Remember also that Hardin just signed a 5yr/$80 million contract. That's just about double Green's deal per year (Green = 4yr/36M).
I'd much rather have Harden, even at twice the money.
Also with Harden and Bradley we wouldn't have spent $11 million a year for the next 3-4 years on Lee and Terry.
I also can not fathom that anyone would believe that Presti would ever have looked to move a 21 year old Harden when he still had him under rookie contract control for 2 1/2 more years for Kendrick Perkins. Presti had offered Green a reasonable contract extension and was turned down, much like what just happened to Harden. When it became clear Green wouldn't take his lower offer, Green was going, much like Harden just did.
Presti's standard operating procedure is clear to see. Harden was never an option for Ainge to get for Perkins. I don't care how many pundits thought he was prior or slightly after the Perkins/Green trade.