OKC and Denver trying to move up for Bradley Beal ?

[rondohondo]

Sam Presti, a smart GM for a good team outside of the lottery, is doing his due diligence on high-end draft prospects. He's spoken to Bradley Beal, who spoke to ESPN.com and said things Presti probably didn't want him to say.
  

Beal told ESPN.com Wednesday that Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti told him during an interview in Chicago that he was interested in trying to move up to draft him. The Thunder's first-round pick isn't until No. 28.

    "He told me he was going to decide what they're going to do and considered getting up there," Beal said.

    Beal said Denver, which picks at No. 20, also made a similar statement.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft/2012/6/27/3121914/nba-draft-rumors-bradley-beal-james-harden-oklahoma-city-thunder

Interesting....

Would OKC give up Ibaka or Harden to move up for Beal? It would seem like a sideways move at best, but I guess since Beal would be on a rookie contract they wouldn't have to resign both Ibaka and Harden next year fearing that they would lose one of them for nothing in return as a free agent.

Harden would make most sense, I guess?

[indeedproceed]

Harden makes the most sense and financially it makes a TON of sense for Okc.

But they're contenders now, and will be the likely second favorite behind Miami. They can't afford time to figure it out.

Oh wow....what if they got BeAl and AV for Harden and Perkins? Nice Lil haul there.

[manl_lui]

giving up Ibaka would be stupid of OKC. Ibaka/Perkins did a great job defending other players in the West so taking them out would be dumb.

However, trading away Harden makes a lot more sense

[RebusRankin]

If Beal can replace Harden and allows you to sign Ibaka, a Harden/Perkins for Beal/Varajao makes some sense.

[rondohondo]

If Beal can replace Harden and allows you to sign Ibaka, a Harden/Perkins for Beal/Varajao makes some sense.

makes sense for OKC ,but why would CLE do it ? Beal projects to be on harden's level and will be on a rookie contract and Varajao is much better than Perk IMO.

[Celtic#9]

If Beal can replace Harden and allows you to sign Ibaka, a Harden/Perkins for Beal/Varajao makes some sense.

makes sense for OKC ,but why would CLE do it ? Beal projects to be on harden's level and will be on a rookie contract and Varajao is much better than Perk IMO.

Harden is a sure thing. Beal is not. That's the only reason I could see.

[indeedproceed]

If Beal can replace Harden and allows you to sign Ibaka, a Harden/Perkins for Beal/Varajao makes some sense.

makes sense for OKC ,but why would CLE do it ? Beal projects to be on harden's level and will be on a rookie contract and Varajao is much better than Perk IMO.

Because of two reasons.

1) Beal doesn't really project to be on Harden's level, and not near his skillset. He projects to be a very good player, but that doesn't mean he'll be on Harden's level.

2) No matter what Beal projects as, Harden already is what he is, and bound to get better. Cleveland would be trading a useful player in varejao and a high draft pick in a draft lacking in superstars for the third best SG in the MBA, with playoff experience, and a player not yet even in his peak. A player with skillsets that complement their best prospect. And, they'd be getting back a player in Perkins who has finals experience at his own.

[Smutzy#9]

Only if clevland take beal and he isnt scooped up before. A starting line up of Irving Harden 3 Thompson and Perk isnt that bad.

Irving is going to grow into a stud and Perk will give toughness to the team. Harden wants a starting job he has it and he pretty much has a green light to take as many shots as he wants and isnt fighting Durant and Westbrick for shots.

Makes sense for OKC. Big Men like Serge are harder to find than Hardens Especially when you already have volume scorers on your team. Dont forget Maynor coming back next year will add some spark.

Serge Ibaka is only going to get better imo. His defence is fantastic and when he learns a reasonable post game the guy is going to be a physical match up nightmare.

[chambers]

Harden hasn't resigned with OKC though right?
Would Cleveland basically be getting Harden for a one year rental?
OKC would be BEASTY with Verajao instead of Perkins. Wow.
They must think Reggie Jackson + Maynor is enough off the bench.

This is good news for us if we ever wanted to go after Harden. He won't re-sign with Cleveland, he'll hit the market.

[Hanson6]

Uh-oh