Los Angeles Clippers Re-Sign James Harden To Massive 2-Year Deal

Matt Brown
Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers took a chance on James Harden last offseason, signing him to a two-year deal with a player option for this year. The 11-time All-Star put up huge numbers and helped many of his teammates have career years. Many wondered what the team would do with the 36-year-old star, especially after another disappointing playoff performance that ended in a first-round exit. Los Angeles must have liked what they saw. Harden is declining his player option and instead signing a massive two-year deal with the team.

Los Angeles Clippers Re-Sign James Harden

ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the Los Angeles Clippers are giving Harden a two-year, $81.5 million deal. Harden showed no signs of slowing down last year during the regular season. He played in 79 games, averaging 22.8 points (his most since the 2020-21 season), 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game. Teammate Ivica Zubac saw a career year as Harden’s pick-and-roll partner, and many others benefited from his playmaking.

James Harden has always been a polarizing player. He failed to show up in the biggest moments in the playoffs, a criticism that many have had over his career. While he puts up a lot of stats, many have questioned whether it can actually translate to championships. For the Clippers, the bigger question is likely the health of Kawhi Leonard. While Harden has his faults, he was easily the team’s best player over the course of the year.

Final Thoughts

This is a good deal for both sides. Harden gets a lot of money, and the Clippers aren’t tied to an aging superstar for half a decade. Will this team be able to break through in a Western Conference that seems to be getting stronger?

Matt Brown