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Thunder Robbed Themselves Stuck

Posted on October 29, 2012 at 01:34 AM.

(29)

Three best friends. Check.

Solid young core. Check.

Best player outside LeBron. Check.

Sixth Man of the Year. Gone.

Wait, what?

With the trade that sent James Harden and a flurry of pointless bench warmers to the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City may have just found their flaw in the system every NBA team gushes over. A small-market team can't go all-in.

It isn't the fact that you traded Harden away, it's the timing of the move that has baffled me and countless others. Three nights before opening tip, and OKC decides to ship out 25 percent of its main core.

Here are a few reasons as to why Oklahoma City just robbed themselves.

They Just Lost a Best Friend
Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Harden were the three best friends that anyone could have. They enjoyed playing with each other on the court, and would constantly hang out and hit up the XBOX off the court. That kind of chemistry, especially in any professional sports league, is almost unheard of.

Yes, the Thunder received an impressive haul with Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and three very good draft picks. Now, if those draft picks pan out, they could be even better in two years, right? Lamb can easily become a more athletic Harden, right? Martin will easily be able to fill Harden's shows on the court, right?

Wrong. Oklahoma City has already been down the path of potential, and it turned into four very young and very good basketball players. They just got rid of the fourth one to save some dough.

Offense or Defense: Something's Gotta Give
Martin can score, we know that much. But what else can he do? He can't penetrate like Harden, he can't defend like Harden and he doesn't have a Beard Like Harden. Also, Martin had Kyle Lowry tossing him the rock last year. And no knock on Westbrook, but just because he is the better player does not mean Lowry isn't the better point guard. Harden was at his best with Westbrook on the bench.

And leave Lamb out of this. I've already discussed how pointless it is to trade away an Olympian for potential in the Thunder's current position.

But what about Thabo Sefolosha? He's a damn good perimeter defender! But can he score? We all know that Sefolosha isn't the biggest offensive weapon on the Thunder, but in no way will his defensive presence help on offense minus the occasional corner 3-pointer.

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat
Remember when there were three NBA title contenders to start the season? I do, because it was yesterday morning. Now LeBron and Kobe are breathing a sigh of relief. Their top competition just screwed around with their chemistry days before tip off.

When LeBron goes cold, Wade steps up. When Wade goes cold, Bosh steps up.

When Kobe goes cold, Howard will step up. When Howard goes cold, Pau will step up. When Pau goes cold, Nash will step up.

Who's going to step up when Durant and Westbrook go cold? Martin is now the third-best scorer on the team. Good luck with that.

I see the reasons as to why Sam Presti pulled the trigger on this deal, but I still don't understand why he wouldn't have waited a little bit longer. Operation Sports Senior Staff Writer TD St. Matthew-Daniel made a good point on Twitter about why they may have pulled the trigger.

But for now, we can argue and we can debate. One thing is for certain, though: Oklahoma City just took a step back from winning the 2013 NBA Championship.

Dustin Toms is OS' Senior Editor. For insight on professional sports and sports gaming news, follow him on Twitter at @DustinToms_OS.

Comments

# 16 DBMcGee3 @ Oct 29

I'm not sure exactly what Harden was asking for in the extension talks, but if it was anywhere near max money then they pretty much had to make the move. The guy is good, and great as far as bench players go, but that's a lot o' cheddar. I think they got good players in return and now they don't have to deal with the distraction of Harden's contract. Timing definitely sucks though, no debate there.

# 17 Steve_OS @ Oct 29

Quote:


	Best player outside LeBron. Check.

Am I understanding this correctly? You think Harden is the 2nd best player in the league? Maybe it's just too early in the morning...

# 18 ManiacMatt1782 @ Oct 29

It is a little early Steve. Durant is the guy he's talkin about.

# 19 elgreazy1 @ Oct 29

Better to jettison an expendable player who's potential has been reached with the probability of acquiring young talent to surround your franchise player, Durant. It's something the Cavs should have done years back, which would probably have kept LeBron in town.

# 20 bjones16 @ Oct 29

This article is BS. There is something called a salary cap. Did you forget Bosh/Wade/Bron took less! So dont give me that "small market team cant go all in" BS. Durant/Westbrook/Ibaka took less and you have Harden that won't??? PEACE OUT!

# 21 NYdreams @ Oct 29

@steve_os
u read it wrong.... he was talking about durant being the best player outside lebron not harden...

# 22 MMurda @ Oct 29

I dont agree with the Harden move in theory, but i agree with it in reality. Harden is good, but not near max deal good. as others have said already, it gives them flexibility now and at least one of the 3 picks, with 2 i believe being 1st rd, will pan out to a great player soon down the line.

this is one of those situations that had to be done. i say the earlier the better to give the team time to create new chemistry early on rather than have possible probs midseason and hurt their run after the all star break as they try to figure out the new team identity and how everyone fits in on the fly.

# 23 Bunselpower32 @ Oct 29

They may have messed with chemistry, and I may be wrong about this, but trading to get one of the most efficient two-guards in the league, a potential good player, and three draft picks that belong to a team that just traded away its best pure scorer and will likely not be relevant by the time those picks come around doesn't sound like an opportunity a good GM can pass up.

# 24 Raven Nation42 @ Oct 29

I think this was good trade for the Thunder and here's why:
1.They have a proven scorer in Kevin Martin that will be alot better than folks think coming off the bench. No pressure,to be the main guy. he'lljust play.
2. Maynor is back and he will help strengthen their backcourt and allow Westbrook to move over to his natural position as a scoring 2
3.Lamb and Perry will contribute and right away.
4. The SA blueprint that they have followed. It hasn't let them down so far.
Houston also didn't do bad with the trade either, getting a proven guy that can hit the 3 in Cook, more size in Aldrich and of course Harden. I think it's the right time to make the trade@ the start of the season.As it will allow for chemistry to be formed.

# 25 jsquigg @ Oct 29

This is a business. Two good players for one, Harden is overrated defensively and disappeared on the biggest stage and you get top picks for the future. OKC's biggest problem was depth, and who says Martin won't be the sixth man and "at his best with Westbrook on the bench?" Fans jump off the ledge two quickly. This deal is good for both teams but OKC got the better of the deal.

# 26 DustinT @ Oct 29

Steve calling me out? I really need to fix that video I have of him playing Baller Beats

# 27 GOB @ Nov 1

Sam presti is a genius I think he got the best he could for Harden but I'll still miss him so i gotta start watching all the houston games aswell as OKC

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