Bobcats want to trade 2nd round pick for James Hardeen

[InRareForm]

good move for both, tbh........

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/19352135/charlotte-looking-to-deal-no-2-pick

[djohn2oo8]

:lol Horrible deal

[Beanzamillion21]

lol bobcraps

[Venti Quattro]

Sam Presti is not juggling for picks now. The Bobcats are at least three years late.

[I. Hustle]

Bobcats just bobcattin'

[tesseractive]

Sam Presti is not juggling for picks now. The Bobcats are at least three years late.

It wouldn't necessarily be completely insane on the part of the Thunder. It depends on the cap issues -- do they think they can resign Harden for a below-market rate? Do they think they'll lose him in a year anyway?

Of course, if they win this year, Dallas can testify to the problem with letting a key member of a title team walk if you don't have to. But if they lose, if I'm Presti, I think I have to at least think about it.

[Venti Quattro]

You're easily giving up on a sure player for an untested #2 pick? How is that sensible for a championship contender? :lol

Presti, win or lose, should do everything in his power to keep his core intact. Forget the #2 pick.

[InRareForm]

But Durant will get even better.

Westrbook will be get even better.

All is not lost if you get the #2 pick and get to keep your 4/5 players and salary cap is in great condition.

[benefactor]

It sounds silly at first glance and I know OKC wants to keep the core together but do you pay 10+ million a year to three perimeter players and let Ibaka walk? I'd ask for their second too. Of course, I feel like Thomas Robinson is going to be a legit, well-rounded NBA PF. You add him off the bench to that second unit and you will be destroying teams in transition, on the boards and on the inside. He can also shoot. Also...people forget how good Maynor was before going down. He'll play more minutes to help fill some of the void that Harden left. The Thunder saying no is expected and reasonable, but I could see the reasons if they did it.

Imagine finishing a game with Westbrook/Sefalosha/Durant/Robinson/Ibaka. Good lord.

[tesseractive]

You're easily giving up on a sure player for an untested #2 pick? How is that sensible for a championship contender? :lol

Presti, win or lose, should do everything in his power to keep his core intact. Forget the #2 pick.
Presti, right now, has a pretty good idea about whether he can keep his core together from a financial standpoint. We don't know what the answer is, but I bet he does. If he thinks he can keep the core together, this is obviously a stupid deal -- of course you don't trade Harden.

But if he thinks they're probably going to lose him anyway, then he has to decide whether a year of Harden is worth more than 3+ of MKG or Robinson.

[Killakobe81]

It's obvious (if you follow the NBA closely) what you meant, but thread title is misleading.

If you know you cant re-sign Harden that is a great deal for both. Kidd-Gilchrist would give them another great perimeter defender or if they want to replace scoring they could sign the SG from Florida (Beal?!)

[SamoanTD]

It's a win win for Thunder they go with the trade Sam Presti will pick a winner don't have to pay Harden. If they don't then you still have your big 3.

[DeadlyDynasty]

It sounds silly at first glance and I know OKC wants to keep the core together but do you pay 10+ million a year to three perimeter players and let Ibaka walk? I'd ask for their second too. Of course, I feel like Thomas Robinson is going to be a legit, well-rounded NBA PF. You add him off the bench to that second unit and you will be destroying teams in transition, on the boards and on the inside. He can also shoot. Also...people forget how good Maynor was before going down. He'll play more minutes to help fill some of the void that Harden left. The Thunder saying no is expected and reasonable, but I could see the reasons if they did it.

Imagine finishing a game with Westbrook/Sefalosha/Durant/Robinson/Ibaka. Good lord.

Agree with all except the T-Rob part...I think he'll be good, but there's a few choices to be had at #2. Harden's gonna get paid one way or another, so it's definitely worth picking up the phone.

[Killakobe81]

Also, be careful about projecting superstardom for Harden. I do NOT think he is a max player. I do think he is a potential all-star at the position, but how can he not be? Kobe, Ray, Wade, Manu and Joe J are all aging or done. But is Harden really worth Durant type money? And being the spark, a leader of the bench unit or even the #3 scoring option is drastically different than leading a franchise. Ask Joe Johnson. Remember the hype he had BEFORE he signed all that money for Atlanta? People forget Joe showed playmaking and post game similar to Harden. Remember, those that don't learn from history ...

[benefactor]

Agree with all except the T-Rob part...I think he'll be good, but there's a few choices to be had at #2. Harden's gonna get paid one way or another, so it's definitely worth picking up the phone.
Agreed. There are a few options that could help OKC. MKG is just as interesting.

[baseline bum]

I don't think Harden will ask for the kind of money that will cause that team to be broken up. He already said he patterns what he does after Ginobili, and Manu took less to win multiple titles. I think if Harden was all about himself and all about the money you would have heard him make a stink about not starting by now.

[tesseractive]

Agreed. There are a few options that could help OKC. MKG is just as interesting.

MKG would almost be a drop-in replacement for Harden, but with a higher ceiling.

[OKC Thunderstorm]

I don't think Harden will ask for the kind of money that will cause that team to be broken up. He already said he patterns what he does after Ginobili, and Manu took less to win multiple titles. I think if Harden was all about himself and all about the money you would have heard him make a stink about not starting by now.

Different time, and different CBA. With the cost controls put in place no way he turns down a huge raise unless he takes a short-term deal like Love did. He is a good, not great athlete. A key injury and Harden is a bigger and slightly better Gilbert Arenas.

[baseline bum]

MKG would almost be a drop-in replacement for Harden, but with a higher ceiling.

Their games are nothing alike. MKG is a rebounder and defender who has good handles and can finish at the rim and who is also a great leader and competitor, but he doesn't have an NBA quality jumpshot. And while I'm an enormous MKG fan, no way you break up a title core (whether or not they beat Miami this time around). I definitely wouldn't trade him for Harden though if I'm Charlotte.

[Kai]

2nd overall pick tbh

[tesseractive]

Their games are nothing alike. MKG is a rebounder and defender who has good handles and can finish at the rim and who is also a great leader and competitor, but he doesn't have an NBA quality jumpshot. And while I'm an enormous MKG fan, no way you break up a title core (whether or not they beat Miami this time around). I definitely wouldn't trade him for Harden though if I'm Charlotte.

Sorry. I should have said that more carefully. "Drop-in replacement" was a poor choice of words. I meant that he would be truly brilliant in the "penetrator-off-the-bench energy guy who can create for others" role, even though he would bring some different strengths and weaknesses to it than Harden.

[Budkin]

Harden is a huge part of the Thunder... it would be ridiculous to trade him.

[dunkman]

Harden was a very high pick. It's a bad deal for the Thunder tbh.

[FkLA]

I don't think Harden will ask for the kind of money that will cause that team to be broken up. He already said he patterns what he does after Ginobili, and Manu took less to win multiple titles. I think if Harden was all about himself and all about the money you would have heard him make a stink about not starting by now.

Were there teams offering Manu significantly more in 04' than what he got from the Spurs? I think he had showed flashes in his first two years but I dont think teams were able to realize the player he would become off of those two years. No way Manu settles for 6 yrs 48 mill if he had been a FA in the summer of 05', which I think is close to where Harden stands right now. Hes cemented himself as a top SG already which Manu didnt do until he was already under contract.

[mavs>spurs]

why the fuck does the title say "2nd round pick?" makes it seem more retarded than it actually is.

[DMX7]

Of course it's a bad deal, but there is a difference between a 2nd round pick (per the title of this thread) and a #2 overall pick.

[Spurtacus]

lol MJ

[djohn2oo8]

lol MJ
http://chzfailnation.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/funny-sports-pictures-michael-jordan-picture-of-the-day.jpg
:lol

[dbreiden83080]

Harden is not a franchise player.. He's just a good shooter who happens to have an ugly beard and is a douchebag..

[djohn2oo8]

Harden is not a franchise player.. He's just a good shooter who happens to have an ugly beard and is a douchebag..
MJ thought Kwame was a franchise player. :lol

[baseline bum]

Were there teams offering Manu significantly more in 04' than what he got from the Spurs? I think he had showed flashes in his first two years but I dont think teams were able to realize the player he would become off of those two years. No way Manu settles for 6 yrs 48 mill if he had been a FA in the summer of 05', which I think is close to where Harden stands right now. Hes cemented himself as a top SG already which Manu didnt do until he was already under contract.

Denver offered more, but Manu wanted to stay.

[dbreiden83080]

Harden is a huge part of the Thunder... it would be ridiculous to trade him.

Take Harden off the Thunder and Spurs win in 6 as opposed to

Well you know...

[dbreiden83080]

MJ thought Kwame was a franchise player. :lol

Also a douchebag..

[Reck]

So I'm interested to know if this trade were to go through, would Harden even stay put?

Nobody wants to play for the Bobcats.

[Venti Quattro]

Speaking of Jordan, I liked him in the Dream Team documentary. He wasn't an ass.

[Kai]

So I'm interested to know if this trade were to go through, would Harden even stay put?

Nobody wants to play for the Bobcats.

They could match any offer since he'd be restricted.