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James Harden is still unsigned. Harden declined a $42.3 million player option with the Cleveland Cavaliers on June 29 and has been an unrestricted free agent since.
Marc J. Spears of Andscape said on ESPN's "NBA Today" that Harden and his representatives have not pressed the Cavaliers on timing, and that the team has credited them for it.
"The Cavaliers are working through different iterations of a deal, trying to come up with something that's best for James and also best for them," Spears said. "And to James' credit, they're saying that he's been patient, his people has been patient, and I hear that they expect a resolution to come soon for him to re-sign."
The declined option was the second year of a two-year, $81.5 million contract Harden signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in July 2025. It carried a $13.3 million guarantee until July 11, when it would have become fully guaranteed.
Bobby Marks put Harden's next deal at $27 million to $28 million in a salary cap video last month. The first apron sits at $209.02 million for 2026-27 and the second at $221.69 million. Cleveland will pay the luxury tax and stay under the second apron, Marks said, leaving the taxpayer mid-level exception of roughly $6 million as the tool available for outside signings.
Jake Fischer reported the contract is expected to max out at no more than two guaranteed years. HoopsHype reported that Harden's representatives, Mike Silverman, Troy Payne, and Brandon Grier of Equity Sports, have discussed both two- and three-year structures with the Cavaliers.
The Athletic reported in July that Harden and the Cavaliers had agreed on the framework and the dollar figure and were waiting to see whether Cleveland needed the flexibility for LeBron James first. James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Cleveland signed Mario Hezonja after that and has stayed in on Peyton Watson, a restricted free agent, and Jonathan Kuminga.
Cleveland acquired Harden on Feb. 4 for Darius Garland and a second-round pick. Over 26 regular-season games with the Cavaliers he averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. He shot 46.6% from the field and 43.5% from 3-point range. Counting his time in Los Angeles, he averaged 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists in 34.8 minutes.
Through 17 postseason games, he averaged 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 37.3 minutes. He shot 41.0% from the field and 29.9% from 3-point range. In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, he recorded his 311th career postseason steal and passed Kobe Bryant for sixth on that list.
Cleveland finished 52-30 and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors in seven games, then came back from a 2-0 deficit against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons and won that series in seven. New York swept them in the conference finals, Cleveland's first trip to that round since 2018.
Harden was the third overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Arizona State. He won Sixth Man of the Year with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011-12 and was named MVP with the Houston Rockets for 2017-18. He is an eleven-time All-Star and a three-time scoring champion. Harden turns 37 on Aug. 26.
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Marc J. Spears of Andscape said on ESPN's "NBA Today" that Harden and his representatives have not pressed the Cavaliers on timing, and that the team has credited them for it.
"The Cavaliers are working through different iterations of a deal, trying to come up with something that's best for James and also best for them," Spears said. "And to James' credit, they're saying that he's been patient, his people has been patient, and I hear that they expect a resolution to come soon for him to re-sign."
The declined option was the second year of a two-year, $81.5 million contract Harden signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in July 2025. It carried a $13.3 million guarantee until July 11, when it would have become fully guaranteed.
Bobby Marks put Harden's next deal at $27 million to $28 million in a salary cap video last month. The first apron sits at $209.02 million for 2026-27 and the second at $221.69 million. Cleveland will pay the luxury tax and stay under the second apron, Marks said, leaving the taxpayer mid-level exception of roughly $6 million as the tool available for outside signings.
Jake Fischer reported the contract is expected to max out at no more than two guaranteed years. HoopsHype reported that Harden's representatives, Mike Silverman, Troy Payne, and Brandon Grier of Equity Sports, have discussed both two- and three-year structures with the Cavaliers.
The Athletic reported in July that Harden and the Cavaliers had agreed on the framework and the dollar figure and were waiting to see whether Cleveland needed the flexibility for LeBron James first. James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Cleveland signed Mario Hezonja after that and has stayed in on Peyton Watson, a restricted free agent, and Jonathan Kuminga.
Cleveland acquired Harden on Feb. 4 for Darius Garland and a second-round pick. Over 26 regular-season games with the Cavaliers he averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. He shot 46.6% from the field and 43.5% from 3-point range. Counting his time in Los Angeles, he averaged 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists in 34.8 minutes.
Through 17 postseason games, he averaged 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 37.3 minutes. He shot 41.0% from the field and 29.9% from 3-point range. In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, he recorded his 311th career postseason steal and passed Kobe Bryant for sixth on that list.
Cleveland finished 52-30 and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors in seven games, then came back from a 2-0 deficit against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons and won that series in seven. New York swept them in the conference finals, Cleveland's first trip to that round since 2018.
Harden was the third overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Arizona State. He won Sixth Man of the Year with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011-12 and was named MVP with the Houston Rockets for 2017-18. He is an eleven-time All-Star and a three-time scoring champion. Harden turns 37 on Aug. 26.
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