Speaking to Malika Andrews of ESPN (video link), Nets guard James Harden reiterated a stance he expressed on Media Day, indicating that he’s willing to be patient in his contract extension talks with the team. Even though he has said he has no desire to go anywhere else, Harden hinted that he may end up waiting another year before locking in a long-term deal with Brooklyn.
“Over the course of my career, I’ve never been a free agent before. I’ve always just been loyal, just signing contract extensions, just being there, being there, being there,” Harden said. “I just want to take my time with it. It’d be a very, very difficult thing to leave here, or to leave Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. But I think this season I just want to focus on winning a championship and everything else will work itself out.”
Based on the structure of his contract and the rules surrounding veteran extensions, Harden is eligible to sign a three-year contract extension up until October 18. Once the season begins, he wouldn’t become eligible to sign a new deal until next offseason, when he could either pick up his 2022/23 player option and sign a four-year extension or turn down the option and sign a five-year contract as a free agent. The opportunity to receive a more lucrative deal a year from now will be a factor Harden considers as he weighs his options.
Here’s more on the NBA’s two New York teams:
- Some team executives around the NBA have wondered if Kyrie Irving might be placed on the trade block if he refuses to be vaccinated and becomes ineligible to play in the Nets‘ home games this season, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. However, Fischer says several sources with knowledge of the situation “strongly” disputed the idea that either the Nets or Irving will seek a trade. “I’m sure (general manager) Sean Marks and (head coach) Steve Nash aren’t thrilled with the situation, but despite all the s–t that goes on, they still treat him really well there,” one source said to Fischer. “They hear him out. They make the effort to try and communicate with him. That’s why Brooklyn is a special place.”
- Alex Schiffer of The Athletic takes a look at the role Kyle Korver will play as a player development coach for the Nets this season.
- Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau “lobbied hard” for the team to re-sign Reggie Bullock, a source tells Marc Berman of The New York Post. Bullock and Elfrid Payton were big parts of New York’s top-five defense last season, so Thibodeau will be hoping to avoid a significant drop-off with Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier taking their spots.
- Following a second consecutive shortened offseason, the Knicks may benefit from their increased depth, especially if their rookies are ready to contribute right away, writes Fred Katz of The Athletic.
Harden does have a curious concept of loyalty.
IN-Freakin-Deed
Im just glad I wasn’t having a glass of milk while reading that 2nd paragraph
Wow, 5 minutes into training camps, Harden wants to feel what its like to be a FA, Kyrie cant play home games and threatens to retire if traded. Are we sure Nets are a favourite to win the championship?)
@xburn
Or, or… you completely ignored the article and quotes and just made up what you wanted to?
The truth lies between the worlds humans make…
@x%sure
I read Harden’s words. He said he’d like to stay. He said it would be hard to leave Irving and KD. He said it would be interesting to go the FA tour/courting routine because he’s never experienced. I’ve heard a lot of players, especially mlbers, express that and for a lot of guys it’s just the desire to feel wooed. Kyrie already said there’s no way he threatened to retire if he was traded. So @xburner is accepting all of these silly reports as facts and attributing them to the players.
OMG please show me the definition of loyalty that Harden is reading? The only thing he is loyal is partying and causing chaos. The guy is a narcissist.
It was pretty clear from the start that Rose made the call on Bullock, as he did on all the moves, but, in this case, he overrode the HC. There’s no doubt the Knicks will take a step back in their perimeter defense with Walker and Fournier replacing Payton and Bullock; the questions are how big a step, and will it be offset (and more) by offensive improvement. The veteran additions are who they are, so I think RJ and Mitch are the guys to watch. RJ was an excellent defender last year, but as the 3rd perimeter defender. Now, he’ll likely be matched up with the opponent’s top perimeter player most nights. Mitch just needs to stay healthy, but that’s been a challenge. By the end of the year, our best two perimeter defenders may be McBride and Grimes; which wouldn’t bode well for this year, although it might by next.
Thibs is a good coach not GM so let Rose do the roster development and Thibs the player development
agreed. Besides Fournier is a major upgrade over Bullock on consistency alone.
Lakers are in a similar boat in all honesty
People are fearing the age and lack of shooting but its only really the (loss of ) perimeter D that concerns me to date-
Sorry didnt wanna wedge my Lakers into your post I just felt it was so apt
RJ being first perimeter defender matches up with rising offensively also by attacking closeouts instead of shooting over them or trying to finesse them… which I think will increase his importance & allstar chances. Efficiency may not be great at the start but it should be entertaining.
RJ’s BB IQ allows him to rise to almost any role. Still, 22 year old defensive stoppers (with only good, not great, length and LQ) are rare. He won’t get exposed often (he has too much pride); it’s the team defense that concerns me.
I disagree ever so slightly with your points. Walker and Fournier might not be known for their defense but Payton was horrid at PG on both sides and was always bailed out by Robinson/Noel/Barrett as his man would blown pass Payton and than a switch would happen. Bullock was up and down on defense most of the year some nights he was elite and some nights look like crap. I think there will be a slight decrease there. RJ ended up guarding everybody so I don’t see much of a difference. He’s been playing the Leonard role on defense (aka guarding the best offensive players and doing it at an elite level.) Robinson will badly help the defense IF healthy. I see a top 5 defense and a much improved offense.
Just not so with Payton. Payton had to go, but you don’t finish 4th in the league in DRPM among PGs if you’re horrid on that end. No stat is infallible, but that one is the most used by FO’s for a reason – it factors out (among other things) teammates covering for the player. The fact that Thibs (a guy who knows a thing or two about defense) kept playing him is as relevant, although more subjective. Here they align. Payton HATE is OK I guess, but the facts can’t be ignored. The guy is a great team defender.
I read Kyrie won’t be on the block because everyone else is too scared to trade for such an unpredictable NBA genius.
“They make the effort to try and communicate with him. That’s why Brooklyn is a special place.”
Ha! Playing for a team where they don’t listen to superstars in a superstar-driven league would be significantly more special.
Harden talking about money. Before Nets and he have done Nothing. Typical Diva action. Why would anyone want this guy on his team. Between him and Kyrie Nets ain’t winning Shot.
Thibs is loyal to a fault. As much as Bullock was good for us last yr. Kemba and Fournier will be much better. Our draft are solid experienced young guys. At positions where they will help and play.
Go Knicks …… Thibs 2nd YEAR coming
Harden Irving and Durant might collectively be the most delusional big 3 in NBA history.
What they are for sure is the most talented ever, right?
Harden is wistful about being a FA… or, about NOT ever being one… which would make it, Harden is wishful about being a FA!
Some players get a goal of that, to be desired and flown about, for everyone to be free to talk to you and making the best pitches they can to associate with you in the future… even though they want to own your talents for themselves exclusively and lock you down. Still it is nice to be wanted by so many.