Small-market reality hits Thunder with Harden deal - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Small-market reality hits Thunder with Harden deal

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The first big dose of small-market reality has hit the Oklahoma City Thunder.

 Before the Thunder even played their first real game following a trip to the NBA finals, thefranchise parted ways with Sixth Man of the Year James Harden in a trade with the Houston Rockets, fracturing the team's core and substantially changing the second unit.

 General manager Sam Presti said Sunday that the Thunder couldn't meet Harden's salary demands and decided to trade him at a point when they could get the most for him. Oklahoma City got Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and three draft picks in the trade and also sent Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to the Rockets.