James Harden reveals how $4 million broke up a possible dynasty in Oklahoma: 'Two chips, at least, the minimum'

There isn't much to complain about a career as accomplished as James Harden's. However, for The Beard, the biggest "What if?" that lingers is how the Oklahoma City Thunder's decision to break up their trio with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in 2012, a move that may have cost them a chance at an all-time great team.

Harden sat down with Troy Millings and Rashad Billal on the Earn Your Leisure Podcast and shared his two cents about the deal's inner workings 12 years ago. The three-time scoring champ also shared why he thought it was only a matter of time before they'd win multiple titles.

"It was only for $4 million, too. They broke it up for $4 million," Harden said, mentioning the "chump change" that led to the breakup. "My rookie year, we was the eighth seed, we played the Lakers. They was the number one seed. We scared them, for sure. Had OKC cracking. They won the championship, the Lakers. My second year, we was in the Western Conference Finals against Dallas. They won the championship."

"My third year, we end up in the Finals against the Heat. That was Bron's first championship. They won the championship. That summer, we go to the Olympics. We won the gold medal. My fourth year, it's on," Harden reflected.

Harden was saying everything was ripe for the Thunder to take over. All three of their stars are just approaching their primes and, to his point, have already been through wars despite their age. They were supposed to be the next biggest things, but then Sam Presti dealt him to Houston.

What's with the $4 million?

Harden mentioned that the "$4 million" was the money the Thunder refused to offer him so he could stay put. The 2010 All-Rookie wanted $60 million over four years, but Presti would only do $55.5 million. The difference was $4.5 million, to be exact, but the point is well taken: Harden felt that money was fair.

The Thunder, however, already resigned Serge Ibaka and would wade into luxury tax territory if they brought James back for that amount of money. OKC chose Ibaka over Harden, which led to the breakup and the Rockets trade.

"Two chips, at least. At the minimum," the 2018 MVP confidently replied when asked how good that team would be if they didn't break up.

Ultimately, Harden was dealt to H-Town for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks, and a second-round selection. Cole Aldrich, Lazar Hayward, and Daequan Cook were traded to the Rockets in the same transaction.

Would Harden have developed under KD and Russ's shadow?

Individually, the trade went well for everyone. All three won MVPs at some point and became perennial All-Stars. "Jimbo Slice" was selected to the February classic ten times, while "Brodie" got in nine and KD 14 times. But then, looking back, it begs the question: Would The Beard have developed the same way he did in H-Town, playing under Durant and Westbrook in the pecking order?

"Probably not, but it's hard to say because I was gonna have to eventually start starting," stated Harden, referring to his sixth-man role at OKC for his first three years. "I did that because of the sacrifice of the team. As a team, it made us better, but I was gonna have to eventually start starting. My swag was like, in my fourth year, I'm not a sixth man no more. I already got that. It was over $4 million."

Nobody knows for sure if fans would have gotten to see peak Harden at OKC like the one they were accustomed to in Houston. That leap wouldn't have been possible with two high-usage guys alongside him. Nonetheless, no matter the cost, multiple championships wouldn't have been out of the question if they kept that core intact.