The preseason is over and the new season is about to start. Unexpectedly, another shocking big deal has been revealed!
On October 28th, Beijing time, like thunder on the ground, the Houston Rockets completed a blockbuster trade three days before the start of the new season, acquiring James Harden, one of the Thunder's three young players, in a six-player deal.
After the breakup of the Yao-Mai combination, Mo Zhutou finally gained the superstar he dreamed of after several years of exploration.
This is a big deal involving 6 people. The Thunder packaged James Harden, Cole Aldridge, Lazar Hayward and Daquan Cook to the Rockets in exchange for Martin, a rookie.
Jeremy Lamb and two first-round and one second-round picks.
This deal shocked the league and had a great impact on the league's powerful players.
In fact, there were hints of this deal more than two months ago.
As early as mid-August during the offseason, the Thunder completed a contract extension with Ibaka. The contract was four years and 48 million.
For Thunder general manager Sam Presti, keeping Ibaka is an important part of the Thunder's continued competitiveness. "He is only 22 years old, and we really think that his full potential has not yet been fully utilized."
Presti said.
Ibaka himself also expressed excitement on Twitter that he was happy to continue playing for the Thunder.
However, a new problem arises for the Thunder: after using big contracts to retain Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Ibaka, the Thunder still have salary space to retain James-
Harden?
Public opinion at the time believed that Ibaka's stay basically meant Harden's departure.
Compared to Ibaka, Harden performs better and has better statistics, so his contract is bigger.
But this is something the Thunder cannot afford.
There is no way, the total salary of a team is so large, it is impossible for everyone to have the maximum salary.
There are gains and losses, this is inevitable.
Of course, Harden doesn't have to pay a maximum salary. As early as June, Harden hinted that he was willing to accept a lower salary to stay with the Thunder.
After Ibaka signed, Harden once again confirmed that in his view, the team's success is higher than his own economic interests. "There is something special here," Harden said, "A dynasty is rising here, and we are winning.
Ball. I am very happy to play here, everyone is like a brother. These things cannot be bought with money."
In fact, the difference between Harden and the team is not that big. The difference between the two sides' quotations is "only" a few million dollars.
However, these millions of dollars eventually led to Harden's departure.
And this is the Rockets' opportunity.
For more than two months, Rockets general manager Mo Zhutou has been calling Thunder manager Sam Pristi, and the content of the call is only one: Do you want to trade Harden? And Pristi’s answer has always been firm.
Say no.
There is no doubt that the Thunder want to re-sign Harden and retain their original young core in an attempt to compete for championships in the coming years.
The Thunder have made a lot of efforts to this end. On the one hand, they hope to set up incentive clauses to help Harden get some money to make up for the lack of non-max salary. On the other hand, they also hope to release the news of trading Harden and force Harden to lower his price.
But Harden's agent believes that once Harden becomes a free agent, he will receive a lot of attention in the free market, and getting the maximum salary will not be a problem.
Not long ago, Harden's agent, Rob Pelinka, rejected a four-year, $52 million contract extension from the Thunder.
Pelinka then flew from Los Angeles to Oklahoma City for a final discussion with Pristi. He wanted to secure a maximum contract of $60 million over four years for his client.
This is unacceptable to the Thunder, because they are not the Los Angeles Lakers or the New York Knicks. They are a small-market team without that much money!
As Harden refused to sign a contract extension with the Thunder, things began to look different.
Harden's final hours with the Thunder were particularly busy. "We made a final offer on Friday morning and it was rejected," Presti said. "We then pivoted and started operating the transaction and considering another offer." He said frankly.
Tell Harden: "If the offer is rejected, we have to take action and make the best decision for the team. The fact is that he will find another job at the end of the season. This is a reality. Based on our past experience
, the team must turn another page."
Finally, Mo Zhutou received a different call: Pristi wanted to seriously discuss the framework of the transaction, because if Harden did not accept the Thunder's final offer, the transaction would become the inevitable next step.
From owner Clay Burnett to Pristi to assistant manager Troy Weaver, they all had a decision in mind: Harden had played his last game for the Thunder.
Before the final meeting with Pelinka, negotiations between Pristi and Mozambique became serious.
The Rockets are very eager to get Harden, believing that Hei Yaodao can develop into a signature player in the championship team, and plan to offer him a maximum contract of 5 years and 80 million US dollars.
Therefore, Pristi boldly made his own offer, a very expensive bargaining chip: Kevin Martin, Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lamb and three first-round draft picks.
After 72 hours of negotiations, the negotiations between the two parties were finally reached on Friday night local time. The result of the transaction was: Martin, Lamb and two first-round draft picks.
On Saturday morning, Pristi had final talks with Pelinka and made a final offer of $54 million.
Prior to this, the Thunder had clearly conveyed the message to the Rockets: If Harden rejects this offer, then your long-awaited star will be on his way to Texas.
In the end, Harden rejected the Thunder's offer, and the Thunder decisively pressed the trade button and traded Harden to the Rockets!
Russell Westbrook said in an interview that Harden's departure disappointed him. He loves Harden as a person and a teammate like him. But the transaction does not shock him. From a personal point of view, Westbrook
Shaoting agrees with General Manager Pristy's approach.
Center Kendrick Perkins was even more forthright. He believed that this transaction was inevitable. No one among the Thunder's key players was shocked by the transaction. At the same time, they were not prepared to give up the championship. On the contrary, they are now
You can breathe a sigh of relief: This is the team, and now they can move forward.
Westbrook and Kevin Durant have long since learned to trust the judgment of Pristi and assistant general manager Troy Weaver.
When the Thunder couldn't re-sign Jeff Green, they replaced Green with the piece the team needed very much: Perkins.
And every player on the team knows: If Harden cannot reach an agreement with the team before the contract extension deadline, this uncertainty and problems will definitely affect his performance in the new season.
Presti revealed that the contract extension negotiations between the Thunder and Harden started in July and continued until a few hours before the transaction. The negotiation process seemed lively, but the two sides had major differences.
"Both sides had the same interest in reaching a consensus on the last day, and unfortunately we were not able to do that," Presti said.
In the end, Harden was sent to Houston.
"We worked hard," Presti said. "There's always a point in negotiations when you realize it's irreversible. From a team perspective, it wasn't an easy decision for us to make. But considering the prospects, you
You have to pay attention to all aspects and make the decision you think is best for the team."
As for why the Thunder are eager to trade Harden now instead of waiting until the trade deadline or signing and trading next summer, Presti said that the gains from trading as early as possible will be the greatest. "To be honest, the bargaining chip in the transaction is good, the Rockets
"We can also give him the maximum salary he wants," Presti said. "I think the Rockets can keep him. We can get the most out of the deal, probably more than we originally thought."
Finally, Presti concluded: "It is easy to start a business, but difficult to keep one."
