$80 Million for James Harden

James Harden officially signed a five-year $80 million deal with his new team the Houston Rockets today. Whether this deal ends up being more trick or treat remains to be seen, but I am of the opinion that he is not worth that type of money.

2012-13 Breakout Candidates

The NBA season kicks off in less than an hour. Before the season officially begins, I wanted to get in one last pre-season post.

With shifting rosters due to trades, retirement, or injury, and the natural progression of players getting better and worse as the years move on, here’s a look at five players that you might not have heard of that are poised to have career seasons.

Divergent Viewpoints: James Harden Trade

Kelly Sugino: I think it's good for both teams if OKC wasn't going to sign him...Still think it puts them back a little this year. Dork Elvis finally wins.

Jordan Ikeda: I don't know if it's a win, but a Lin/Harden backcourt could be very intriguing. They cover for each other's weaknesses in many ways. But Harden's not a max player. He doesn't want to be "The Man."

David Stern: A player feature from a fan's perspective

David Stern has been a very good commissioner. He was the only NBA commissioner in my own lifetime, so I have no one to personally compare him to, but according to the majority, he was a huge upgrade over Larry O’Brien. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize how well of a job he’s been doing because they’re either too young or wildly unreasonable – or both. My point is this – running a professional sport league successfully is an overwhelming task and nearly-thankless job, and David Stern did it better than most people think.

The knock on Stern these last several years is that he is stubbornly tyrannical, and that it’s been a long time coming for him to step down. Off the top of my head, I can think of four events that helped fuel this reputation of his. There was a public outcry for each one, but each one was defensible.

2 Live and Die in LA: Lakers 12-13 Preview (Pt. 2)

Even if Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash learn to tango far quicker than any winner of DWTS, the real issue is going to be defensively. Yes, Dwight Howard is the cure to all defensive woes, breakdowns, and sub-par defenders. He elevated a lackluster collection of defensive players including matadors Hedo Turkoglu and ++Ryan Anderson, into a top five defensive team.

But, while many of his former Orlando teammates were mediocre to poor defensive players, none of them were as bad as Nash. Nash is a turnstile despite actually trying at this end. He is just simply not the necessary caliber of athlete to defend the one and he’s too small to guard the two.

BasketBias: Carmelo Anthony

New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony just may have the team's medical staff taking a cut of his own non-"ridiculous" contract. Whether he gives up this portion of his salary as a karmic justification for his lack of defensive effort remains to be determined.  

2 Live and Die in LA: Lakers 12-13 Preview (Pt. 1)

While I can’t predict the future (though, sometimes I do get it right), I can plainly observe the present.

Andrew Bynum is better than Dwight Howard in the same way that Kobe Bryant is better than Lebron James.

Just to be crystal clear, that is  —  NOT…AT…ALL.

Great Expectations: LA Clippers 12-13 Preview (Pt. II)

The NBA has really developed into a talent-rich league over the past half decade. Besides producing a better, more visually appealing brand of basketball, it has also increased the importance of depth. While I am skeptical regarding how high the Clippers can go with their new additions, the fact remains that the team is legitimately 11-12 players deep. The team's depth should propel the squad to a high seed, but is a mixed bag of super athletic youth still learning the game, and once productive players already in decline.

Once the playoffs begin, I'm not sure that will be enough to legitimately challenge for a ring this year.

Great Expectations: LA Clippers 12-13 Preview (Pt. 1)

For the majority of Clippers fans, it was a brutal blow when the team decided to pick up the option on coach Vinny Del Negro. While the former Spur isn’t a terrible coach, he certainly is not one of the top 10 coaches in the league, and with a record of 154-158 over his four seasons, has not shown the talent or acumen that makes one think he could become one someday.

If this was five years ago, having a coach like Del Negro wouldn’t be a problem. He is, at the very least, not Mike Dunleavy.

However, this is not five years ago. In 2013, Clippers expectations begin at making the conference finals, while many on the team would consider nothing less than a championship a lost season.

Remember the Alamo: SA Spurs 12-13 Preview (Pt. 2)

The ultimate success of this season hinges upon how far the youth have developed.

Because there were no major offseason additions, the 2012-13 Spurs will be expecting improvement from within. There is a fine symmetry in the way the roster has been constructed by R.C. Buford. Players still on rookie contracts have been and/or are being integrated into the Spurs culture under the veteran leadership of Popovich, Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili.

Remember the Alamo: SA Spurs 12-13 Preview (Pt. 1)

You’d think having 14 years of sustained success on the back of arguably the best power forward of all time, who carried the Spurs every one of those years (but one) to no less than 50 wins, while also winning four championships and reaching the conference finals three other times, would make people stop doubting—no matter how much father time takes his toll.

Despite all of that, very few people outside of Texas felt that the Spurs were championship material last year.

And yet, they absolutely were.

Shaquille O’Neal: A player feature from a fan’s perspective

As a Lakers fan, I had the opportunity to watch Shaquille O'Neal play in Los Angeles for eight years. In his prime, he was by far the biggest, strongest, most agile (for a player of his mass) big man I ever saw. He was both the unstoppable force and the immovable object, a nightmare matchup for opposing players and the refs as well. With Phil Jackson’s tutelage and Kobe Bryant at his side, he led the Lakers to three straight championships. I have to give respect where it’s due. Those banners in the Staples Center don’t exist without the Big Fella.

However, in light of the recent hubbub he spawned with his comments regarding Dwight Howard, I have to give criticism where it’s due as well. As much as Shaq has done in his career, he left basketball fans wanting, and this shortcoming stems from one main thing: his attitude.

Going Out in Style: BOS Celtics 12-13 Preview

There's plenty of motivation for the Celtics this year. Not that Kevin Garnett or Rajon Rondo or Paul Pierce ever need extra motivation for anything related to basketball. But there’s plenty to go around anyway.

First and foremost is “that guy” whose phone number has been lost, whose name has been forgotten, and who the Boston faithful have so classlessly (but hilariously) called Judas Shuttlesworth. Ray Allen’s defection to the Miami Heat has become a rallying point for the Green in what is now a bitter rivalry.

Want to Be Part of It: NY Knicks 12-13 Preview (Pt. 2)

While immensely unpopular, I do not fault the Knicks' decision to let two of the organization's young and promising players walk in Jeremy Lin and Landry Fields. Both showed clusters of greatness, but neither had sustained that level of play for a full season, and both are now being paid as if they had. Shrewd owners make decisions that are not always popular. Neither Lin nor Fields would have put New York over the top.

That being said, shrewd owners don't raze the farm to get a player that replicates the star player you already have. Shrewd owners also know when they have a real team on the cusp of greatness.