Clippers guard James Harden will turn down his $36.3MM player option for the 2025/26 season in order to sign a new two-year, $81.5MM contract with the team, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter links).
According to Charania, the second year will be a player option and will be partially guaranteed if Harden opts in.
Dating back to 2022 free agency, this is the third consecutive time that Harden has inked a one-plus-one contract (two-year deal with a player option). The value of his cap hit for ’25/26 will determine how much financial flexibility the Clippers will have as they look to upgrade their roster this offseason.
Harden, who turns 36 years old at the end of August, appeared in 79 games last season, averaging 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals on .410/.352/.872 shooting in 35.3 minutes per contest. The former NBA MVP was selected to his 11th All-Star team in 2024/25 and was also named to the All-NBA Third Team, marking the eighth time he’s been an all-league performer.
With Kawhi Leonard out for the first half of the season, Harden was the primary offensive engine for a Clippers team that performed better than expected after losing Paul George. He also had impressive chemistry with starting center Ivica Zubac, who had a career year with Harden orchestrating pick-and-rolls.
The Clippers went 50-32 last season, good for the No. 5 seed in the West, but lost their first-round playoff series against Denver in seven games.
Harden, a native of Los Angeles, was widely expected to return to the Clips in some fashion, whether by exercising his option or declining it and re-signing on a new deal. He opted for the latter route this summer, and could be a free agent again in 2026.
The move makes sense for both sides. The Nets are the only team projected to have a significant amount of cap room this offseason, and they were never going to be interested in a reunion with Harden at back end of his career, reducing his negotiating leverage.
But the Clippers also had no viable way to replace Harden’s scoring and play-making, and he has been pretty durable during his 16-year career. His contract for 2026/27 being partially guaranteed gives L.A. a little protection in the event of an injury or a decline in Harden’s play.
Harden was ranked No. 3 on on our list of this year’s top 50 free agents.
Blow that team up ASAP. Even with a healthy Leonard they aren’t winning anything.
They don’t own their own picks until 2030 and no one on the roster is going to return enough picks in a trade to make it worth it.
They got nearly no Chance to win anything with Harden as their main guy – or as their second option.
He will be a liability in the Playoffs.
But by blowing up their chances are even worse.
I hate These guys who get paid for something they stoppen being years ago.
Ballmer is fine with being above average for a while in his shiny new arena. I don’t see him tanking even if he could, not with the weight of the Clippers’ franchise history
Free spot on the bingo card
And the Clippers continue their swirl down the toilet bowl
I know it’s still early, Cam, but you GOTTA pencil in the Clips among the top 4 in the West…..RIGHT NOW. Lakers’ #3 spot last season was a fluke and will not be repeated or neared with (or if) Brawny Sensation continuing to play 30+ MPG. On paper, the Mavs look great, but who’s gonna bring it all together at the point and make the pieces work. D’Lo?? (get outta heeeeeere with that!) Same for the Twolves. Unless they find a capable facilitator to take some of the burden off of Ant, it’s gonna be another 6-spot, at best, for them. I’ve been stressing this to Dubs fans multiple times: Chef Curry & Co. won’t be cooking ANYTHING with substance unless Dunleavy Jr. finds Chef another kitchen wizard to sizzle on the offensive end; I’m talking someone like a Giannis….or like a Jackson Jr. YES, dang it!! Replacing Kuminga with someone like Cam Johnson gets the Dubs CLOSE to top 4. Memphis is a team in transition. Denver is in a state of turmoil – figuratively AND apparently literally. Barring injuries, OKC is a shoe-in top 2 for the foreseeable future. Spurs are real young, and Wemby’s blood clot is gonna set him back – even if he’s able to play 65+ next season. Houston has the makings of a top 4, but…..wth happened with you and Budenholzer in Phoenix, KD? I can’t pinpoint an unabashed leader on that team right now. Their 2025 positional finish was just like the Lakers’ IMO – majorly overachieved. So it’s liiiiiike……right here, right now…..why NOT pencil in the Clips as a top-4 threat in the West, Cam? Aside from OKC, who is standing up and BOLDLY saying “look at us and be mesmerized” or “how you like us now?” or “book your plane tickets for our city next June, suckas” or “73 and 9, you say? Well how bout…..79-3 followed by 16 and OH! Yeah, that’s right. You’re speechless”.
No one’s saying any of that right now, Cam. Toilet bowl, my a – -!
TLDR
Davey J: Dubs numbah wan
Clippers will have a shot if they can stay healthy and Zubac continues to improve. They did make the conference finals under Ballmer and he’s patient enough to wait until these bloated contracts are Over and then attract new superstars in 2027-28.
Any team that makes the west playoffs has a chance to go to West finals or lose in first round as it’s based on matchups. Denver appears to be immune from losing in first round but other teams have rotated that the last few years
The Clippers aren’t going anywhere, and it’s questionable whether any difference makers would want to sign for them in 27/28 or beyond.
Harden was overpaid at $36m – yet they just gave him a raise anyway. They don’t know what they’re doing.
so glad he’s no longer a sixer .. he was painful to watch