Cold Harden Facts: Thunder Can Trust Sam Presti

Harden leaving OKC was something you always knew
was coming, but you're still surprised to see it happen.

I wouldn't call myself a true Thunder "fan," but I did enjoy following the team the last few years when I was in Tulsa. Like many in the Sooner state and around the country, I was a bit surprised by the trade of James Harden to the Rockets. I thought the Thunder might find a way to make it work financially. In the end, I guess it just wasn't feasible.

I see both sides of this, though. I think Bill Simmons makes a lot of good points on this situation. I don't think the Thunder are as cash-strapped as they claim to be. They're not as financially helpless as those who label them a "small market" team make them out to be. I don't know the specifics of their financial situation, but I do know this: they sell out all the time, if not every night. That includes the postseason success they've enjoyed (and likely will continue to enjoy). Simmons said the Thunder made about $30 million in profits last year. That is a lot of cash that could have been used to deal with a huge contract for Harden.

Right now, it certainly appears that the Thunder is weaker. They traded an All-Star who is under 25 years old. They broke up the best trio outside of Miami. It's like the Spurs losing Manu Ginobili. They will greatly miss that explosive offense coming off the bench. I'll miss seeing Westbrook, Harden, and Durant on the floor together running teams out of the arena.

Thunder fans can trust Presti.

Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti, however, has earned the public's trust. They should trust him here. Could they afford Harden? Maybe, but the NBA still has a salary cap, and Presti knows how to work with the funds available to him. He decided to keep a player that's harder to find, a dynamic shot-blocker who can score a little like Serge Ibaka. With Ibaka locked up, Presti now hopes he can find some offense somewhere else.

Thunder fans were also bummed when they traded Jeff Green. While his health made that a different situation after the fact, the Thunder still made out just fine because of the way Presti drafted to replace Green's production.

While I think the Thunder did make the Lakers the 2013 Western Conference favorites with this deal, I don't think that's a lock. They got quite a ransom for Harden. Kevin Martin is an underrated player. Jeremy Lamb is a nice talent, and they have two more first round picks coming to them. That includes a pick from the seemingly terrible Toronto Raptors that has very limited lottery protection. From what I understand, the only way the Thunder does NOT get that pick in 2013 would be if the pick is in the top 3. Imagine what Presti could do with the number four overall pick (and two more) in next year's draft: Shabazz Muhammad? Nerlens Noel? Tony Mitchell? Cody Zeller? Exciting stuff.

As long as these guys are still in OKC, they'll be fine.

Plus, let's not forget this: Durant, Westbrook and the rest of the starting five are still in OKC. The Thunder has a deep bench that will get Eric Maynor back this season, and I still want to see the Lakers' guards defend Westbrook before I hand the West to L.A. I also want to see how Bryant, Howard, and Nash hold up health-wise over the course of the season.

For this year, it does kind of stink for Thunder fans. It would have been nice to see the young OKC trio get another shot at LeBron, Wade and Bosh. Presti is always thinking big picture though. Maybe he took a tiny step back with this trade, but he may be taking a large step forward next year and beyond. Durant will get his ring one day, and Presti is doing everything he can to make sure he has a deep, talented roster around his superstar so Durant's ring is won in Oklahoma City.