Oklahoma City Thunder can't agree to contract extension with James Harden, trade him

Sam Presti: 'We wanted to sign James Harden to an extension'

While the Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately decided to trade guard James Harden to the Houston Rockets, general manager Sam Presti told reporters that the team wanted to sign the 23-year-old to an extension.

James Harden Trade: Thunder send star guard to Houston for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and picks

With one year remaining on James Harden's contract, the Oklahoma City have opted to trade him while his value is at its peak, rather than negotiating a deal or paying the luxury tax. He'll head to Houston for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and picks.

James Harden contract: Thunder offering incentive clauses in extension, according to report

The Oklahoma City Thunder are still working on a contract extension to keep James Harden, last season's Sixth Man of the Year award winner, in Oklahoma City, according to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

According to the report, Harden turned down a prospective extension recently that would have paid him somewhere around $52 million. Harden and his agent are reportedly seeking a maximum extension of $60 million over four years. The Oklahoma City front office is reportedly trying to ink Harden to a contract filled with incentive clauses which could bring the value closer to his desired amount.

The deadline for Harden to sign a contract extension in Wednesday at midnight. If his agent and the Oklahoma City front office cannot come to a deal by then, he will become a restricted free agent next summer.

If he becomes a free agent, the 23-year-old Harden could command a maximum deal and would likely find interest from a number of teams.

Harden is about to enter his fourth season in the NBA after being drafted third overall by the Thunder out of Arizona State in 2009. His numbers have risen each season in the league and last year he averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game as the Thunder advanced to the NBA Finals.

Thunder insisting on less than max contract for James Harden, according to report

The Oklahoma City Thunder and free-agent in waiting James Harden appear ready to begin the NBA regular season without resolving Harden's contract extension and future with the franchise.

With Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka tying up much of the OKC's salary cap for the coming years, the Thunder are putting the new NBA collective bargaining agreement to the test by trying to fit Harden into the cap while still filling out the rest of the roster and minimizing luxury tax penalties.

A max contract of 4 years and $60 million is likely waiting for Harden from another team if the Thunder allow him to become a restricted free agent, but according to ESPN's Marc Stein the Thunder are trying to secure Harden without paying max money:

For the record, tho, plenty of pessimism still circulating about Harden & OKC striking deal by WED cause OKC insisting on deal less than max

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 27, 2012

Harden, the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year last season, averaged 17 points, four assists and four rebounds off the bench for Oklahoma City.

Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks Among Teams Reportedly Interested In Signing James Harden Next Summer

The Oklahoma City Thunder and James Harden still have not worked out a new contract, which could eventually leave their star guard on the market. Harden has stated that he wants a maximum contract from the Thunder, but they are toeing the line of the luxury tax.

It looks almost inevitable at this point that if negotiations stay the way they have been -- Harden wanting max money, the Thunder being unable to afford it -- he will hit the open market in 2013.

If he does leave Oklahoma City, he's sure to have plenty of suitors. The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets have both reportedly stated that they would be ready with max contracts of their own for the 23-year old, according to a tweet by ESPN's Marc Stein:

I know at least two teams near OKC (Houston & Dallas) that are huge Harden fans and will have cap space to sign him to loaded offer sheet

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) September 12, 2012

Oct. 31 is the deadline for the Thunder to get a deal done with Harden. If they do not work one out by that point, other teams will be allowed to offer him deals come the end of the 2012-2013 NBA season. Oklahoma City will be able to match those deals, but if they are the max contracts that Harden expects it seems unlikely that they would take the offer.

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James Harden Seeking Max Contract From Oklahoma City Thunder, According To Report

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year wants to stay in Oklahoma City, but he's looking for a max deal, according to a report.