placed in Harden since he was traded to the franchise nearly nine seasons ago. For years, Harden has been viewed as the franchise leader. The Rockets expect Harden to set an example for the rest of the team to follow, not to repeatedly shirk the rules that come with significant consequences for all involved.

The crux of the league’s coronavirus protocol prohibits players from entering places like restaurants, clubs, bars, and lounges, as well as environments with large gatherings. But in contrast to the Orlando bubble, where the controlled nature of the environment meant there was little confusion about what players could and couldn’t do, this in-market challenge is proving to be more problematic.

When teams have their players in the building, it’s far easier to ensure safety and security. Outside of such a setting, players who aren’t being supervised must hold themselves accountable. The Rockets understand there will be temptations for players to socialize, but expect maturity to guide their decisions.

Sources say Harden told Rockets officials that there was a misunderstanding on his part regarding what the protocols allowed and didn’t allow. What’s more, sources say the Rockets reiterated the specifics and importance of the rules with their players in the wake of the recent missteps.
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James lamphear said:
Yea Harden shoot a lot try like CJ but both bad defenders but I would give Harden the better then too. Harden also a better passer then CJ. Plus teams would not be able double both him and Dame. I would give up CJ and Trent and maybe Kanter I wouldn't give Zach due he just better defender then Kanter and maybe one or 2 1st rounds pick protected.
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Could we throw in Melo too? :smiley-undecided:
 
If you can get harden without sacrificing your two best players (dame and Nurk) you gotta do it. Dunno why Houston would prefer CJ but maybe philly really doesn’t wanna give up Simmons and LeVert still isn’t on Mccollums level.
 
RonBrewer said:
This would definitely be the end of the Blazers. We aren't winning shit with Harden.

How in the hell does anyone think he would co-exist with Dame? This is a nightmare and the Blazers will end up in Las Vegas inside of two years if it happens.
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If CP3/Harden can get 3-2 lead on peak Warriors (one of the best teams of all time) in the WCF, then Dame/Harden can win it all. Trap Dame and Harden dominates and vice/versa. Harden is one of the Top 5 SGs of all time. Lakers only beat Rockets because they could leave Westbrook open. Let’s see them leave Dame open.
 
RonBrewer said:
This would definitely be the end of the Blazers. We aren't winning shit with Harden.

How in the hell does anyone think he would co-exist with Dame? This is a nightmare and the Blazers will end up in Las Vegas inside of two years if it happens.
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that's a pretty wild leap there.
 
this neil?

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30589362/rockets-thunder-postponed-next-nba-james-harden-teams

When asked if Harden's behavior would be a red flag in trading for the former MVP, team executives told ESPN they thought it was selfish and reckless but would not prevent a deal.

Teams have already done their homework when it comes to Harden both on and off the court. One NBA executive told ESPN that the team had hired a private investigator to do a thorough background check, treating the process of gathering information on him like it would a draft prospect.

If a team is comfortable acquiring Harden, the larger challenge would be putting together enough outgoing salary (at least $33 million) to make a trade legal without gutting its existing roster.
 
if Harden really wants out and is willing to work with the team and with dame and park some of his BS, id trade CJ/Collins/pick for him - he's horrible at D but we've tooled up some there (although Stotts seems to have missed the memo) and i think we have to take the leap.
 
BlayZa said:
if Harden really wants out and is willing to work with the team and with dame and park some of his BS, id trade CJ/Collins/pick for him - he's horrible at D but we've tooled up some there (although Stotts seems to have missed the memo) and i think we have to take the leap.
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He’s really not. Hes very very good in the post. Active hands in passing lanes. Good metrics. He can get lazy, but hes still much better than CJ.
 
Do it. Time for CJ to go
 
Strenuus said:
So, ill do what harden never does, and pass.
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Harden hasn’t averaged less than 7 APG since 2013. That includes a season where he averaged over 11. His assist percentages the last four seasons: 36,39,45,50 which consistently put him in the top 10. He’s ranked ahead of Lebron the last four seasons.

Also, putting him in the same sentence as CJ is jokes. CJ is not in his zip code.
 
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