Overview

• Harden turned down his $36.3 million player option for 2025-26 and is set to sign a two-year, $81.5 million contract that features a partially guaranteed second year with its own player option.
• The new agreement aligns Harden’s deal with Kawhi Leonard’s extension through 2026-27, ensuring the Clippers retain their star backcourt pairing.
• After averaging 22.8 points and 8.7 assists over 79 games in 2024-25, Harden secured a raise while maintaining the one-plus-one structure he has favored since 2022 free agency.
• Clippers President Lawrence Frank confirmed the team prioritized re-engaging Harden immediately after the Finals and upheld his right to choose the player option.
• By clearing his original cap hit, the Clippers open significant salary space to pursue additional talent and balance their roster this offseason.