The Straight Hoop

Trades are an understood part of the NBA. Player swaps and moves become second nature from some. These are mostly rotation players swapping teams and contract flotsam to balance everything out. This is the normal and see it every season. However, every once in a while the trade of a superstar happens and captures the collective basketball consciousness of everyone even remotely interested. These trades can be a drawn out nightmare or quick, unexpected thrillers. Either way, there will always be questions. Which brings me to a trade that has been discussed from multiple angles and shifted the destiny of a potentially dominant team. Yes its the Harden trade everybody; the most interestingly disappointing trade in a long time.  . Now, I have already go on record to say that OKC might have not gotten fleeced by Daryl Morey and that what they got is pretty good compensation for the budding star of Harden. Completely change my mind. Never been more wrong about anything NBA r...

Welcome to the Future indeed How good has the Thunder been as of late?  Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have the Thunder humming offensively with the best offensive rating in the league while also sporting a top ten defense. Kevin Martin has been exactly what he has been advertised as and Hasheem Thabeet hasn't been the absolute worst backup center. Surprising, I know. While Harden is emerging as a top-15 player down in Houston, the Thunder haven't missed a beat and seems ready to, at the least, compete for the Western Conference title. The scary thing is they should be even better in the coming years. "But Kevin, everyone knows the Thunder are only going to be getting. There core players are all under 26." Yes, I know this dear reader of my blog. But what I am saying is with the assets gained from the Harden trade, the Thunder's supporting cast has a chance to become something really special. Right now, the Thunder are stacked with young prospects and co...