James Harden will remain with the Clippers.
The 10-time All-Star and former league MVP agreed to a two-year, $70 million deal to remain in Los Angeles, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The deal includes: Second Season Player OptionsAccording to reports.
News of Harden’s deal came Sunday, hours before the Clippers announced the departure of Paul George in free agency. It’s not clear where he will go, but George told the Clippers he won’t be returning after the two sides were unable to come to terms on a new contract. The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly the favorites to acquire the nine-time All-Star wing.
Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook is also likely on the way, with sources telling Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fisher that the Clippers are pursuing a trade partner for the veteran point guard shortly after free-agent negotiations began on Sunday.
With Russell Westbrook agreeing to a $4 million contract through the 2024-25 season, the Clippers are now exploring a trade for him, league sources said. Yahoo Sports: https://t.co/njTZVUpZbw
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 30, 2024
What role will Harden play with the Clippers next season?
At 34, Harden is a different man to the three-time scoring champion and MVP of his prime, and he found himself in an unfamiliar role as the Clippers’ third scoring option behind Leonard and George last season.
His 16.6 points per game average is his lowest since coming off the bench behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City in 2011-12, and it’s the first time he’s averaged less than 20 points per game since that season.
He led the Clippers with 8.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while averaging 4.8 free throw attempts per game, the third-fewest of his career.
Harden had his healthiest season in years, appearing in 72 games for the Clippers and his first time playing at least 68 games since the 2018-19 season.
With Harden as the third member of the Clippers’ Big Three, Los Angeles finished 51-31 and in fourth place in the Western Conference. With Leonard limping off and missing four games, the Clippers suffered a disappointing loss to the eventual Western Conference champions, the Dallas Mavericks, in the first round of the playoffs.
Harden still has the ability to score when needed. He stepped up his scoring game while Leonard missed most of the series, averaging 21.2 points, eight assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. He scored 33 points in a Game 4 road win against the Mavericks.
Harden’s individual career is now complete, but he’s still searching for his first NBA title as he enters his 16th season.
