Daniel Orton has returned to the roster of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Orton was signed by the D-League's Tulsa 66ers Wednesday morning, and then called up and signed by the Thunder.

Orton spent his first two NBA seasons with the Magic.

During extension talks with the Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden and his agent sought a 15 percent trade kicker.

Harden was entertaining taking less than a max contract, but wanted a financial incentive should the Thunder trade him.

The Thunder were offering Harden a four-year contract in the neighborhood of $53 million.

With the Houston Rockets, Harden will be able to sign a five-year contract.

The Phoenix Suns were long tied to a possible run at James Harden next offseason had he become a restricted free agent and the team also pursued a trade.

"We were engaged in discussions on numerous occasions," Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said. "We most recently met in person when we played them (in Tulsa, Okla., on Oct. 19). At the end of the day, there wasn't a deal that was workable for both sides." 

The Suns had cap space, picks and players on good contracts, but the Oklahoma City Thunder preferred the package from the Rockets.

Babby said no proposal "got a whole lot of life."

The Oklahoma City Thunder exercised its third-year option on Reggie Jackson.

Jackson (6-3, 208), who was the 24th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, averaged 3.1 points, 1.6 assists, 1.2 rebounds and 11.1 minutes in 45 games during his rookie campaign.

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey had been calling Sam Presti to discuss a trade for James Harden for months.

But the Oklahoma City Thunder wanted to sign Harden to an extension to keep their core in place.

Over the past few days, Presti finally began to engage Morey on trade talks because extension talks had reached an impasse where they would move Harden if he turned down the final offer from the Thunder ownership.

Harden's agent, Rob Pelinka, flew to Oklahoma City on Friday for a sit-down meeting with Presti. Pelinka was seeking a four-year, $60 million max contract and was pushing to get as close to that number as possible.

Presti was already discussing a trade with Morey and proposed Harden for Kevin Martin, Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lamb and three first-round picks, including Houston's own in 2013.

They eventually agreed upon deal was for Martin, Lamb and two first-round picks, including a guaranteed lottery pick via Toronto. 

The final offer by the Oklahoma City Thunder to James Harden was a four-year, $54 million contract.

Harden could sign a max offer of $60 million over four seasons.

The Thunder agreed to trade Harden to the Rockets on Saturday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets have sent Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and future pick considerations (first round picks from Mavericks and Raptors in 2013, and a second round pick from the Bobcats) for Harden, Cole Aldrich, Lazar Hayward and Daequan Cook.

Harden had previously turned down a four-year, $52 million extension from the Thunder. Harden had been seeking a max contract of $60 million over four seasons.

Harden will return to Oklahoma City as a member of the Thunder on Nov. 28, the lone appearance by the Rockets in 12-13.

The Rockets will begin discussions on a contract extension with Harden's agent, Rob Pelinka.

"We wanted to sign James to an extension, but at the end of the day, these situations have to work for all those involved. Our ownership group again showed their commitment to the organization with several significant offers," Sam Presti said. "We were unable to reach a mutual agreement, and therefore executed a trade that capitalized on the opportunity to bring in a player of Kevin's caliber, a young talent like Jeremy and draft picks, which will be important to our organizational goal of a sustainable team. We appreciate James, Cole, Daequan and Lazar’s contributions to the Thunder organization and this community and wish them the best in the future.” 

DeAndre Liggins claimed the final roster spot for the Oklahoma City Thunder as the team waived Daniel Orton, Andy Rautins and Hollis Thompson.

Liggins was a second round pick in the 2011 draft and appeared in 17 games last season.

The Thunder’s training camp roster now stands at 15 players.

James Harden turned down a four-year, $52 million contract extension offer from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Harden is seeking a maximum-level deal worth $60 million over four years.

The Thunder have until Wednesday to sign Harden to a contract extension or allow him the opportunity to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

NBA general managers were asked which player they would sign if they were starting a franchise from scratch and 80% said LeBron James.

James and Kevin Durant each received 37% of the vote last season.

Durant was second with 16.7%, followed by Dwight Howard at 3.3%.