The super Harden to Portland thread + The Big Blockbuster

[Lanny]

Okay, big deal, you caught me walking on water. I like to do that when I'm thinking.

 

[illmatic99]

I'm sorry but this dude is fucking toxic.

To come out at a press conference and publicly say his teammates aren't "good enough" is pathetic. Dude didn't even show up to training camp and is about 50 lbs overweight and playing worse than Vince Carter did during his holdout season in Toronto.

You really think Dame, who is loyal to his teammates to a fault would want this guy on the squad?

In these arguments, I almost always side on betting on talent over chemistry, but this is about where I draw the line. When you call out your teammates in a failed attempt to force a trade in public, while not giving a shit.... no thank you.

 

[Mr. Robot]

I'm sorry but this dude is fucking toxic.

To come out at a press conference and publicly say his teammates aren't "good enough" is pathetic. Dude didn't even show up to training camp and is about 50 lbs overweight and playing worse than Vince Carter did during his holdout season in Toronto.

You really think Dame, who is loyal to his teammates to a fault would want this guy on the squad?

In these arguments, I almost always side on betting on talent over chemistry, but this is about where I draw the line. When you call out your teammates in a failed attempt to force a trade in public, while not giving a shit.... no thank you.

hes trying to force his way out, given they dont want to trade him

rockets should be fair to him and trade him, he earned his right to leave... its not professional, but they leave him no choice

 

[illmatic99]

hes trying to force his way out, given they dont want to trade him

rockets should be fair to him and trade him, he earned his right to leave... its not professional, but they leave him no choice

Really? First of all, they have no obligation to trade him-- he signed a contract. And he has a right to leave, yes. DURING FREE AGENCY! He's not a free agent now!

And the owner came out and assured Harden that he would be traded, on their schedule.

He has no choice? gimme a break.

 

[Scalma]

What’s funny is even when Harden doesn’t give a shit, he’s still just as good or better than career year CJ lol. If Houston is willing to take McCollum, you’d almost have to do it, ESPECIALLY if you’re Portland, where you don’t have many opportunities to land a top 10 player on the same timeline as your best player.

 

[Pinwheel1]

hes trying to force his way out, given they dont want to trade him

rockets should be fair to him and trade him, he earned his right to leave... its not professional, but they leave him no choice

How has he earned the right to leave? Seems like they tried to keep him happy with the many trades they made the last few years. Now that they have backfired and they have no chance of contending he wants to bail? Whose fault was it that they did not work? He couldn't fit with CP3 or Westbrook, or Wall......Personally, I hope he is traded to the east and they getting very little in return, but I can see why they would hold out for more. They have nothing to lose this season.

 

[Natebishop3]

Didn't we trade six guys for Pippen when he was super disgruntled?



Is there a world where Dame/CJ/Harden could coexist?

 

[Hoopguru]

What’s funny is even when Harden doesn’t give a shit, he’s still just as good or better than career year CJ lol. If Houston is willing to take McCollum, you’d almost have to do it, ESPECIALLY if you’re Portland, where you don’t have many opportunities to land a top 10 player on the same timeline as your best player.

I just dont see Harden and Dame co-existing. Sure they can go through the motions like Harden did with CP,RW & JW and stagnate the team.

 

[B-Roy]

I just dont see Harden and Dame co-existing. Sure they can go through the motions like Harden did with CP,RW & JW and stagnate the team.

Harden didn't work with Westbrook because of spacing. The Harden/CP3 teams were really good and almost beat the dynasty warriors.

 

[TBpup]

Harden didn't work with Westbrook because of spacing. The Harden/CP3 teams were really good and almost beat the dynasty warriors.

I don't think this can be emphasized enough. They were up 3-2 on perhaps the best team the Warriors ever had when Paul went down. Even then, they battled to game 7 and IIRC, were in it until the 4th quarter when Harden was just worn out and overwhelmed.

 

[illmatic99]

I don't think this can be emphasized enough. They were up 3-2 on perhaps the best team the Warriors ever had when Paul went down. Even then, they battled to game 7 and IIRC, were in it until the 4th quarter when Harden was just worn out and overwhelmed.

His playoff performances leave a lot to be desired. He has quit on his team at times in the playoffs, like he's doing now.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Harden didn't work with Westbrook because of spacing. The Harden/CP3 teams were really good and almost beat the dynasty warriors.

Yeah, they were good, so why did it not last? Who wanted CP3 traded? Harden or Cp3?

 

[illmatic99]

 

[illmatic99]

Yeah, they were good, so why did it not last? Who wanted CP3 traded? Harden or Cp3?

he got everything he wanted in Houston and lost. he can't do shit in the playoffs, and he wants to burn the house down before leaving.

just everything about that rubs me the wrong way.

 

[Hoopguru]

Harden didn't work with Westbrook because of spacing. The Harden/CP3 teams were really good and almost beat the dynasty warriors.

The thing with CP3 is that he doesn't mind being the #1 option and played decently w/o the ball. Im not sure it would be fair to Dame to bring in another guard that wants to bring the ball up court and dominate the scoring? I might be 100% wrong!

 

[Hoopguru]

Players standing around while he dominates the ball.

 

[Scalma]

The thing with CP3 is that he doesn't mind being the #1 option and played decently w/o the ball. Im not sure it would be fair to Dame to bring in another guard that wants to bring the ball up court and dominate the scoring? I might be 100% wrong!

Dame has talked about welcoming playing off the ball more, almost encouraging it. And Harden doesn’t necessarily want to dominate the ball either, if the people closest to him are to be believed. But anyway, harden is a better passer than anyone on our roster. He’d be a better fit than McCollum on both ends, in theory.

 

[THE HCP]

The Rockets should invoke the 25th and IMPEACH his ass!

 

[Natebishop3]

This dude just screams fat Shawn Kemp.

 

[illmatic99]

 

[Natebishop3]

I would be happy if he was out of the west. That's another guard spot opening up on the AllStar team.

 

[B-Roy]

There is obviously a level of volatility that comes with a player of Harden's calibre, and personality. But frankly, we are coming on the last few years of Dame's prime, and this team is still nowhere closer to being an actual contender. I'm willing to gamble on talent, and Harden is the level of top talent that can actually make a difference.

But I can see why some people wouldn't want to do it. The current team has a higher floor than a team with Harden, due to a number of factors. But I think the ceiling is significantly lower. We are basically hoping for everything to break right in terms of chemistry, injuries to our team, injures to other teams, favorable playoff matchups etc. We may have a few more winning seasons with this team versus a Harden team if that Harden team flames out after a year, but the prime Dame era will be over by that point regardless.

If CJ's current level of play is what he's going to be going forward, then we don't need Harden, but that's also a gamble based on historical seasons, and we may never have another chance to obtain a proven top 10 talent.

 

[illmatic99]

Predicting a deal with Kyrie going to a third team. Who needs a PG?

 

[wizenheimer]

setting aside the craziness of anybody suggesting the Blazers could trade for Harden without including CJ....has anybody looked at what that would do the cap?

in two years, Dame-CJ-Harden will combine for 128M in salary...only about 11M below the current tax threshold. Jody Allen would have to sign off on paying a couple of hundred million in tax.

and hold on....Dame and Harden might work out some ball-sharing synergy just like Dame/CJ have. It might even be quite a bit better because Harden is one of the top 3 playmakers in the league. But all 3 of those guys trying to share a single basketball? LOL...my gawd the dribbling!

also, imagine this 4th Q unit....Dame-CJ-Harden-Melo-Kanter. In the history of all-things-insane has there ever been a worse defensive unit?

 

[Minstrel]

These seem like they go together.

 

[illmatic99]

Who says no?

 

[Labinot41]

So Harden will go to Brooklyn or Philadelphia, it was fun guys.

 

[wizenheimer]

Who says no?

View attachment 36051

Denver?....they are the ones giving up the value that moves Harden. Why would they want Kyrie instead?

 

[ehizzy3]

Predicting a deal with Kyrie going to a third team. Who needs a PG?

orlando lol

 

[tlongII]

Denver?....they are the ones giving up the value that moves Harden. Why would they want Kyrie instead?

They wouldn't. No chance that scenario happens.