James Harden Traded To Houston Rockets

With a looming October 31 deadline to re-sign top reserve guard James Harden to a lucrative contract extension, the Oklahoma City Thunder instead traded him to the Houston Rockets for guard Kevin Martin, rookie Jeremy Lamb and future high draft picks.

Oklahoma City was prepared to deal the elite reserve and one of the most offensively efficient players in the NBA if they didn’t come close to a contract extension. Harden is slated to be a restricted free agent after the season and the Thunder, not wanting to lose Harden for nothing, was open to trading the Arizona State alum.

Harden averaged nearly 17 points, four rebounds and four assists per game and will be the main offensive cog for Houston alongside Jeremy Lin. Martin has very similar per game numbers but in more minutes and with more shots.

Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoma reports that the Rockets are sending Toronto’s 2013 protected first round pick, a protected first round pick from Dallas and Charlotte’s 2013 second round pick to the Thunder in the trade. In addition, Houston is getting reserve center Cole Aldrich, and wing players Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward in the deal.