[valentine]

 Is he a player that’s worthy of an Max contract? I could see Dallas , nets or Charlotte giving him that type of money 

[bobbybParticipant]

I Cant see the Thunder letting him go. He is so important to that big three.

[dede21]

 yes but a lot nobodys get max contracts

[dede21]

 Jason Richardson and Rashard Lewis do not know how to dribblle or jump off of one foot or play defense and they both got max contracts lol.

[dede21]

 Antawn Jamison arguably the biggest team killer/choker in NBA history got a max contract

[omphalosParticipant]

If they win it all before he’s up for grabs, then I can see him sticking around, but really, he could be a special player if he were the franchise, if you put him in Portland next to Aldridge for example, they would be amazing.

[sheltwon3Participant]

I think some team would offer him the max but it would have to be a team he would like because I am sure OKC will pay him decent amount of money and they have young promising team that could win championships.  Sometimes you have choose winning or money because sometimes if you win enough the money will be around

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Lastnight Harden seemed to take that next step into stardom.  I wonder how that sat with Westbrook

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

James Harden might be better than Russell Westbrook. He understands the game better… He’s a natural. He just has an amazing feel.

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

 I don’t know if he is a first option for a team, but he’ll be a damn good second. 

[bobbybParticipant]

Harden and Westbrook have much different games. It is hard to compare them IMO. i guess you could make a case either way on who is more important

[bobbybParticipant]

They should be able to offer him a big contract. His current doesnt expire for 2 more seasons. IF the PLAN properly and not  sign any free agents to long term deals, they could make him a good offer

[GlenTaylorSucksParticipant]

It really depends on whether OKC is willing to go over the cap and into luxury tax territory. IMO, Harden’s worth it, but who knows. It’ll be really difficult to keep Durant, Westbrook, Harden (Durant will be a max player his whole career, Westbrook will be close, and Harden has a legit shot at being a max player) and Ibaka (some team will probably offer him a lot) together. That said, I can see them being team players and all staying together. But Harden will have to resist the max dollar contracts he’ll inevitably receive from other teams to do so, as will Ibaka.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

I’ve been saying it, if James Harden had his own team, he would be averaging 22-24 PPG.

[mbunner23Participant]

All I know is if he re signs with OKC, it’s gonna be scary for the next decade seeing Durant, Westbrook, and Harden playing together. That’s a lot of talent on one team.

[HaleParticipant]

As much as I like Harden there are very few players I’d be willing to give the max and he wouldn’t be one of them. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

It’ll be interesting to see if OKC can afford both Harden and Ibaka.

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

I think if given minutes, opportunities, Harden can be where Brandon Roy was in his prime.

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

I think Eric Gordon’s contract this summer will set the market for Harden.

If they could get Harden to take something like 5yrs/60 mil then they should be able to hold onto Ibaka too without going deep into the luxury tax.

[bloodshyParticipant]

The Jazz need a point guard, but they also need a guy that has the will and capacity to take control of a game when others don’t.  Harden has legitimate leadership built in and the skill-set/athleticism to take over a game in the clutch.  I could see the Jazz (who have a ton of cap space for the next two years at least) offering him a big contract.  Whether he’d be willing to walk to a division rival, however, seems an unlikely move for Harden.  He seems like the ultimate team guy.

[llperez]

I could see harden turning down some money to stay okc, but I promise you someone will offer him the Mac so the thunder better be close to that, real close

[WizardofOzParticipant]

 He’s a very good player, but he’s not a franchise player. The people that are saying he’s a 1st option type player need to tone it down lol.

[akhan786Participant]

What do you guys think of pairing him with Kyrie?

I just don’t see him going from one of the best teams in the west to a bottom feeder in the East though…

[What The DevilParticipant]

 How will the Thunder be able to keep him? Aren’t Durant and Westbrook already getting max and Perkins got extended also. I think the Thunder have to decide whether to keep Ibaka or Harden if I remember correctly. Some team is going to break the bank for Harden so I’m not sure the Thunder will be able to match the contract some of the other teams can offer him without going balls deep into luxury tax.

[PlatypusParticipant]

What i would love to see.

Trade: Westbrook, Perkins, Aldrich, and picks for Dwight Howard

OKC: James Harden takes over the team and becomes the #2 option with Maynor a true point guard helping out. Think of trying to score in the paint on this team or even rebounding.

Maynor – Harden – Durant – Ibaka – Howard

Jackson – Sefolosha – free agent scoring punch – Collison – Mohamed

ORL: gets a player to build around who has a long contract, a starting center, and a potential starting center plus picks

Nelson – Westbrook – Turkoglu – Anderson – Perkins

Duhon – Reddick – Richardson – Davis – Aldrich / Orton

[aamir543Participant]

Presti and his gang have a plan, I don’t know what it is but they probably have a plan, but the thing is that the only way I could see them extending both Ibaka and Harden is if they go really far into luxary tax. My guess is that they will deal Ibaka in the summer regardless of this postseason’s outcome, or will at least look to unload Perkins’ contract for an expiring one, although Perkins helps a lot in regards to post defense. They’re in a really tricky situation, but Harden has the chance to become a top 10-15 player in the league, and Westbrook, will be a 10 guy, and Durant a top 2-3, so when you have an opportunity to have three of the best 15 guys in the league, you can’t pass that up. The only way I see Harden leaving is if someone gives them a godfather offer that Presti can’t resist including a group of guys that would fit perfectly in their system.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

The Thunder can basically max Harden.  The issue then is that leaves them with little room to sign Ibaka unless they amnesty Perkins… which they will.

[A Lil EnglishParticipant]

If they couldnt afford to keep their starting 5 and Harden something is very wrong. After they did so well to assemble a championship calibre roster.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

Then something is very wrong.  There’s no way they can keep Ibaka and Perkins.  Waive byebye to Kendrick after next year.

[M-EazyParticipant]

I just can’t see this trio breaking up because they seem to be real friends on and off the court.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 I don’t see how they can afford to give another max contract even though harden is looking like he is worth it. Oklahoma is a small market, they can’t afford to pay significant luxury tax. They can’t raise ticket prices too high. They will sell out their arena and be a contender with or without Harden. So they might lose this guy or maybe trade one of their big three for a draft choice to save money. 

[Andrew1984Participant]

It’s going to depend on what happens this year. If they win a title, it’ll be an emotional decision for Harden, and he won’t want to sell his boys out. He’ll also see that value lost in not getting a max contract can be offset by all of the bonuses and extra dollars from winning a championship. But if Westbrook gets selfish, they stop moving the ball, and they collapse down the stretch, he may be more likely to take max dollars some place else.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

Again, study the cap.  Harden can get max money. Ibaka can get a good chunk of change. After that they’d be super shallow, but still.

[Ghost01Participant]

If a team like Dallas overwelms him, OKC won’t have a choice. They aren’t paying him more than Westbrook, and theirs no way they’ll be able to do anything except pay luxury tax if they have 3 guys making 12-20 mil for the next 5 years.

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