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Harden agrees to $97M deal to remain with Cavs
Free agent James Harden has agreed to a new three-year, $97 million contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with a player option for 2028-29 and a...
Key points
- Free agent James Harden has agreed to a new three-year, $97 million contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with a player option for 2028-29 and a trade kicker, agents Mike Silverman, Troy Payne and Brandon Grier of Equity Sports told ESPN on Thursday.
- The new contract will take Harden, who is entering Year 18, into a 20th NBA season.
- In June, Harden declined his $42.3 million player option.
- The Cavaliers needed Harden to lower his annual salary in a three-year deal, versus a more costly two-year deal, in order to get under the first and second aprons -- as well as to give Cleveland the time necessary late into the offseason to trade for Peyton Watson, which the Cavs executed Wednesday, sending Max Strus to the Clippers, and their 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick via the Sacramento Kings to the Denver Nuggets in a five-team deal.
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Free agent James Harden has agreed to a new three-year, $97 million contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with a player option for 2028-29 and a trade kicker, agents Mike Silverman, Troy Payne and Brandon Grier of Equity Sports told ESPN on Thursday. The new contract will take Harden, who is entering Year 18, into a 20th NBA season. In June, Harden declined his $42.3 million player option. The Cavaliers needed Harden to lower his annual salary in a three-year deal, versus a more costly two-year deal, in order to get under the first and second aprons -- as well as to give Cleveland the time necessary late into the offseason to trade for Peyton Watson, which the Cavs executed Wednesday, sending Max Strus to the Clippers, and their 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick via the Sacramento Kings to the Denver Nuggets in a five-team deal. Cleveland made its first Eastern Conference finals since 2018 behind the addition of Harden, who averaged 19.2 points, 5.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 18 postseason games. In NBA history, only Curry is a more prolific 3-point shooter than Harden, who ranks second all-time in career three-point field goals made.