MrClutch

Looks like Ibaka signed a 4 yr 48 M extension with the Thunder, dont know what it means for James Harden though but we'll find out

Oklahoma City Thunder agree with Serge Ibaka on extension - report - ESPN

LKeet6

wow, big contract. I know he's really good but honestly, in my naiveness i thought he might sign for a fair bit less. Offensively, still a lot work to do but for the record i think he will become a pretty good offensive player as well.

VanCity

wow, thats a big contract. This means Harden is most likely not in the future plan of okc. Harden is probably gonna get a max offer from someone else.

Dark Knight

I can see Dallas making a strong push for Harden. Just a hunch.

LKeet6

so harden doesn't have bird rights? this is his 3rd year? maybe i don't understand all the details to the rule.

DonMughal

Doubt it since they just signed Mayo.

jeffb

He signed a 2yr/8.5mil contract. He doesn't exactly need to be a long term fixture in Dallas. And if they can get Harden, Mayo can then back him up for a year or be traded as an expiring.

VanCity

+ 1. Also, mayo wants to play more as a pg aparently, so it might work. Although harden also likes having the ball.

Chiggmo

I imagine they're working on trade options for Harden...

SoGood

OKC has a championship calibre team right now...
It'd be intriguing to see what they do... keep harden for one more run or trade him for future pick + role players...

wouldn't be a bad idea to trade him to a team that will be bad for a future first... they can try to find a replacement 6th man in the draft...

moremilk

very good deal imo, if ibaka improved again (very likely), he would have gotten a max offer next season, regardless if he was worth it or not ... Right now he's overpaid, but I really think he will become a good offensive player in a 2-3 years. He definitely has all star potential.

DocHoliday99

They do have a championship caliber team but as of now, IMO, if the Lakers get healthy and stay healthy no team will beat them in the West during the playoffs.

Luckedout

Lakers and OKC will be one hell of a matchup. perkins will be a huge factor in who wins that series.

ClutchCity

Perkins a huge factor? In a matchup that features Dwight, Durant, Kobe, Nash, Westbrook, Gasol, Harden? You're kidding right?

I know what's coming too. You reply with something about how Perk can shut down D12. Good luck with that though.

Luckedout

im not going to say kobe or durant are huge factors thatd be like mentioning that the sun is hot. perkins however will be huge just like he was for boston in series that featured some pretty big names too. he's showed that he can slow dwight down and that he's willing and effective at guarding him on his own. And anyone that can slow down Dwight from doing what he wants to do is huge b/c dwight is huge and i dont understand why id have to defend that. remember when celtics lost perkins in a dumb trade that hurt them he is a big factor.

finstock

So if we hang on to Calderon's expiring, use our amnesty on Amir or Kleiza and let Demar walk, we can throw the max at Harden, yes? Personally, I don't think he's a max player, but if guys like Eric Gordon and Hibbert are getting paid, then so is Harden. I love the concept of a Lowry/Harden back court, especially the thought of both those guys running the P 'n R with Bargs/Val. And, not to mention, bolstering the perimeter defensively.

wchoi213

If Demar plays well this year, we can S&T Demar for a draft pick instead of letting him walk away. Then, we can amnesty Amir to throw max at Harden.

That will give us Lowry-Harden-Fields-Barg-Val lineup, backed up by JL3-Ross-Kleiza-ED-Gray.

This is a sweet lineup assuming there is no injury. If Barg/Val can play competitive in back court and thus no additional big men is required, Raps could definitely throw max for Harden and complete the Playoff guaranteed roster.

carp

If DD plays well, why trade him for a pick?

I want AB and Val in the frontcourt... we have enough mediocre wings!

rapsmannn

ibaka talks to much trash

by the way lebron is the best defender in the league, if i had to pick a player on defense side of the ball not offense and my three picks are chandler, ibaka, and lebron, i would have to say i would take lebron

lebron guards everyone, runs people down for blocks, incredible court awareness allowing fast breaks when he gets a defensive rebound or steal,

lebron should get a defensive player of the year trophy

Bill Haverchuck

I hope this isn't considerered a necro-bump. I'm just a little late coming to the thread but think this is worth addressing since OKC's salary situation is somethng that will likely be discussed this seasons and watched closely until next summer.

Yes, Kleet, OKC would have birds rights on Harden after this season. Next summer he would be an RFA, so OKC could extend a qualifying offer and secure their right to match any offer sheets from other teams. So, in theory, they could easily keep Harden. But, in practice, the situation is more difficult, because the luxury tax in the new CBA is burdensome for a smaller market team. By 2013/2014 season, and going forward, the combination of Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka, and Perkins would be enough salary to put the Thunder at the tax threshold. That's just 5 players. The rest of the salaries would be getting taxed. Unless you have 10 minimum salary players, it's very difficult to run a team like that. Even with 10 minimum salary players, the payroll would be over $80 mill. Also, if the Thunder just had 3 modest bench players, each making $3.3 million, the Thunder woud have to pay over $16 mill in tax! We're talking about the possibility of $100 million in salary related costs, just to have modest bench.

So, somebody almost certainly has to be traded by next summer. Harden is the likely suspect since he doesn't have a contract yet, and could probably net a very high lotto pick, or two, which would bring back to the Thunder some cheap talent. Personlly, I'm interested to see how the Thunder use Perry Jones next season. If adjusts to the NBA and gives them some intriguing production/shows signs of development, I think they might consider moving Ibaka instead.