Apparently Sam Presti told Bradley Beal he was trying to move up to get him. That's got to mean that they're planning to offload Harden. Now, if I were Charlotte, I wouldn't blink before trading the #2 for Harden. HOWEVER, Harden is only under contract for 1 more season, and it seems likely that he wouldn't re-sign in Charlotte. So... What if we trade up to #2 then WE swap Beal for Harden? Wouldn't that be sweet? Of course, everyone's trying to trade up to #2, especially Cleveland, who can offer the #4 and the #24. Now, I actually think the #6 and #11 is a better offer (because if you like a guy at #4, just take him at #2, and #24 is lucky to be a player), but I also read that Charlotte want their trade partner to take Tyrus Thomas's contract off their hands. Can we absorb that contract?
It would be tempting for sure ... I don't know, I'm always leery of trading with Presti; chances are you won't come out on the winning side of the ledger if history is any indication.
Yeah, maybe they know Harden's got a heart condition... (Cue jokes about his performance in the finals.)
A Harden for Beal swap isn't that risky. The Thunder love Harden, but are starting to realize that he's gonna get paid on the open market and need a cheap, talented rookie to take his place.
Well, he'd either re-sign with Charlotte (or possibly even extended prior to that point) and/or be matched by the Bobbers as an RFA, or accept the Q.O. if it was extended for him. By trading #2 for Harden, though, Charlotte would basically be making Harden their franchise player, which seems a bit much to me.
If we could trade up to draft Beal, we should keep Beal. Chances are he's as good or better than Harden -- I mean, Presti wants him for a reason, right? -- and he's MUCH cheaper with his rookie scale contract compared to the monster payday Harden is going to want. Then of course there is the heart condition....
IMO that is the only reason he is considering it. i would take Harden over Beal any day. One is proven (and still young) and the other is not proven. (but looks to be pretty good)
I love this idea. I really think we have a real shot at getting #2 for 6 & 11. I think I would do that. I would then draft Beal, and if we can move him for Harden, go for it. If not, I think Beal is the 2nd best guy in the draft, so no loss.
Also, maybe you have to wonder if Presti has gotten gun-shy about giving Harden a lot of money after all the bed-shitting he did in the finals?
I would like this plan a lot better if we didn't have to give up #11, but I don't think there is another way of getting #2. Trading #6 and #11 to just end up with Beal (if Harden is not in the works) is a little bit disappointing to me.
Maybe, but I doubt it. Harden was being asked to guard LeBron in the post. And Harden wasn't getting as much time as usual with Westbrook and Durant off the court. I think, rather than "bed-shitting", what this showed was that Harden + Westbrook + Durant can't work that well when they're all on the court together. What I think the finals showed, though, was how valuable Sefolosha is to them. His minutes just exploded.
Woj was on the radio in la yesterday. He said after game one of the finals where the thunder won, after the game harden was bitching in the locker room how he only took six shots. Derek fisher and kendrick perkins had to shut him up. Completely changed my mind about harden. Wouldnt want him anymore. Woj was saying ibaka is the same way and that he says it will be tough for okc to keep harden or ibaka if they dont mature
Yeah, that Harden: he's a cancer. The way he insists on starting when he'd help the team more by coming off the bench. The way he has the best +/- on the team. Fucker.
I don't think it is about Harden. I think it is about Beal and for some reason that has me concerned, 70% of GMs think beal is the 2nd pick in this years draft. Posted it already but San Antonio has interest in Beal and they have Manu. I'm starting to really like Beal.
I wouldn't be so sure it's Harden they're trying to move for the #2. Charlotte can absorb a lot of contract, and it makes just as much sense to move Westbrook and make Harden the starter, using Fisher and a rehabbed Maynor to fill in some of the ball handling duties.
You actually believe Woj? I buy that he was bitching, but because they went away from what got them there. I don't buy Harden counting his shots. He's not a selfish player.
That would be ballsy indeed by Presti. But I guess I've always thought Harden was more of a PG than Westbrook...
Beal makes more sense in OKC than Harden (who is a great player, btw). Beal can be effective without needing to handle the ball as much.
