Mike Gundy's favorite writer thinks James Harden should stay in OKC

Would James Harden benefit from living in low-key OKC? (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Whether or not the Oklahoma City Thunder can or will re-sign sixth-man scorer James Harden is a prominent NBA storyline.

Oklahoman columnist Jenni Carlson thinks she's found another reason for Harden to re-sign with the Thunder and it has to do with the revelation -- via Internet party pics -- that Harden, like many NBA players, likes to party.

If Carlson's name sounds familiar, she's the same journalist whose 2007 column on former quarterback Bobby Reid set off Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy's now famous "I'm a man, I'm forty!" viral video and catchphrase.

Here's why she thinks Harden can benefit from playing in OKC and partying elsewhere:

Everyone thinks Oklahoma City needs James Harden.

Turns out, it might be the other way around.

Have you seen pictures from the All-White Yacht Party?

If you believe what you read on Twitter, Diddy or Sean Combs or whatever he's calling himself these days even sent over some pricey cases of Ciroc vodka.

Nothing wrong with that.

But seriously, if this is how The Beard parties now, what can we expect after he signs what everyone expects will be a massive contract? And if he happens to sign that deal with a team in Los Angeles or New York or some other hot spot?

The Beard may become a wild hair...

Oklahoma City can save Harden from himself...

...But I'm telling you, the Thunder could use this to its advantage. Harden clearly has some wild child in him, and there's nothing wrong with that, but here's where the Thunder can make OKC a huge positive. Sell Harden and his people on the fact that he shouldn't live in party city with a bunch of money. Convince them that he can visit places like L.A. and Miami in the offseason but that he needs to spend most of his time in a place like Oklahoma City.

Last I checked, Lake Hefner didn't have enough water to float a boat big enough for another All-White Yacht Party.