What would it take to get Harden?

[WolvesGuy09]

First of all, I come in peace.

I love my Minnesota Timberwolves, but Oklahoma City is definitely my second favorite team. Great group of young and fun players. Everyone seems to be good people. The team is just very exciting. When the Wolves and Thunder play, it is such great entertainment.

As I said, I am a Timberwolves fan and we obviously have strengths in the best power forward in the league, Kevin Love. We have a young and upcoming sensation in Rubio. We have a force offensively down low in Pek. And we also have a young promising prospect in Derrick Williams.

What the Wolves lack is obviously a shooting guard. The perfect fit for the Wolves would be James Harden. There is no one I would love more for the Wolves to get than Harden.

Harden is going to get paid a lot when he hits Free Agency, so I think the Thunder management may be a little worried about that with Durant, Westbrook, and Perkins getting paid already. However, they obviously want to keep this young trio together.

Would Williams, Ridnour, Pek for Harden and Perkins work? How far off is that?

[DwightSchrute]

Disclaimer: I'm probably much higher on Harden than most Thunder fans, but it's not a homer thing, as I've argued that Ibaka is presently overrated (I love what Ibaka brings to the table, but his finishing 2nd in DPOY voting is a joke IMO). On a related note, you can see a lot of our arguments about Harden's value (at least relative to Ibaka) in this thread from last month.

I think Harden is an absolute star: at least Top 25 right now, and a few years away from being Top 15. I wouldn't considering trading him for a package of lesser players. Thus, as far as Minnesota goes, I wouldn't consider trading Harden in a deal that doesn't involve Love (which doesn't make any sense for Minnesota) or Rubio (which doesn't make sense for either team). I really like Pek, but ultimately he's just a role player. Williams still has a lot of potential, but that's all he is right now; otherwise, Adelman wouldn't have trotted out the horrific duo of Wes Johnson and Mike Beasley at the 3. He doesn't even have a position, and he wouldn't get a lot of burn on a team that already has Kevin Durant at SF and Serge Ibaka at PF. Williams is a huge gamble that could pay off for the right team, but to have any chance of reaching that potential, he needs to be on a team that can give him a lot of minutes. A contender with OKC's current personnel doesn't make sense.

Perkins' contract isn't going to result in a Harden trade. Perkins would get amnestied before Harden (or Ibaka, for that matter) is moved for financial reasons. Thus, the economic impetus for a Harden trade is moot.

[cjthunder]

I'm with DS on this this one. Harden is tremendous. I consider Durant untouchable of course, then RW0 and Harden 1 and 1A. If we had to lose one, I might actually prefer to keep James, and I LOVE Russell. But at the end of G2, I was hollering every time down, "Put it in Harden's hands!"

Ask yourself this, which trio of "smalls" would you rather get the significant minutes on your team: Maynor, Harden, Durant, or Westbrook, Sefalosha, Durant?

Perkins is a bargain, no factor at all in any financial discussions if he is healthy.

[WolvesGuy09]

Disclaimer: I'm probably much higher on Harden than most Thunder fans, but it's not a homer thing, as I've argued that Ibaka is presently overrated (I love what Ibaka brings to the table, but his finishing 2nd in DPOY voting is a joke IMO). On a related note, you can see a lot of our arguments about Harden's value (at least relative to Ibaka) in this thread from last month.

I think Harden is an absolute star: at least Top 25 right now, and a few years away from being Top 15. I wouldn't considering trading him for a package of lesser players. Thus, as far as Minnesota goes, I wouldn't consider trading Harden in a deal that doesn't involve Love (which doesn't make any sense for Minnesota) or Rubio (which doesn't make sense for either team). I really like Pek, but ultimately he's just a role player. Williams still has a lot of potential, but that's all he is right now; otherwise, Adelman wouldn't have trotted out the horrific duo of Wes Johnson and Mike Beasley at the 3. He doesn't even have a position, and he wouldn't get a lot of burn on a team that already has Kevin Durant at SF and Serge Ibaka at PF. Williams is a huge gamble that could pay off for the right team, but to have any chance of reaching that potential, he needs to be on a team that can give him a lot of minutes. A contender with OKC's current personnel doesn't make sense.

Perkins' contract isn't going to result in a Harden trade. Perkins would get amnestied before Harden (or Ibaka, for that matter) is moved for financial reasons. Thus, the economic impetus for a Harden trade is moot.

I'm not so sure that it was more of Derrick Williams just being potential as it was Adelman seeing what he has in Wesley and Beasley, but I do see your point. I think that it would obviously hurt the Thunder defensively losing Perk and it would be a blow to lose Harden, but I think the addition of a inside scoring threat like Pek could be a big get for the Thunder.

Again, I can get why the Thunder wouldn't do it, I was just curious as to what it would take because you have some people such as Bill Simmons who have Derrick Williams ahead of Harden in trade value. It is hard to gauge the trade value of a player on another team. Thank you for giving me an idea of Harden's trade value. Good luck in the Playoffs.

[WolvesGuy09]

I'm with DS on this this one. Harden is tremendous. I consider Durant untouchable of course, then RW0 and Harden 1 and 1A. If we had to lose one, I might actually prefer to keep James, and I LOVE Russell. But at the end of G2, I was hollering every time down, "Put it in Harden's hands!"

Ask yourself this, which trio of "smalls" would you rather get the significant minutes on your team: Maynor, Harden, Durant, or Westbrook, Sefalosha, Durant?

Perkins is a bargain, no factor at all in any financial discussions if he is healthy.

Perkins may be a bargain now, but not down the road. Especially with other said contracts running up.

[cjthunder]

Perkins may be a bargain now, but not down the road. Especially with other said contracts running up.

Compared to what other centers are making, I'm not sure how he could be replaced without a significant downgrade to the team. Anyone that would even be considered makes more money already.

[cjthunder]

Again, I can get why the Thunder wouldn't do it, I was just curious as to what it would take because you have some people such as Bill Simmons who have Derrick Williams ahead of Harden in trade value. It is hard to gauge the trade value of a player on another team. Thank you for giving me an idea of Harden's trade value. Good luck in the Playoffs.

If Simmons really believes that, he has lost his mind.

[Thunderstruck83]

If we're talking strictly free agency, it'd probably take close to a max deal to get Harden away from OKC. Sam Presti has shown in the past that he will take care of his top guys before they become unrestricted FA's. Of course it's a bit more complicated with KD and Russ already being signed to max deals but I think Presti will offer a very lucrative contract to Harden when the time comes.

[WolvesGuy09]

If Simmons really believes that, he has lost his mind.

I agree. Harden should be ahead of players like Tony Parker as well.

[WolvesGuy09]

Compared to what other centers are making, I'm not sure how he could be replaced without a significant downgrade to the team. Anyone that would even be considered makes more money already.

I think Pek is an obvious option. Much better offensively, but a downgrade defensively.

[WolvesGuy09]

If we're talking strictly free agency, it'd probably take close to a max deal to get Harden away from OKC. Sam Presti has shown in the past that he will take care of his top guys before they become unrestricted FA's. Of course it's a bit more complicated with KD and Russ already being signed to max deals but I think Presti will offer a very lucrative contract to Harden when the time comes.

IMO, I would do it if I was the Wolves. I would love to have Harden.

[Thunderstruck83]

J

IMO, I would do it if I was the Wolves. I would love to have Harden.

Yeah, no brainer for alot of teams. However, if OKC locks him up when he's a restricted free agent a la Durant and Westbrook, other teams won't have a shot to offer max money for him. I guess some of it will depend on how set Harden and his agent are on getting a max contract or close to it.

[WolvesGuy09]

J

Yeah, no brainer for alot of teams. However, if OKC locks him up when he's a restricted free agent a la Durant and Westbrook, other teams won't have a shot to offer max money for him. I guess some of it will depend on how set Harden and his agent are on getting a max contract or close to it.

He seems like he would take a little less to stay in OKC, but he would also be happy in Minnesota with Rubio and Love. It should be an interesting scenario.

[AznEastside]

I think the only way that thunder would take that trade is if nice draft pick(s) were thrown in from the wolves

[Betts]

I think the only way that thunder would take that trade is if nice draft pick(s) were thrown in from the wolves

Draft picks are always a question. Not every draft pick pans out, while we know what we have in Harden. He was the #3 pick and I don't remember Minnesota having anything comparable to trade. I don't see Presti letting James get away. And were he to trade either Ibaka or Harden, I can just about guarantee you he wouldn't be trading within our division. They'd be far, far away in a place like Toronto.