Harden Packs His Bags

Metapod used HARDEN!

We are reminded again that it’s a business. When James Harden turned down OKC’s offer of roughly $53-54 mil, GM Sam Presti went into trade mode.

Never mind the strong nucleus that the Thunder had built or the friendship that Durant, Westbrook, and Harden shared. Harden wanted the full  $15 mil per year that he knew he could get. Ultimately, he chose money over contention, camaraderie, and familiarity.

Did Harden miss the Finals (kinda with the way he played)? They were beat by a top heavy team of elite talent that decided they wanted to play together. Sure, there were bumps. But ultimately, Miami overcame. And the one team people saw as a threat to a potential Heat dynasty? The Thunder. The same team that Harden denied.

Make no mistake, Oklahoma will still contend. The chemistry will become a question, but the acquired pieces (Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, boat load of draft picks) are nothing to sneeze at. Still, wouldn’t it have been nice if Harden was able to stick around? So much for a beautiful narrative, it’s a business, folks.