James Harden is declining his $36.3 million participant choice and intends to signal a two-year, $81.5 million contract to return to the LA Clippers, sources advised ESPN on Sunday.
The second yr of Harden’s deal has a participant choice and is partially assured, sources stated. The settlement furthers the robust partnership Harden has solid with the Clippers since he arrived. He receives a well-deserved increase whereas offering the group with flexibility so as to add expertise within the current and future.
An 11-time All-Star, Harden, 35, earned All-NBA honors for the primary time since 2019-20 after one other stellar common season with the Clippers wherein he averaged 22.8 factors and eight.7 assists.
The veteran level guard was a stalwart for a group lacking Kawhi Leonard for a lot of the season. Harden appeared in 79 video games — his most since 2016-17 — and completed with the fifth-most minutes performed within the league. He turned the one participant this previous season with 1,500 factors, 500 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocks.
Harden’s excessive degree of play and availability helped gasoline what many thought of an overachieving season for the Clippers, who received 50 video games and made the playoffs as a No. 5 seed.