It really has little to do with the Thunder front office, IMO. Ownership may not want to pay 4 guys 8 figure salaries. I think that the Thunder front office would do whatever it takes to sign Harden, but that is all contingent on if ownership chooses to say “we will not pay deep into the luxury tax.” Add to that that Kendrick Perkins isn’t as easy a cut as he was before Gasol and Howard ended up on the same team.

If they do decide to go the route of trading Harden, I think it will be impossible for the Thunder to get a player of Harden’s magnitude back. I guess, if we were to make a trade for Harden, the Thunder will insist on a Perkins-for-Chandler swap. That (I hope) would be a deal breaker. Off the top of my head, I really can’t see a situation that would keep OKC a contender other than them swapping in a player like JR Smith or Lou Williams into that 6th man role (Atlanta could probably outbid us there if they offer Horford). A lottery pick doesn’t do much for a Thunder team in win-now mode.

I know OKC’s front office values James Harden. What I don’t know is if their ownership group is willing to pay a steep lottery tax. I’m sure they would rather move Harden before he hits free agency, gets signs a max offer sheet, and they lose him without getting back any assets. If the Thunder and Harden don’t get a deal done before the deadline, it’s likely that James Harden won’t be on that team next season.

Please don’t insult the Thunder front-office’s intelligence by offering them Shumpert/Smith for Harden. Not only do I believe they will sign Harden to that extension (ala Ginobili with the spurs back in the day), but if they decided to part ways with him via trade, there are much more attractive offers around the league that would intrigue them.

The only player on our roster that I think the Thunder would be interested in is Tyson Chandler. And its funny that you think a trade for Harden is the only way for us to get better in the near future. I can think of a few moves that we made and others we didn’t make that would have made us better in the near future.

ruruland: I’d imagine this is what will happen.

Kurt will play 10-15, and you ride JR, Brewer a little longer, giving Prigioni a chance to get minutes by moving everyone up a position.

Haven’t seen much of anyone around here discuss JR’s achilles injury. Seems like it’s at the very least worth thinking about. If we start the season without Amar’e, JR, Camby, and Shump that’s a pretty big problem.

My minutes until Amar’e is back .

PG: Felton 32 pg
Prigioni 16 pg

SG: Smith 20, Brewer 8, Kidd 20

SF: Melo 10, Smith 8, Brewer 18, Novak 12

PF: Melo 26, Thomas 10, Novak 12

Center: Chandler 30, Camby 18

Copeland can play if foul trouble with bigs.

Talk about the health risks of an older team all you want, but don’t forget to mention that this team has 14 legitimate rotation players — I’m not aware of a team as deep as the Knicks. They are built to sustain minor injuries.

No one thought Amar’e was playing 82 games.

Steve Carmichael (@Carmichael15): You really want Kidd playing 20 minutes?At the 2?

of the three PGs, he’s the best equipped to guard at least some SGs, and yes, I think all three should get real minutes if possible while Shumpert is still out.

ruruland: I’ve got him at 26 mpg

Woopsie… Skimmed over it too quickly. My apologies.

Steve Carmichael (@Carmichael15):
I want to give Brewer more burn than just 8 minutes.He has the potential to do a decent Shump impression cause of his ability to defend the pick and roll and jumping passing lanes.Shump is better as an isolation defender but Brewer is plenty capable of providing a nice replacement for the time being.8 minutes is way too low.

I’ve got him at 26 mpg

ruruland: I also really like a Felton, Smith, Brewer, Melo, Chandler lineup.

Now you’re speaking my language.