James Harden is staying with the Clippers.
The ten-time All-Star and former league MVP agreed a two-year, $70 million contract to stay in Los Angeles, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports. The contract will embrace a player option in the second season, based on the report.
Information of Harden’s deal arrived on Sunday hours earlier than the Clippers announced that Paul George was leaving in free agency. It is not clear the place he’ll land, however George instructed the Clippers he would not return to the crew after the 2 sides failed to succeed in an settlement on a brand new contract. The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly frontrunners to land the nine-time All-Star wing.
In the meantime, Russell Westbrook seems to be headed for one more crew as properly. Shortly after free company negotiations opened on Sunday, sources instructed Yahoo Sports activities’ Jake Fischer that the Clippers are working to discover a commerce companion for the veteran level guard.
With Russell Westbrook having opted into his $4 million for this 2024-25 season, the Clippers at the moment are working to discover a commerce for Westbrook, league sources instructed @YahooSports: https://t.co/njTZVUpZbw
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 30, 2024
What function will Harden play with Clippers subsequent season?
At 34 years outdated, Harden shouldn’t be the identical participant who gained three scoring titles and an MVP in his prime. He took on an unfamiliar function with the Clippers final season because the third scoring choice behind Leonard and George.
His 16.6 factors per recreation marked his lowest scoring common since he got here off the bench in Oklahoma City behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in 2011-12. It is the primary time since that season that he averaged fewer than 20 factors per recreation.
He led the Clippers with 8.5 assists alongside 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per recreation. His 4.8 free-throw makes an attempt per recreation had been the third-fewest of his profession.
Harden additionally had his healthiest marketing campaign in years. He performed 72 video games for the Clippers, the primary time he is performed greater than 68 video games because the 2018-19 season.
With Harden becoming a member of the Clippers because the third member of their huge three, Los Angeles completed in fourth place within the West at 51-31. With Leonard hobbled and absent for 4 video games, the Clippers suffered a disappointing first-round playoff loss to the eventual Western Convention champion Dallas Mavericks.
Harden remains to be able to placing up factors when wanted. He upped his scoring whereas averaging 21.2 factors, eight assists and 4.5 rebounds per recreation with Leonard sidelined for many of that sequence. He scored 33 in a Recreation 4 street win towards the Mavericks.
Harden’s particular person profession résumé is full. However he is nonetheless in search of his first NBA title as he approaches his sixteenth season.
