James Harden 80 Million dollar!!!

[thepinoymamba]

At first when James Harden rejected the Thunders offer of 52-55 Million for four years!
I was shock that James Harden would reject such an amount.
But wow, Houston gave him 80 million for Five years!

Does He DESERVE IT???
James Harden and Houston Rockets agree to five-year, $80 million contract - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8577246/james-harden-houston-rockets-agree-five-year-80-million-contract-sources)

[SportsItUpCards]

I wouldn't give him a million............. smh

Cut that nasty looking beard and maybe I would give him a million, just MAYBE!

[murrke03]

he is not a proven player to be getting that kind of money. houston just loves shelling out the money!

[alexcampos]

Wow!

For $80 Million, yeah, I would betray my own mother for that amount! :D

[thepinoymamba]

This time he should have a golden beard.

[wesnilevirus]

37/12/6, pretty good start. Get used to seeing 20/6/6 nights consistently.

Anybody who says he isn't a max player probably only watched him during the finals. During the rest of the year, including those tough series against the Lakers and the Spurs, he was incredible.

[ivecenanuff]

houston is gonna win not one, not two, not three.......

[realreodeal]

Harden is a Baller! Good for him to get the deal he got.

[Astronix]

No one's taking their talents to the South Coast unless they get paid.

Houston tried to get every notable free agent over the last few years and none had any interest, this was their best deal they could make.

[PackAttack419]

he doesnt deserve it at this point in his career but he certainly has a high ceiling and can only improve from here.

and i'd def rather pay him this money than eric gordon

[Shelden916]

I think he got this money the same reason why Hornets paid so much money to Gordon: They have to. The Rockets and Hornets simply couldn't let go of the players they gave up so much for after only one year. They are trapped with the players and know that if they can't make a deal, their fan base would go crazy. It may be a big amount for both players, but it's what's had to be done.

[sblez]

Yes he deserves the money. He is a top 3 sg in the NBA! Hes going to put up ridiculous numbers this year

[AllStars2324]

If guys like Gordon are getting max money, someone who has never really done anything besides be injured, then Harden foresure deserves it.

[suki24]

worth every penny

[Shelden916]

Yes he deserves the money. He is a top 3 sg in the NBA! Hes going to put up ridiculous numbers this year

I at first thought that was a ridiculous statement to say he is top 3, then I thought about it and could only think of Kobe and Wade as the two I would take over him without a doubt, while Manu would be a debate with Harden probably edging him. I think this is more of a tale of shooting guards then Harden since in terms of guards all together, I would take: Rondo, Deron, Curry, Paul, Bryant, Rose, Irving, Wade, and Westbrook without much of a debate on those.
I would have Harden pretty close to: Jrue, Ginobli, Gordon, Lawson, Ellis, Jennings, Rubio, and Nash but Harden would be a little bit above them.
That's just my opinion at least. I just don't think he is worth $16 million a year, but more like $12 million.

[tristan20]

Everyone knows Harden was a superstar player, just OKC couldn't afford to pay him, they rather have Ibaka who they don't even utilize well

[PackAttack419]

I at first thought that was a ridiculous statement to say he is top 3, then I thought about it and could only think of Kobe and Wade as the two I would take over him without a doubt, while Manu would be a debate with Harden probably edging him. I think this is more of a tale of shooting guards then Harden since in terms of guards all together, I would take: Rondo, Deron, Curry, Paul, Bryant, Rose, Irving, Wade, and Westbrook without much of a debate on those.
I would have Harden pretty close to: Jrue, Ginobli, Gordon, Lawson, Ellis, Jennings, Rubio, and Nash but Harden would be a little bit above them.
That's just my opinion at least. I just don't think he is worth $16 million a year, but more like $12 million.

you're forgetting a very good guard... Joe Johnson. he's clearly the 3rd or 4th best SG behind wade & kobe (with manu in the mix).

harden, right now at this moment, is not better than joe johnson, and i think harden would be happy with the career johnson has had... 6-time all-star, leader of a perennial playoff team

[thepinoymamba]

Everyone knows Harden was a superstar player, just OKC couldn't afford to pay him, they rather have Ibaka who they don't even utilize well

They offered ibaka 50 million for 4 years.
And harden too. 54 million for 4 years.
I was surprise harden turned it down

It turned out to be a great move for him and his agent.
Now he is the golden beard man.

[AlphaNOmega06]

you're forgetting a very good guard... Joe Johnson. he's clearly the 3rd or 4th best SG behind wade & kobe (with manu in the mix).

harden, right now at this moment, is not better than joe johnson, and i think harden would be happy with the career johnson has had... 6-time all-star, leader of a perennial playoff team

I think harden will have a better career then joe johnsons if he can handle being the go to guy in the offense.

[Qwasian]

that's a lebron type of contact, to think harden is worth that kinda money is definately a joke........

[EMD34]

that's a lebron type of contact, to think harden is worth that kinda money is definately a joke........

Harden is worth that much. It's just that LeBron cannot possibly make what he is worth because of a max contract. If there were no max contract he would be making upward of $30 million a year.

[Qwasian]

Harden is worth that much. It's just that LeBron cannot possibly make what he is worth because of a max contract. If there were no max contract he would be making upward of $30 million a year.

that's like saying if I had a billion dollars i'd pay $100 for a hamburger, but I don't, so I won't...........

the system in place is whats in place, under the current system he's not worth that much because he cripples the team financially based on the amount of output he has. in OKC he was coming off the bench....... he's a very solid player, but he's second tier at best, definately not a #1 player.

the guy dissappeared in the playoffs last year, that alone should prove he can't turn it on when he wants........ if the rockets made the playoffs, he would be crushed by pretty much any other star on a playoff team.

just think about it, would he match up with the best player on the lakers? okc? heat? etc.......... I don't see that happening, but also they have extra players, lakers dwight howard/kobe, okc durant/westbrook heat lebron/wade as well as solid teams......... rockets have harden as a second level talent, lin, asik, etc..... the team is a joke compared to other top teams, yet they are paying like those other teams.

[murrke03]

Harden is worth that much. It's just that LeBron cannot possibly make what he is worth because of a max contract. If there were no max contract he would be making upward of $30 million a year.

i have a feeling you believe a lot of players are worth the max contract...

[pepsiporch]

Just because harden was a 6th man people will always look at him like that . He was a top 5 pick and and on a team that has to great players. Harden will be worth every penny . Great moves by the rockets this off season

[pac213up]

Unfortunately with the way the system is set up teams have to take a chance and give max contracts to guys like Harden. Compared to what some other player have received I would say Harden is worth it however I think it is always a gamble to give a max contract to someone that does not impact both sides of the ball.

[Qwasian]

it actually shocks me that people know so little about basketball

coming off the bench and putting up 12-15 points a game on a super solid team is a lot different position than running a team and being the star player.

he will get crushed if he gets anywhere near the playoffs.

sure he can ball out for a few games during the season, his talent level just isn't that high to place him in a star player slot though. the rockets are fools looking to throw money around and that will show in the very near future.

the guy just isn't that level of player, that should be obvious to everyone, we have all been watching him with OKC. he's a great compliment to star players, but he is not a top level star player.

[thepinoymamba]

Wow. James harden could ball. No doubt but at what level. He is not fast. But very clever using angles and his best move is on pick and roll. NBA now a days uses pick and roll, pick and pop, pick and kick.
Those are just basic moves when mastered are devastating to the defense. Malone and Stockton had mastered this. But today's NBA its the remastered edition .
James harden is the best at it. The one that gives the pick should get credit for his success.
Maybe a big tip of that 80 mil.

[bigcwd2000]

the guy dissappeared in the playoffs last year, that alone should prove he can't turn it on when he wants........ if the rockets made the playoffs, he would be crushed by pretty much any other star on a playoff team.

Not sure if I agree with this. He didn't disappear in the playoffs. Finals yes he didn't play up to the previous three series. He averaged 17.6 ppg in the first 15 games of the playoffs. Then he pretty much disappeared in the Finals with only 12.4ppg average. As for the entire playoffs I don't think he dissappeared. If anything he helped the Thunder get to the Finals.

[Qwasian]

Not sure if I agree with this. He didn't disappear in the playoffs. Finals yes he didn't play up to the previous three series. He averaged 17.6 ppg in the first 15 games of the playoffs. Then he pretty much disappeared in the Finals with only 12.4ppg average. As for the entire playoffs I don't think he dissappeared. If anything he helped the Thunder get to the Finals.


lets say for example he was the 3rd best player on the thunder, just think about that for a second "THE THIRD BEST PLAYER ON THE THUNDER"........

on the thunder he could score 17.6 a game and be good, on the rockets he's going to have to average around 40 for them to even get a mention.

he was coming off the bench with full energy not even having to run the full game. he was supposed to be scoring.

he's going to now have to up his playing time and produce more than he ever has to fit that role with the rockets, and that's not realistic at all, then even if he does that, they still don't really have a chance to contend with the big boys.

he had some good points in the playoffs, but like you said, in the finals he had some very bad points which shows when the talent level is higher, he's not as good.

[thepinoymamba]

lets say for example he was the 3rd best player on the thunder, just think about that for a second "THE THIRD BEST PLAYER ON THE THUNDER"........

on the thunder he could score 17.6 a game and be good, on the rockets he's going to have to average around 40 for them to even get a mention.

he was coming off the bench with full energy not even having to run the full game. he was supposed to be scoring.

he's going to now have to up his playing time and produce more than he ever has to fit that role with the rockets, and that's not realistic at all, then even if he does that, they still don't really have a chance to contend with the big boys.

he had some good points in the playoffs, but like you said, in the finals he had some very bad points which shows when the talent level is higher, he's not as good.

So what your saying is he doesn't deserve the 80 million right?!
Only time will tell.
I think the rockets just wanna lock a good player.
Hardens agent must be really good on how he negotiated that much
Out of it.

[bigcwd2000]

lets say for example he was the 3rd best player on the thunder, just think about that for a second "THE THIRD BEST PLAYER ON THE THUNDER".........

In my opinion being the third best player on the OKC Thunder is not a bad thing. Kevin Durant is a three-time NBA scoring champ and probably the second best player in the NBA. Russell Westbrook is considered by some the best PG in the NBA or close to that. (Top 5). Westbrook is also one of the most explosive point gaurds out there as well.

[Qwasian]

In my opinion being the third best player on the OKC Thunder is not a bad thing. Kevin Durant is a three-time NBA scoring champ and probably the second best player in the NBA. Russell Westbrook is considered by some the best PG in the NBA or close to that. (Top 5). Westbrook is also one of the most explosive point gaurds out there as well.

and they still don't have an NBA title, that should tell you something about the rockets signing harden as the star player............I don't discount the fact that he's a great player at all, he's just not a #1 level player. why lock in a second level player to a huge deal, and cripple your team from building or doing anything positive? and he's not even a big draw, that's a terrible business move. they are overpaying grossly for players just to make moves, just like my earlier analogy, If I paid $100 for a hamburger i'm not going to be any more full than I would if I paid $5 for it. you could have did the same thing with lamb & martin and draft picks that you could with harden, infact you had a better chance with lamb, martin & draft picks.

kevin martin is a statistically better player than harden, why swap out and get the same level of production, and add sugar on top with lamb & draft picks, that's a terrible business decision.

they couldn't land, lebron, melo, williams, etc. so the best bet for them would have been to spend to move up in the draft and build through recruiting. people don't really want to play for them, they are going to have to build. now after throwing away your new talent & draft picks, you've crippled the team from building for years to come, harden is not a "WIN NOW" type of player.

[thepinoymamba]

Really awesome analysis.
Teams tend to lock on players that are over priced.
Prime example would be rashard Lewis 120 million for six years.

[suki24]

kevin martin is a statistically better player than harden, why swap out and get the same level of production, and add sugar on top with lamb & draft picks, that's a terrible business decision.


Let me know when Martin learns to play D and stays healthy for more than 2 straight seasons. Martin is that empty stats guy. Much like David Lee. His numbers are meaningless and doesn't produce wins.

[thepinoymamba]

Harden is so much a ballet than Martin.
How much is Kevin getting paid at?

[Qwasian]

Let me know when Martin learns to play D and stays healthy for more than 2 straight seasons. Martin is that empty stats guy. Much like David Lee. His numbers are meaningless and doesn't produce wins.

A. kobe bryant has been hurt almost every season, MEANS NOTHING

B. his numbers don't produce wins because his team sucks, now that harden is on the rockets his numbers won't produce wins either, lol.......

if your excited about harden on the rockets your hyped up, point blank period, it's not really much more to say, he's not a better player because he switched teams

if you want to invest in someone damian lillard is where to put your $$$ ;0)

[EMD34]

that's like saying if I had a billion dollars i'd pay $100 for a hamburger, but I don't, so I won't...........

the system in place is whats in place, under the current system he's not worth that much because he cripples the team financially based on the amount of output he has. in OKC he was coming off the bench....... he's a very solid player, but he's second tier at best, definately not a #1 player.

the guy dissappeared in the playoffs last year, that alone should prove he can't turn it on when he wants........ if the rockets made the playoffs, he would be crushed by pretty much any other star on a playoff team.

just think about it, would he match up with the best player on the lakers? okc? heat? etc.......... I don't see that happening, but also they have extra players, lakers dwight howard/kobe, okc durant/westbrook heat lebron/wade as well as solid teams......... rockets have harden as a second level talent, lin, asik, etc..... the team is a joke compared to other top teams, yet they are paying like those other teams.

How are they paying like those other teams? They have one of the lower team salaries in the league, and after this year they will have enough to sign another close to the max player even after signing Harden. Also I don't believe they are a good team this year, I think at best they will sneak into the playoffs and grab the 8 seed, but going forward they are in a good position. At least now they have at least one good player to build around where as before they had none, and keep in mind Harden is only 23 and he still has room to improve.

[Qwasian]

How are they paying like those other teams? They have one of the lower team salaries in the league, and after this year they will have enough to sign another close to the max player even after signing Harden. Also I don't believe they are a good team this year, I think at best they will sneak into the playoffs and grab the 8 seed, but going forward they are in a good position. At least now they have at least one good player to build around where as before they had none, and keep in mind Harden is only 23 and he still has room to improve.


only if they want to pay luxury taxes, the team salary is around 56-57 million and the cap is 58, and look at the players they have.

[EMD34]

only if they want to pay luxury taxes, the team salary is around 56-57 million and the cap is 58, and look at the players they have.

After expiring contracts they will get about 11 million more in cap room.

[Qwasian]

After expiring contracts they will get about 11 million more in cap room.

and who would that allow them to sign thats available to strengthen the team?

[EMD34]

and who would that allow them to sign thats available to strengthen the team?

That, I have no idea. It is impossible to predict what Morey has planned. I don't really think it will be a free agent (but again I really have no idea), I think it will be a trade. Unless of course, they can somehow convince Chris Paul to sign with them.

[Qwasian]

That, I have no idea. It is impossible to predict what Morey has planned. I don't really think it will be a free agent (but again I really have no idea), I think it will be a trade. Unless of course, they can somehow convince Chris Paul to sign with them.

that's what i'm saying, it makes no sense to approach it that way, knowing you can't sign anyone that will matter. teams are going to have to realize at some point they gotta go back to the old fashion way of building through the draft, it's just not enough top players to sign.

[EMD34]

that's what i'm saying, it makes no sense to approach it that way, knowing you can't sign anyone that will matter. teams are going to have to realize at some point they gotta go back to the old fashion way of building through the draft, it's just not enough top players to sign.

Getting Harden is speeding up the rebuilding process, they are still rebuilding. The number 1 pick in this years draft is supposed to be the next Harden, so why hope for the number 1 pick when you can have a player of similar caliber that is more proven right now? I know they won't be winning a title soon, but they will be getting better as teams like the Lakers, the Heat, the Spurs, and the Celtics will be getting worse.

[thepinoymamba]

This will be a rebuilding process. We all know that. but to give Harden a max contract then
loosing yourself to snag a big superstar next season is unjustifiable.
Houston have two good guards. Unless they make another big trade to clear more space. but I Dont see them winning with Harden as the main Man.

[Qwasian]

Getting The number 1 pick in this years draft is supposed to be the next Harden, so why hope for the number 1 pick when you can have a player of similar caliber that is more proven right now?

because you can pay him 5 million a year like anthony davis, instead of 16 million a year like harden. it's a much better value. you could pick up the top 5 picks and not be spending as much as harden. rookies are cheaper.

if harden were lebron, durant, kobe it would make sense, but he's harden, you don't max out your cash on someone who can't get you where you need to be. now you got the next guy looking for a big deal because you threw money at harden, it makes for bad negotiation as well.

I guarantee you could get 3 or 4 players out next years draft that would replace harden and lin stat wise at half the cost, NO PROBLEM.

[EMD34]

because you can pay him 5 million a year like anthony davis, instead of 16 million a year like harden. it's a much better value. you could pick up the top 5 picks and not be spending as much as harden. rookies are cheaper.

if harden were lebron, durant, kobe it would make sense, but he's harden, you don't max out your cash on someone who can't get you where you need to be. now you got the next guy looking for a big deal because you threw money at harden, it makes for bad negotiation as well.

I guarantee you could get 3 or 4 players out next years draft that would replace harden and lin stat wise at half the cost, NO PROBLEM.

I'm not so sure about that, and even if it was true, it's not that simple. You don't just suck and get the first pick, and then become good, that's not how it works. Look at all the teams in the NBA that have been terrible for so long, a high draft pick is certainly no guarantee of a good player.

[Qwasian]

I'm not so sure about that, and even if it was true, it's not that simple. You don't just suck and get the first pick, and then become good, that's not how it works. Look at all the teams in the NBA that have been terrible for so long, a high draft pick is certainly no guarantee of a good player.

very true but your better off to gamble on young guys than harden, because they are cheaper and you already know what harden can do.... the young guys you might hit the lottery and get a gem. with harden you already know he's not a lebron.

[EMD34]

very true but your better off to gamble on young guys than harden, because they are cheaper and you already know what harden can do.... the young guys you might hit the lottery and get a gem. with harden you already know he's not a lebron.

Yes, you do know he's not LeBron, but he is still young and he could still improve. I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on this move.

[thepinoymamba]

Only time will tell then!
But for now. Its too much for a harden caliber player.

[Matt24]

pretty easy to see why Harden is one of the best offensive players in the game. Just check out his shot chart, he only shoots the best shots in the game. 3s and shots at the rim.

CourtVision: The James Harden–Kevin Martin Shot-Chart Comparison - The Triangle Blog - Grantland (http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/41491/title-tk-the-james-harden-kevin-martin-shot-chart-comparison)

[studioU]

because you can pay him 5 million a year like anthony davis, instead of 16 million a year like harden. it's a much better value. you could pick up the top 5 picks and not be spending as much as harden. rookies are cheaper.

if harden were lebron, durant, kobe it would make sense, but he's harden, you don't max out your cash on someone who can't get you where you need to be. now you got the next guy looking for a big deal because you threw money at harden, it makes for bad negotiation as well.

I guarantee you could get 3 or 4 players out next years draft that would replace harden and lin stat wise at half the cost, NO PROBLEM.

Your argument would hold a lot more water if the Rockets had a history of drafting well. The last time they drafted well was Yao. Why would they save their money for a superstar free agent when none of them want to come to Houston? That fact has been blatantly clear the last few years and you said the same in an earlier post. They may have overpaid for Harden but what other choice did they have? He is the only player they could have signed that they can build around.

[thepinoymamba]

Your argument would hold a lot more water if the Rockets had a history of drafting well. The last time they drafted well was Yao. Why would they save their money for a superstar free agent when none of them want to come to Houston? That fact has been blatantly clear the last few years and you said the same in an earlier post. They may have overpaid for Harden but what other choice did they have? He is the only player they could have signed that they can build around.

With Lin and harden a good combo guards.
That's their nucleous !
But would have enough space cap to attract a big name superstar!
Unless they will get lucky on the draft which they gave up!
The point here is that hoist an gave up so much and also maybe signed harden too much!

[EMD34]

Your argument would hold a lot more water if the Rockets had a history of drafting well. The last time they drafted well was Yao. Why would they save their money for a superstar free agent when none of them want to come to Houston? That fact has been blatantly clear the last few years and you said the same in an earlier post. They may have overpaid for Harden but what other choice did they have? He is the only player they could have signed that they can build around.

What? :confused: Since Morey took over they have drafted very well, they just have not had any high enough draft picks to get any franchise changing players.

[thepinoymamba]

What? :confused: Since Morey took over they have drafted very well, they just have not had any high enough draft picks to get any franchise changing players.

That's the thing thy just traded their chance to get someone from the draft and build from it.
Now its either a great move or an overpaid move that could back them up for years of rebuilding again.