NBA: Harden Agrees Three-Year, $97m Deal to Return to Cavaliers

James Harden has agreed to a three-year, $97 million contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to his agents Mike Silverman, Troy Payne and Brandon Grier of Equity Sports.

The agreement includes a player option for the 2028-29 season and a trade kicker, allowing Harden to remain in Cleveland as the Cavaliers continue rebuilding their roster around Donovan Mitchell.

The contract will also move Harden closer to becoming only the third player in NBA history to surpass $500 million in career earnings. He currently has approximately $414 million and would join LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the exclusive group once he completes the deal.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is also expected to reach the $500 million milestone, while Paul George and Joel Embiid are among other players approaching the mark.

Harden, who turns 37 on August 26, is entering his 18th NBA season and will remain in the league through what is expected to be his 20th season.

He declined his $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season in June before negotiating a new contract with Cleveland.

The Cavaliers needed Harden to accept a lower annual salary to remain below the NBA’s first and second salary aprons and gain greater flexibility to reshape their roster.

That flexibility helped Cleveland complete a five-team trade for forward Peyton Watson. The Cavaliers also moved Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers and sent future draft picks to the Denver Nuggets as part of the deal.

Harden joined Cleveland in February after the Cavaliers traded Darius Garland to the Clippers.

The veteran guard immediately made an impact, helping Cleveland post a 21-9 record after his arrival. He averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds after the All-Star break.

Harden then helped the Cavaliers reach their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2018, averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 18 playoff games.

His playmaking ability provided Cleveland with another primary offensive creator alongside Mitchell, while his isolation scoring remained among the league’s best.

Harden led the NBA in isolation possessions last season and ranked second in made step-back three-pointers.

The Cavaliers are now projected to start Harden, Mitchell, Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

Harden enters the new season as the NBA’s second-leading all-time three-point scorer behind Curry and ninth on the career scoring list. He is also a former MVP, three-time scoring champion and two-time assists champion.