James Harden agrees to three-year, $97m Cleveland Cavaliers deal: Report

What the report says

James Harden has agreed to a new three-year, $97 million contract to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to a report cited by Al Jazeera from ESPN and his agents at Equity Sports. The deal reportedly includes a player option for the 2028-29 season and a trade kicker. Harden, a former NBA MVP and 11-time All-Star, is set to turn 37 next Wednesday.

The reported agreement comes after Harden declined a $42.3 million player option earlier this summer, seeking a longer-term contract. Al Jazeera said the move follows Cleveland’s midseason trade for Harden at the February deadline, a deal that sent All-Star guard Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavaliers also reportedly added guard Peyton Watson in a separate trade involving the Denver Nuggets and Clippers.

Harden’s first stretch with Cleveland was productive, with averages of 20.5 points and 7.7 assists across 26 regular-season games. More broadly, he has built a long NBA career with Oklahoma City, Houston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, the Clippers and Cleveland, with career averages of 24.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists over 1,221 regular-season appearances. The new deal gives Cleveland continuity around one of the league’s most accomplished veteran guards as teams continue to reshape their rosters.