Quote Originally Posted by Meticode
They shipped him out because he was going to get paid. They didn't want to pay it. Everyone on OKC knew how good Harden was/is. There's a reason they would give him the ball in the 4th quarter and how he lead the NBA in the 4th in free throw attempts. Remember that...he lead the 4th quarter in free-throw attempts. Led above the LeBrons, above the Kobes, about the Dwight Howards of the world.. When you give him the ball in the 4th quarter ahead of the Kevin Durant and Westbrook, they have to know something about the player at that time.

The issue with the Thunder is their owner doesn't want to pay. He keeps trying to keep them around the luxury tax threshold then they have to again find a third scoring option behind Durant/Westbrook. First it was Harden, then it was Martin, now they're hoping Reggie Jackson or Jeremy Lamb have a break out season.

Every team that has won a championship since the luxury tax changes has been over the luxury tax. In order to win you need to pay the money.
Well said.

What a disastrous move. Utter disaster. Too cheap to pay Harden and too stupid to cut Perkins. OKC should be a dynasty.