Video: Harden wants to stay in OKC

Unless Harden's contract extension replaces what he is making the next two years with higher $$ (and I don't think it does), then exceeding the lux-tax limit only becomes a problem in 2015. And in 2015, it looks like they are only a few million over, so it's not like they are paying a huge penalty.

And it sounds like since Harden wants to stay, he won't be asking for the moon.

Maybe this is about trading Harden now for future picks, but that doesn't make a lot of sense either since they were just in the finals, so why break that up. A team like this comes along so infrequently these days. Sign him.

I really don't know what the big deal is here. I mean if James play in the Finals was any indication of whats to come...........save your money OKC. Here's some news for ya James...work on showing up on the big stage rather than on the video.

Tax levels from 2013???14
Amount over tax threshold Standard tax Repeat offender tax
$5 million or less $1.50 $2.50
$5 million to $10 million $1.75 $2.75
$10 million to $15 million $2.50 $3.50
$15 million to $25 million $3.25 $4.25

OKC this coming year is already in the second level with Harden getting $5.8 mil

OKC cannot keep all those guys together, they are not lakers

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 09:48 AM ET  09.01 by JIGSAW

Tax levels from 2013???14Amount over tax threshold Standard tax Repeat offender tax$5 million or less $1.50 $2.50$5 million to $10 million $1.75 $2.75$10 million to $15 million $2.50 $3.50$15 million to $25 million $3.25 $4.25OKC this coming year is already in the second level with Harden getting $5.8 mil

Oops, my bad. I said OKC would not exceed the lux-tax until 2014/15. But you're right, they do have a total of $81mil for 13/14 (this year I think they are under at $67mil), and that's w/o re-signing Cook. So, if OKC signs Harden to about $10mil the first year (that may be less than what he will get as jgb points out) and assuming they re-sgn Sefolosha, it does get into the range of +$15mil over.

It's a lot and a big decision.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 10:14 AM ET  09.01 by MMAFan

OKC should sign Harden because he is a talented young guy. They don't have to keep him though. They could swap him for a player later that fills their needs better. He's a talented guys that a lot ofteams would like to have and he could be part of a deal later down the road.

Not sucking up here but if you ran the Magic, they'd be a hell of a lot better off!

This is some smart talk here.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 11:14 AM ET  09.01 by SD n' LA

Spurs have payed the luxury tax once and I think most would say they are relevant since the late 90's year in year out....now I know most if not all teams pay up the wazooo to stay competitive...but the Spurs clearly have proven that its possible to be frugal and competitive consistently at the same time

Agree but if teams win titles, those wazooo payments were great investments!

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 11:41 AM ET  09.01 by MMAFan

Thank you, sir! I would draft the best players in the world for the Lakers!

Damn, you're getting smarter with every comment!