they also could have signed harden to an extension (which doesn't kick in until next season anyway) and entertained offers for both him and westbrook after the season. or the billionaire owners could have said HEY WE'RE FUCKING PRINTING MONEY HERE and eaten the lux tax to keep an absurdly good foursome together.

my point is that if the thunder don't win a title this season--and they might anyway--ownership broke up a superior team due to financial considerations (i.e. greed). and considering martin is a free agent after this year, they diminished this season's title chances for a couple draft picks and jeremy lamb (do you REALLY think they couldn't have gotten two first-round picks for harden on the open market following this season?).

we'll see what happens. if OKC doesn't win a chip this season and those picks don't pan out...well, they gave up a top 5 scorer for very little to show for it.