The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets after they were unable to agree to a contract extension with the star guard, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The Rockets sent Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and future draft considerations to the Thunder for Harden, sources told Y! Sports. Along with Harden, the Thunder will send Cole Aldrich, Lazar Hayward and Daequan Cook to the Rockets.
Houston also sent two 2013 first-round picks (from Dallas and Toronto) to Oklahoma City, sources told Y! Sports, as well as a 2013 second-round pick (via Charlotte). The Thunder will receive the Toronto pick this year if it's slotted Nos. 4-14. That pick also is top-three protected in 2014, top-two protected in 2015 and top-one protected in 2016.

Contract extension talks between the Thunder and Harden broke down, and Thunder general manger Sam Presti moved quickly to trade the guard. Harden rejected a four-year offer that would have paid him a base salary of $53 million to $54 million, league sources said. That offer would have pushed OKC's payroll to $95 million, and Thunder officials weren't willing to go any higher.
The Thunder are already paying franchise stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on maximum contracts. The trade breaks up OKC's young core, which carried the franchise into last season's NBA Finals. The Thunder agreed to a four-year contract extension worth about $50 million with forward Serge Ibaka after the season.
Houston hasn't been allowed to discuss a contract extension with Harden's agent Rob Pelinka yet, but will start immediately once the deal is officially completed. Houston can choose to give Harden a four or five-year maximum contract extension.
The Rockets are expected to make a max offer of four or five years before Wednesday's deadline for the class of 2009 extensions, sources said. Harden is expected to come to terms and never see restricted free agency in the summer of 2013.
Harden, 23, averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season and was named the league's Sixth Man of the Year.

Did Houston give up too much?

Jeremy Lin's gotta be happy with this.

CrushAlot wrote:I think they gave up too much. I was watching the world series, checked twitter and tried to come here and the site was down. I think Morey is in Walsh mode. However, if you are giving away Martin, your lottery pick and two first round picks you need to get back a little more in my opinion. The Rockets just got back to the level of last years team. If your a fan you hope for the eigth seed in the west. Scola, Lee, Lowry, Dragic, Lamb, Martin, two first round picks and a second round pick switched out for Harden, Lin and Asik. Not sure that there is an improvement there.

There is very good protection on the picks...

OKC receive the Mavericks' 2013 first-round pick. (top 20 protected until 2017)

OKC receive the Raptors' 2013 first-round pick (Top 3 protected and 15-30 in 2013, top 2 protected and 15-30 in 2014 and '15, Top 1 protected and 15-30 in 2016 and '17, and unprotected in 2018

So the Mavericks have to have the 9th best record in order for OKC to get the 1rst

So if the Raptors land in the Top 3 lottery or becomes a playoff team this summer OKC doesn't get the pick

So if the Raptors land in the Top 2 lottery or become a playoff team in 2014 or 2015 OKC doesn't get the pick

So if the Raptors land the #1 pick or becomes a playoff team in 2016 or 2017 OKC doesn't get the pick

So no matter what happens OKC gets the pick in 2018

Another way of putting it OKC gets picks

Via Dallas(1 pick)

21-30 from 2013 or 2014 or 2015 or 2016 or 2017

Via Raptors(1 pick)

4-14 in 2013

or

3-14 in 2014 or 2015

or

2-14 in 2016 or 2017

or

1-14 in 2018

Oh and OKC will have to retain K-Mart or trade him or lose him for nothing. I actually like the trade for both teams BTW. Good job by 2 of the best execs in the business.

OKC makes the best of a bad situation- Kmart gives them some bench scoring this year (plus no defense and many injuries) while Jeremy Lamb develops, plus two picks is good for them if they want to keep payroll down.

They could have gotten more then Harden dangling Martin and 2 first rd picks around the league.

If you are close they can always use the assets to do a reverse and obtain a player that can put them over the top.

They had to spend the money on Ibaka to keep size.

I guess we can compare it to the Melo trade?

HOw good will the Rockets be?

I like how OKC likely was working this for some time and decided to pull the trigger early to not make this a dramatic situation.