More NBA Execs Would Prefer To Keep Harden Over Westbrook

[rondohondo]

The Thunder could soon be in a position where they are unable to retain their entire core due to financial constraints.

James Harden will become eligible for a contract extension this offseason and would become a restricted free agent in 2013 if no deal is reached.

Russell Westbrook signed a five-year extension with Oklahoma City last January.

Harden or Westbrook are more likely to be moved than Kevin Durant.

ESPN's Chris Broussard asked 22 NBA executives which player they would trade if they had to for financial reasons. Fourteen of the executives replied that they would trade Westbrook, while eight said Harden.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/221359/More_NBA_Execs_Would_Prefer_To_Keep_Harden_Over_Westbrook

Makes sense to me. Westbrook can probably get you more back in a trade anyways.

How about Westbrook and Ibaka for D12 and Nelson?

Gonna have to pay both westbrook and Ibaka near max money(25-30 mil total) . They can let Nelson walk after next year and find a vet PG to get Harden,Durant and D12 the ball.

[hpantazo]

If they can't pay Westbrook how are they going to pay D12? I bet they amnesty Perkins and keep both Westbrook and Harden.

[rondohondo]

If they can't pay Westbrook how are they going to pay D12? I bet they amnesty Perkins and keep both Westbrook and Harden.

westbrook and ibaka would cost more than d12 to resign.

[Kane3387]

If they can't pay Westbrook how are they going to pay D12? I bet they amnesty Perkins and keep both Westbrook and Harden.

Definitely would amnesty perk. Trading Westbrook and perk for Dwight might be the best deal that Orlando can get. Harden is the most efficient perimeter player in the NBA, but his ceiling isn't as high as Russ.

[Prof. Clutch]

I think you have to lock Harden up with a nice contract, even at the expense of Westbrook or Ibaka.  I believe he's the true second star on that team.

[fairweatherfan]

I think the real choice they're going to have to make is between Harden and Ibaka, with a secondary choice of whether or not to amnesty Perk to save luxury tax money.  I think they're gonna try to keep Harden, Durant, and Westbrook together as long as they can, but it's going to be tough to maintain a competent frontcourt at the same time.  OKC is not a big market and they can't spend like the Knicks, Lakers, or us.

[ManUp]

I'm not all that impressed with Westbrook. IMO, the only thing Westbrook does better than Harden is score in volume, but Harden is much more efficient. I think Westbrook and Ibaka for Dwight and Nelson would be a good move for OKC.

[cman88]

if they end up letting Ibaka go, I wouldnt mind the C's going after him

the problem with westbrook is, the guy seems to think he is the #1 option on the team and chucks up alot of shots...he's a volume scorer..not much unlike Allen iverson was.

he needs to realise that Durant is the best player on that team and he is 2nd fiddle. but all too often its almost like he's trying to prove he's better than Durant than just caring about the wins.

lets not forget Scott brooks Benched westbrook last year for the same reason.

[GrandTheftRondo]

if they end up letting Ibaka go, I wouldnt mind the C's going after him

the problem with westbrook is, the guy seems to think he is the #1 option on the team and chucks up alot of shots...he's a volume scorer..not much unlike Allen iverson was.

he needs to realise that Durant is the best player on that team and he is 2nd fiddle. but all too often its almost like he's trying to prove he's better than Durant than just caring about the wins.

lets not forget Scott brooks Benched westbrook last year for the same reason.

If they let Ibaka go, the C's have to go after him HARD. KG and Ibaka together would be sick.

[pearljammer10]

Ibaka would be my number one target if they let him go to be perfectly honest. i love the guy. Bring KG back on a 2 year, start rondo, bradley, pierce, ibaka, garnett... Try and tell me that wouldnt be the best defensive lineup in the NBA. Thats scary good. Have green and hopefully Bass as 6th and 7th men off the bench and that is a crazy good start to a 7 man rotation. throw in dooling and try to find a cheap young athletic wing that can score and Id love to go to battle with that.


If OKC had to choose I would definitely think they go with harden over ibAKA. As much as i love Ibaka, westbrook durant and harden is a much better trio.

[Kane3387]

Ibaka is still under contract next year. So is harden. They won't restricted free agents until 2013.

[Russell1]

fantastic

[bfrombleacher]

the problem with westbrook is, the guy seems to think he is the #1 option on the team and chucks up alot of shots...he's a volume scorer..not much unlike Allen iverson was.

AI had basketball IQ though and is tough as nuts mentally and physically. Westbrooke not so much/at all.

[anthony83]

 I love James Harden, he´s a spectacular player, Ainge should have signed before Green, James Harden is great.

[SHAQATTACK]

Keep Harden anyday over Westbrook , the executives are correct.

I just don't see how OKC is going to be be able to keep all these superstar /near Superstars in their youth undercontract .  When your young , you gotta go for the MONEY .  Ibaka would be  GREAT pickup for the Celtics. 

Westbrook .....NOPE.... he is a wild gun slinger.....rather have HArden , Bradley and Rondo.

Westbrook is LAker bound , and HArden stays in OKC.