Thunder send James Harden to Rockets

Guard James Harden went from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets Saturday in a six-player trade. Harden, guard Daequan Cook, forward Lazar Hayward and center Cole Aldrich went to the Rockets in the transaction. Moving to the Thunder in return were guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb along with some undisclosed draft picks. The 23-year-old Harden, named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year last season for the Western Conference champions, was unable to work out a contract extension with the Thunder. He had been seeking $55.5 million over four years and is now likely to sign a long-term deal with the Rockets, ESPN reported. "We wanted to sign James to an extension, but at the end of the day, these situations have to work for all those involved," Thunder General Manager Sam Presti said in a statement. "Our ownership group again showed their commitment to the organization with several significant offers."