Amid all the complexities of the Thunder trying to sign guard James Harden to a four-year extension, teammate Kendrick Perkins offered a simple explanation as to what might seal the deal.
It had nothing to do with his passing remark 11 days ago that OKC was "getting close" to re-signing Harden. Perkins has no clue how close – or how far away – Harden is to an agreement. Perkins simply was expressing his confidence that last season's Sixth Man of the Year would re-up with the Thunder.
Perkins' true insight came when asked if he would reach out to Harden and convince him to stay.
Kendrick Le'Dale Perkins is a menacing guy. One scowl might be enough to scare Harden into signing, but evidently Perk doesn't anticipate the need for a stare-down.
"The thing is, once James gets here, there's nothing to be said," Perkins said following a Thunder Fit clinic at Deer Creek Middle School on Sept. 12. "He'll see his family (teammates) and that's all he'll need. He just needs to be here, so once he sees everybody's faces, that's enough said."
Peer pressure can be a powerful tool, intentional or not.
Perkins believes Harden's decision might be swayed when he re-enters the Thunder practice facility this week and exchanges playful banter with the group that finished one step shy of becoming NBA champs last season, when he rekindles those morning shooting competitions against fellow guards Russell Westbrook, Eric Maynor and Daequan Cook, when he feels the comfort of being surrounded by young, talented teammates with a limitless future.
All this must happen naturally. There will be no intervention. Teammates will not confront Harden and guilt him into staying. It doesn't work that way among pro athletes, who are extremely respectful of each other when it comes to contract talks.
Thunder players want what Harden wants, and they will respect his decision whether he stays or goes.
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