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11h ago

James Harden Declines $36.3 Million Option to Sign Two-Year, $81.5 Million Deal with Clippers

The restructured contract frees up salary-cap space for Los Angeles to pursue additions such as Anfernee Simons

LA Clippers guard James Harden attends Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2026 collection show during Men's Fashion Week in Paris, France, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo
James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers dribbles against the Denver Nuggets in Game Six of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome on May 01, 2025 in Inglewood, California.
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Overview

  • Harden formally opted out of his $36.3 million player option for the 2025-26 season to agree to a two-year, $81.5 million extension with a partially guaranteed second-year player option
  • Clippers president Lawrence Frank said re-engaging with Harden was the franchise’s top priority after the NBA Finals and that the new terms balanced his salary demands with team flexibility
  • At 35, Harden averaged 22.8 points and 8.7 assists last season, earned All-NBA honors and appeared in a career-high 79 games for L.A.
  • By restructuring Harden’s deal, the Clippers open cap space to target potential contributors in free agency or via trade, with Boston’s Anfernee Simons frequently cited by league insiders
  • Some analysts suggest Harden accepted a lower annual salary to help Los Angeles assemble a deeper supporting cast under NBA salary-cap rules