The Cavs could have offered more than Rockets for James Harden
Published: Sunday, November 04, 2012
By Jim Ingraham
JIngraham@News-Herald.com
@jitribeinsider
How did James Harden end up in Houston and not Cleveland?
Only a handful of people know the answer to that question, but Harden makes as much sense for the Cavaliers as he did for the Houston Rockets — and the Cavs should have been able to offer a package for Harden that could have exceeded what the Rockets gave the Oklahoma City Thunder for the multi-talented 6-foot-5 swingman.
That's saying a lot, because what the Rockets gave the Thunder for Harden was a lot — Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two future first-round picks and one future second-round pick.
The Cavs could have offered Anderson Varejao — a player they are likely going to trade at some point this season anyway — Dion Waiters and two first-round draft picks that figure to be top-five selections, i.e. better than the ones the Thunder will get from Houston.
That's a lot, but Harden is worth a lot. Even to a rebuilding team like the Cavaliers. Harden is 23 years old — just five months older than Tyler Zeller — so he fits right into a rebuilding roster.
A backcourt of Kyrie Irving and Harden would have instantly become one of the best in the league, one the Cavs probably could have had together for the next five years, at least. Harden has experience playing with a scoring point guard — he did so with Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City — so that part of the equation would have worked.
Giving up two first-round picks?
It sounds pricey, but what would the best-case scenario be for those picks? This: that the Cavs could find a player as good as James Harden. Why not save yourself the time and use those picks to acquire Harden?
The Oklahoma City-Houston trade seemed to happen quickly. Maybe the Thunder could have shopped Harden more, once they decided they had to move him because, unlike some of his OKC teammates, he was, for the greater good, unwilling to agree to a contract extension at somewhat below his market value.
Maybe the rapidity of the trade prevented the Cavs from getting seriously into the auction. Or maybe the Cavs did and simply weren't aggressive enough with their offer.
Either way, one of the best young players in the NBA switched teams last week, a player who could have been invaluable to the Cavs. Normally it would not be worth it for the rebuilding Cavs to have an interest in trading for a disgruntled veteran. But Harden is a 23-year-old veteran — young enough and good enough that he could have been a valuable piece to the championship puzzle the Cavs are trying to assemble.
Harden was seeking, and received, a mammoth contract extension — five years, $80 million from the Rockets — but since when has Cavs owner Dan Gilbert been scared off a player by dollar signs?
In the NBA today, you need three stars to win. Acquiring Harden would have put the Cavs two-thirds of the way there.
Link:
http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2012/11/04/sports/nh6175192.txt?viewmode=fullstory