let's not simplify
they werent going to give near max contracts to 3 guys
they decided to go with Ibaka as their 3rd pillar (semi-max 12m) - in retrospect this was probably a mistake but it's debatable
they did make Harden an offer (55m over 4 years) but it was not the max he was looking for and he turned them down at the extension deadline - he was going to walk and they could have ended up with much less than what they got
so rather than chancing that he was going to pout up the locker room all season or force a deadline trade and knowing they werent going to get as much in either case they made a move on their terms
and here's what they got: Martin(1 season of scoring off the bench + 12m worth of cap relief this summer) , Lamb (#12 in the previous draft) and (you forgot to mention) 2 first rounders and a 2nd rounder
what did you think their options were?
6/5/2013 5:24 PM (edited)