Oh I see. Still I don't blame Harden wanting the money. Careers can change so fast due to injury so get the money while you can. Plus he wanted to be a #1. He couldn't do that in OKC.
Thank you for finally acknowledging the question I posed, even if you did kind of side step it by qualifying yourself as an "advisor" and not Harden himself. And I stand by my argument that Harden would be a moron to walk away from what I assume would have been well over a $10 million dollar difference for just that contract and likely more money in the long term. He was willing to be a team player and come off the bench, but he wasn't willing to lose tens of millions to do it all the while also being the guy to be 3rd fiddle. Again you keep harping on Harden to be the team player, why is he the only one? Your argument is predicated on OKC being a team-first kind of place yet no one was willing to give up a fugging thing, so why would Harden concede so much when no one else was?
Exactly, there's a human element here. Harden needs to look out for himself and his family. Hes expected to concede everything for his team, but what kind of team mentality is it when everyone's saying "I'm getting mine, now you need to take whatever's left over." I get Kingspeed's point totally and it would have been great if Harden did stay for less. But as a human with self respect and pride, you've got to put your foot down at some point.
Asik is talented and has been to the Chicago Thibs school of defense, no better teacher out there. He commands 8.8 mil I think this season and Lopez is 4mil and change. I thought when Houston gave us TRob for a pack of gum that Olshey could call in a favor. Leonard, Claver and Barton or Crabbe could be moved. I wondered about this when Leonard didn't travel. They don't want to risk an injury to him for some reason and it could be a trade in the works. More than likely a 3 team deal but Olshey never ceases to amaze me. As to Harden and his value, that has nothing to do with this scenario and he's a franchise player so Houston pays him. Houston is a lot bigger market than OKC. Harden is a guy who needs the ball and like Kobe, keeps it when he's got it. Portland is building a TEAM and not catering to high maintenance superstars. It's working. I'm more than happy to stand pat with the roster we have. Add Asik and our bench gets thinner instantly. He's not cheap.
I was arguing that we should trade Aldridge for Harden (well, AND Ibaka) way back when. But back then I thought Harden played defense. He seems to have forgotten how. And remember this? And why is it that his team plays better without him?
I was in that same boat too. In OKC he at least tried to play D. Being the first option has turned him into a Melo clone.
He was the #1 rebounder last season. Not much more than that. His negatives and sloppy play cancel most of his value if winning games is your goal. YAHOO Fantasy league rated Lopez 62nd last year, and Asik 142nd. Lopez was 13th in blocks last season. Asik was 29th. Don't even get me started on fouls and turnovers. Asik shot 299 FT's and made 168. Lopez shot 207 FT's and made 161.
Asik may just turn into the next Hedo Turkeyglue! There was a time when everybody wanted him and after he got paid, well it was never quite the same.
Dave (B-Edge) said Asik only makes sense if we keep Lopez. But our already weak bench will become even weaker.
Our bench isn't that weak. We had Earl Watson come in last night, without having played a single minute this season, and make a huge impact in the win over the Warriors. How is that a weak bench?
