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Great article on Ibaka, Harden, and the Thunder by Zach Lowe
Posted on 5/29/14 at 2:45 pm
Posted on 5/29/14 at 2:45 pm
Been saying this since BEFORE the Thunder traded Harden:
Also fascinating to see that 80% of the execs thought the Thunder chose correctly. Albeit no one knew how good Harden was going to be when given his own team:
He then goes on to discuss the pros and cons of what keeping and not keeping Harden looked/looks like. While digging into the specifics of the finances, luxury tax, etc. Good stuff:
LINK
Eta: :nb4RocketTardsMuddyingThisThread:
quote:
Harden is an offense-oriented player who needs the ball, and the Thunder already had two of those in Russell Westbrook and Durant. Harden’s skills were at least somewhat redundant, even though the team gradually found ways for all three to play off of each other. Ibaka is a defense-oriented rim protector, and the Thunder had no one like him.
Also fascinating to see that 80% of the execs thought the Thunder chose correctly. Albeit no one knew how good Harden was going to be when given his own team:
quote:
In reporting on the Harden trade nearly two years ago, I estimated that a minority of NBA executives with whom I spoke — maybe 20 percent — thought the Thunder had chosen incorrectly.
He then goes on to discuss the pros and cons of what keeping and not keeping Harden looked/looks like. While digging into the specifics of the finances, luxury tax, etc. Good stuff:
LINK
Eta: :nb4RocketTardsMuddyingThisThread:
This post was edited on 5/29/14 at 2:48 pm
10
Posted on 5/29/14 at 2:48 pm to okietiger
Read it a few minutes ago. They couldn't have predicted the salary cap being what it is, but given the present reality, damn. Keeping all four with have been huge, especially if Harden learned to how play D.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 2:56 pm to okietiger
Didn't have time to read the article yet, but 2 things:
1. Wouldn't it have only cost OKC something like $4mil more total to keep Harden, i think that was how far their offer was from a max deal?
2. The bigger issue was what they got for Harden, which is now, not much to show for it.
1. Wouldn't it have only cost OKC something like $4mil more total to keep Harden, i think that was how far their offer was from a max deal?
2. The bigger issue was what they got for Harden, which is now, not much to show for it.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 2:58 pm to okietiger
Zach Lowe may be the best NBA writer alive.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 2:58 pm to okietiger
I agree that at the time, choosing Ibaka was the right move. No one knew what harden would become or that the cap situation would change so much. And they still might've made the right call. I tend to think given their roster, Ibaka is more valuable to them than Harden would be. My problem is the trade they did. Harden was 23 and had superstar potential. They got Kevin Martin for a year, Jeremy Lamb, and 2 first rounders, right? Just feel like they traded harden for 50 cents on the dollar.
They still are going to be perennial title contenders. I think they'll win some. But I think had they executed a better trade, they could be a dynasty
They still are going to be perennial title contenders. I think they'll win some. But I think had they executed a better trade, they could be a dynasty
Posted on 5/29/14 at 3:01 pm to okietiger
OKC would have won the title last season had they kept Harden. There's not much doubt in my mind at all.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 3:10 pm to okietiger
Should have amnestied Perkins. I have to say after watching Harden each game this playoffs, I'm not nearly as high on him as before.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 3:19 pm to okietiger
I enjoy Lowe's work, he takes a very reasonable approach to things
Posted on 5/29/14 at 5:10 pm to okietiger
Nothing he wrote is anything new. If you had to pick one you were going to pick Ibaka because it was a better fit and Ibaka was going to be a little cheaper. But, like Lowe said, it never had to be an either/or type situation. You match whatever contract Harden signs and then trade him or amnesty Perkins if you are really that concerned about money. Or you just don't be cheap and keep a finals team together.
Pretty stupid statement. What options would they have if one of their three stars suffered some permanently damaging injury? Losing Westbrook derailed their season last year. If Ibaka would have been out longer their season would have been derailed this year. At least you can maybe think that having a fourth guy that can step up would have solved those problems.
quote:
If one of the four stars suffered some permanently damaging injury, the Thunder would have been stuck without options.
Pretty stupid statement. What options would they have if one of their three stars suffered some permanently damaging injury? Losing Westbrook derailed their season last year. If Ibaka would have been out longer their season would have been derailed this year. At least you can maybe think that having a fourth guy that can step up would have solved those problems.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 5:47 pm to okietiger
Lowe is great..and fwiw Harden's defense offends me, but to cheap out one of the most loyal fan bases and not at least take a shot at it is unfortunate. We'll never know.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 6:34 pm to okietiger
I'm not reading this article, but if it opines that dumping Harden for .10 on the dollar, and keeping Ibaka, was the right move, than the author should be fired.
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