Had nothing to do with being a small market and everything to do with the salary cap.

The Thunder had Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka tied up for $200 million over the next few years. They were trying to get Harden to accept a deal for $55 Million. He wouldn't come down. So instead of losing him to free agency next year, they traded him this year and got Jeremy Lamb and Kevin Martin. Martin btw career average of 18 ppg while Harden was around 16. Martin has come in and put in about the same numbers that Harden did last year.

I wouldn't call that trade a bad deal.

Quote Originally Posted by abzflabz View Post
Maybe small market teams should pay their players. Look at okc trading away harden so they dont have to pay him max.