While the Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately decided to trade guard James Harden to the Houston Rockets, general manager Sam Presti told reporters that the team wanted to sign the 23-year-old to an extension, reports koco.com:
Sam Presti: ‘We wanted to sign James Harden to an extension’
While the Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately decided to trade guard James Harden to the Houston Rockets, general manager Sam Presti told reporters that the team wanted to sign the 23-year-old to an extension.
"We wanted to sign James to an extension, but at the end of the day, these situations have to work for all those involved."
While Oklahoma City ownership "again showed their commitment to the organization with several significant offers," Presti said that the club was ultimately unable to reach a "mutual agreement" with Harden.
After negotiations failed to result in a new contract, the Thunder traded Harden to the Rockets for guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first round picks and a second round pick. Oklahoma City also shipped center Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to Houston.
Harden has spent the past three seasons with the Thunder after being selected third overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. He averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists off the bench last season, earning him the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award.
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