Can you build around James Harden as a #1 option?

[Avenged24]

where is the fcuk NO option?

This...

[SteBO]

I'm going to have to go "no" on this one.

[dc5jdm]

Not in todays NBA

[b@llhog24]

He just needs a decent big man. Harden is extremely good in the pick and roll. Although I think he'a more in the Billups mold, super efficient player who could excel in any system rather than in the Lebron/Kobe mold of number one options.

[KnicksorBust]

Looks like about 75% of people have no idea how amazing his season was last season. He arrived.

[STL Don]

I wouldn't go further than saying Harden would be a good #2 option. I believe he has the potential to POSSIBLY become a #1 talent but he obviously needs more polishing..

[Chacarron]

Yes.

[Losoway]

you couldnt even build a house around james harden stupid thread

[JasonJohnHorn]

The 2004 Pistons proved that you can pretty much build around NOTHING as long as you got the right pieces... I mean... they built that team around Ben Wallace... so yeah... you could build around Harden, but it would be difficult. It's always dificult to build around a SG.

[ChicagoFan4Eva]

put him on the bulls and the bulls win a ship.

[rapjuicer06]

So if you were the Magic GM and you had a chance to get Harden who would be just under his prime (23-24). You wouldn't give him max money?

No. I would not give him max money. But then again I wouldn't be giving out max money to anyone when I'm trying to rebuild through the draft. If I were the GM and had a team full of rookies and 2-4 year players...I'm not giving Harden a max contract because he isn't going to take Orlando to the ship. He'll possibly put Orlando into mediocrity, and I would not want to be there, and then he'll eat up salary and Orlando would be no where near a ship with Harden leading the team

Once he improves his D, he could be a number 1 option on a deep team. Realistically, he'd be the second best player on a contender and he's in an ideal situation for OKC where he's the third. He's probably the 3rd best SG now, and will become 2nd soon as Kobe's decline is in progress.

He's probably the 3rd best SG???? Are you kidding me?

Kobe
Wade
Manu
Joe Johnson
And I would personally put Ellis over Harden for the fact that Ellis doesn't have and never had Westbrook and Durant around him.

Harden is not a top three SG

put him on the bulls and the bulls win a ship.

As a number 2 option. Good point

[rapjuicer06]

Looks like about 75% of people have no idea how amazing his season was last season. He arrived.

Harden had a very good season. Not going to disagree with that. But you put him on a rebuilding team (Magic, Suns) where he has NO help around him...what kind of season is he going to have? He still going to be this efficient? Hell no. The only reason he was so efficient is because he has Westbrook and Durant taking the focus off of him.

[b@llhog24]

put him on the bulls and the bulls win a ship.

He could put a ton of teams over the top honestly. Philly, Indy, Chicago, Memphis, Dallas.

[NYKalltheway]

Of course not. Harden's peak is a #2 for a contender (#3 for winner) or if he's a #1 he'll just be an overrated SG

[BobbyHillSwag]

I dont even see a team being a championship contender with him as the 2nd option. There's no way in hell he could be a first option.