Sources – James Harden to sign 2-year, $81.5M deal with Clippers

James Harden is declining his $36.3 million player option and intends to sign a new two-year, $81.5 million contract to return to the LA Clippers, sources told ESPN on Sunday.

The second year of Harden’s deal has a player option and is partially guaranteed, sources said. The agreement furthers the strong partnership Harden has forged with the Clippers since he arrived. He receives a well-deserved raise while providing the team with flexibility to add talent in the present and future.

An 11-time All-Star, Harden, 35, earned All-NBA honors for the first time since 2019-20 after another stellar regular season with the Clippers in which he averaged 22.8 points and 8.7 assists.

The veteran point guard was a stalwart for an L.A. team missing Kawhi Leonard for most of the season. Harden appeared in 79 games – his most since 2016-17 — and finished with the fifth-most minutes played in the league. He became the only player this past season with 1,500 points, 500 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocks.

Harden’s high-level of play and availability helped fuel what many considered an overachieving season for the Clippers, who won 50 games and made the playoffs outright as a No. 5 seed.

Source: espn.com