It’s one of the biggest transfers of the last decade. For the surprise it caused, for its long-term consequences and for the dimension that will take James Harden thanks to this team change.
Because, on the eve of this exchange of October 27, 2012, the most famous bearded man in the league is not yet the MVP and the tenfold All-Star that he will then become. And that probably partly explains the attitude of the Thunder, but also of the Rockets, in these decisive weeks of summer and fall 2012.
The six million of discord
Why, and how, OKC was going to part ways with James Harden after the 2011/12 financial year? However, he was coming out of his most successful season in his career (16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists on average), crowned with a trophy for best sixth man. Perfect to come off the bench and become the third blade of the Oklahoma City attack, after Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the back had also shown himself brilliantly in the money timein the 2012 playoffs.
Successful playoffs, since the franchise only lost in Finals, against the Heat of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. With Durant and Westbrook only 23 and Harden only 22, the future looks bright in Oklahoma…
The first two cities were extended at a price of gold, just like Serge Ibaka. James Harden is still missing and the franchise will then have a competitive hard core for years to come. Except that the negotiations are complicated. On the one hand, the player wants the maximum, or 60 million dollars over four seasons. On the other, GM Sam Presti does not want to exceed 54 million.
One of the two camps therefore had to pass over six million dollars. The Thunder has already made heavy investments and absolutely does not want to pay the “luxury tax” when the 3rd choice of the 2009 Draft does not change its mind. It’s a dead end…
The choice is therefore clear: set up an exchange. Contact with the Rockets had been established for a few days, Sam Presti and his Texan counterpart, Daryl Morey, find an agreement. Result: October 27, 2012, on the eve of the first matches of OKC, James Harden is sent to Houston, along with Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward, against Jeremy Lamb, Kevin Martin and draft picks.
The reactions
The transfer caused a stir within the NBA. The stars react on Twitter, Kevin Durant in particular (the star will write a simple “Wow”) before the leaders of the two franchises. Starting with Sam Presti, the main actor in this trade.
” Several efforts have been made to resolve the situation. I think we got to the point where, in every negotiation, you realize that things are leveling out and it’s time to play with the cards you have in your hand. We are a franchise that makes difficult decisions, this one is clearly among the hardest we have had to make. »
Does the GM of the Thunder feel responsible for having lost such a promising player for a few million dollars?
” In many cases, in most cases, players are going to do what’s best for them. We hoped that his interests would coincide and, frankly, we are already happy that they have coincided in many cases in the past. »
Obviously, on the side of the Rockets, it is the enthusiasm that wins the coach at the time, Kevin McHale.
” I am a big fan “said the former Celtics star. “I already liked the player when he left Arizona State. I like his game, it’s the rhythm with which he plays that I like. He plays at a speed where he can repeat things over and over. He does not play at a phenomenal speed, he is all in control. When I worked for TNT, we used to laugh, Chris Webber and I, saying that he was an old man. He really takes his time and goes where he wants to go. He’s an esthete. »
Deprived of the playoffs for three seasons, the Texas franchise had long been looking for a star around which to build a collective and a project.
” James is the cement, the type of franchise player that we have been looking for for several seasons continued Daryl Morey. ” He will immediately make us better and he will play a big role in making us a team capable of playing the title. »
A welcome change of dimension
In the days following the arrival of James Harden in Texas, the question of his extension was quickly evacuated. Houston has the will to extend it and, with a new contract of 80 million dollars over five seasons, the player earns an additional 26 million dollars, compared to the offer from OKC…
Moreover, in addition to the financial aspect, he also becomes a holder, after three seasons to start on the bench. The pressure increases, but so do the responsibilities, playing time and shots. Immediately, “The Beard” becomes the star of the Rockets and settles among the All-Stars and the leading scorers in the league.
Under his leadership, the Rockets returned to the playoffs in 2013, against… the Thunder, precisely. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook eliminate their former teammate, then fall in the second round.
In the wake of this end of the 2012/13 season, and to make further savings, Kevin Martin is not extended by OKC. Thanks to the talent of its Durant / Westbrook pair, Oklahoma City will remain competitive until the climax – which is also a failure – of 2016: 3-1 lead wasted against the Warriors in the conference final, which will precipitate the departure of ” KD”.
We also remember that the leaders of the Thunder will not hesitate, thereafter, to offer large contracts to interiors like Enes Kanter (70 million) or Steven Adams (100 million), when they had refused to give six million more to James Harden…
The symbol of Daryl Morey, the error of the Thunder
That same James Harden, who averaged 29.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.8 steals in Houston. Above all, he became the leading scorer of his generation (triple top scorer in the league), an MVP (2018) and the center of Mike D’Antoni’s project. The hub of the Texas game, the king of one-on-one and the symbol of the work of Daryl Morey, who paid tribute to him when he left “Clutch City”, so successful was this poker move for the Rockets .
“An entire page could be devoted to James », wrote the former GM of Houstonin his farewell letter. “He not only transformed my life, but also revolutionized basketball. And he continues to do so, like almost no one before him. Basketball is played differently thanks to James. On every court in the world, the next generation of talent studies and imitates their game. »
Nevertheless, despite two conference finals (2015 then 2018) and many positive regular seasons, the Rockets have never won a title with James Harden, who then left for Brooklyn and then Philadelphia… where Daryl Morey still enlisted him.
At the same time, by sacrificing it for six (small) million dollars, the Thunder has undoubtedly missed out on a brighter future. Because never the duo Kevin Durant – Russell Westbrook, before exploding, will have benefited from such support offensively and in hot moments, to find the Finals like in 2012…
| James Harden | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2009-10 | OKAY | 76 | 23 | 40.3 | 37.5 | 80.8 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 9.9 |
| 2010-11 | OKAY | 82 | 27 | 43.6 | 34.9 | 84.3 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 12.2 |
| 2011-12 | OKAY | 62 | 31 | 49.1 | 39.0 | 84.6 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 16.8 |
| 2012-13 | HOO | 78 | 38 | 43.8 | 36.8 | 85.1 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 25.9 |
| 2013-14 | HOO | 73 | 38 | 45.6 | 36.6 | 86.6 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 25.4 |
| 2014-15 | HOO | 81 | 37 | 44.0 | 37.5 | 86.8 | 0.9 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 27.4 |
| 2015-16 | HOO | 82 | 38 | 43.9 | 35.9 | 86.0 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 7.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 29.0 |
| 2016-17 | HOO | 81 | 36 | 44.0 | 34.7 | 84.7 | 1.2 | 7.0 | 8.1 | 11.2 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 29.1 |
| 2017-18 ★ | HOO | 72 | 35 | 44.9 | 36.7 | 85.8 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 8.8 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 30.4 |
| 2018-19 | HOO | 78 | 37 | 44.2 | 36.8 | 87.9 | 0.9 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 36.1 |
| 2019-20 | HOO | 68 | 37 | 44.4 | 35.5 | 86.5 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 34.3 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 44 | 37 | 46.6 | 36.2 | 86.1 | 0.8 | 7.1 | 7.9 | 10.8 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 24.6 |
| 2020-21 * | BRK | 36 | 37 | 47.1 | 36.6 | 85.6 | 0.8 | 7.7 | 8.5 | 10.9 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 24.6 |
| 2020-21 * | HOO | 8 | 36 | 44.4 | 34.7 | 88.3 | 0.6 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 10.4 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 24.8 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 65 | 37 | 41.0 | 33.0 | 87.7 | 0.9 | 6.9 | 7.7 | 10.3 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 22.0 |
| 2021-22 * | BRK | 44 | 37 | 41.4 | 33.2 | 86.9 | 1.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 10.2 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 22.5 |
| 2021-22 * | PHL | 21 | 38 | 40.2 | 32.6 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 6.5 | 7.1 | 10.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 21.1 |
| 2022-23 | PHL | 4 | 38 | 48.6 | 37.5 | 95.8 | 1.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 26.8 |
| Total | 946 | 35 | 44.2 | 36.1 | 86.0 | 0.8 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 6.8 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 24.9 | |
