James Harden was traded late yesterday to the Houston Rockets for rookie Jeremy Lamb, Kelvin Martin, 2 first, and a second round pick. The reason for the trade was because Harden's contract was set to expire at the end of the season and Oklahoma City couldn't work out an extension with him. They offered him 4yr $55 Million, but James turned it down because he wanted a Max contract. Here is the irony, the max is worth 4yrs $60 Million. This is only a $5 Million dollar difference. I know, I know $5 million is a lot of money. But Harden is in the 50% tax bracket so that $5 Million is worth more like $2.5 Million. Harden and the OKC Thunder had a chance to win multiple titles. In Houston he doesn't stand a chance of winning anything other than maybe a scoring title and multiple All-start appearances. So I ask the question is $2.5 Million worth a career playing for a losing team, when he was guaranteed multiple playoff appearances, possible NBA championships, and numerous endorsement opportunities while playing for a winner. All of these things were opportunities to make up the $2.5 Million dollar difference. I think James Harden made the wrong choice in this situation. And something tells me a couple years of the losing he will experience in Houston will help him realize this also. Is $2.5 Million worth a ring? Just ask Dominique Wilkins, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, and a host of others this question and see what answer you get. $2.5 Million is worth a ring when winning that ring means you're an NBA champion and live in immortality forever.
