After the Thunder reached the Finals in 2012, James Harden was eventually traded to the Rockets, even though the team still insisted on keeping Durant and Westbrook. After joining the Rockets, Harden won three scoring titles and a regular-season MVP trophy.
But at the time, the Rockets weren't the only team interested in Harden, the Wizards were one of the teams competing for Harden, and they were even willing to give up scorers like Bradley Beal.
At that time, the details of the transaction were also mentioned again:
Wizards get: James Harden
Thunder gets: Bradley Beale, Chris Singleton
Harden averaged 16.8 points per game for the Thunder in 2012, which also allowed Harden to win the best sixth-man award. By contrast, Beal was the Wizards' probing show picked in 2012, while Singleton averaged 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in his rookie season.
Bill also revealed on a show why the deal failed at the time:
"We were in the draft room and my agent called me," Bill said, "and he said, you might be sent to the Thunder." They'll push for trades to get me, James Harden to Washington for me, and I'll be able to play with Durant and Russell at the Thunder. That was a very close-to-finish decision. ”
It was only reported that the Wizards' reluctance to give Harden a five-year, $80 million contract ultimately led to the deal collapsing:
"Wizards owner Ted Leonis refused to give James Harden a five-year, $80 million contract."
If the deal is ultimately pushed, the Thunder will also be the team of warriors Westbrook, Beal, Durant, Ibaka and Perkins. Durant was able to play the regular season MVP level, and Westbrook averaged 23.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and most importantly, Ibaka is also an all-round defensive player and at the peak, so after getting a pure scorer like Bill, we can undoubtedly look forward to the thunder's championship prospects.
Unfortunately, in the end, Harden was sent to the Rockets and played a superstar level performance, and Bill also became an All-Star level scorer in the Wizards, and the Thunder could not win the championship trophy in the end, nor could they leave Durant and Westbrook.