Thunderous Intentions
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Complete guide to Sam Presti’s trades as General Manager

By Nick Delahanty

Sam Presti, Billy Donovan, OKC Thunder (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
Sam Presti, Billy Donovan, OKC Thunder (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – JUNE 14: James Harden #13 of the OKC Thunder calls out in the first half with the ball against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2012 NBA Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 14, 2012 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – JUNE 14: James Harden #13 of the OKC Thunder calls out in the first half with the ball against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2012 NBA Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 14, 2012 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Not all trades work out for the best…

Trade Details

Houston Rockets Receive

James Harden

Cole Aldrich

Daequan Cook

Lazar Haywood

Thunder Receive

Jeremy Lamb

Kevin Martin

Two First-Round Picks

Second-Round Pick

After signing Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka and Russell Westbrook to long-term contracts, the Thunder found themselves with a dilemma.

James Harden was a year away from being eligible to become a restricted free agent. Prior to the deadline to extend Harden’s contract, the Thunder offered the guard a four-year, $55 million dollar contract.

However, Harden was looking for a max contract…

Unable to meet his contract demands, the Thunder traded him to the Houston Rockets. It’s a move that didn’t end up working out for Oklahoma City.

Harden is widely considered as one of the best players in the NBA. He has been named an All-Star in each of his five seasons in Houston, and has three consecutive First-Team All-NBA selections.

For the Thunder, Martin and Lamb didn’t have the long-term impact that the franchise hoped they would.

Martin spent one season in Oklahoma City, and served as the team’s sixth man. He averaged 14 points-per-game, but wasn’t able to fully fill Harden’s void.

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Lamb was a disappointment given the potential he showed at the college level. In three seasons in OKC, Lamb averaged seven points-per-game in a reserve role. He was never able to find a defining role with the franchise.

There is a silver lining from this trade. His name is Steven Adams.

Presti drafted Adams with the 12th pick in the 2013 Draft, a pick that came from the Harden deal. The 24-year old has evolved into a consummate top 50 player in the NBA and signed a four year extension with the Thunder last season. Adams isn’t close to James Harden’s level, but he’s been a solid role player for a contender since his second year in the league.

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