Get this, NBA fans: James Harden still has not officially signed the historic three-year, $97 million contract he agreed to with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yeah, you read that right. While everyone expected the pen to already be to paper, there’s a wild twist in what should have been a slam-dunk summer for Cleveland.
The Mega-Deal That’s Just Waiting
This isn’t just any deal, either. We’re talking about a massive commitment, a three-year, $97 million contract that includes a player option for the 2028-29 season and a sweet trade kicker. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday that Harden’s agents, Mike Silverman, Troy Payne, and Brandon Grier of Equity Sports, confirmed the agreement. The stakes here are huge, not just for the Cavs, but for Harden’s place in NBA history. Once he completes this new deal, Harden, currently sitting at $414 million in career earnings, would join an exclusive club of players who have eclipsed the half-billion dollar mark in career earnings. Right now, only two legends are in that club: Philadelphia’s LeBron James and Houston’s Kevin Durant. Harden was on the cusp of etching his name among giants.
Cleveland Went All-In, Still Waiting For The Pen To Drop
The Cavaliers have had an absolutely eventful stretch lately, closing out the summer strong. They took the “better late than never” approach to free agency, and man, did they commit! Cleveland finally landed Peyton Watson in a trade, a move that actually played a role in Harden opting out of his previous contract. To make room for Harden’s monster deal, the Cavs had to get creative. As part of the Watson trade, they eventually waived Cam Whitmore. ESPN’s Bobby Marks broke down the financial gymnastics: “They get Cam Whitmore as part of the trade. They are going to waive and stretch Whitmore over three years. It’s basically a $1.8 million cap hold that will then give them the flexibility to go out and sign James Harden to a new deal.” They didn’t stop there, folks. Cleveland further structured their roster, even signing Khalifa Diop, whose salary is small enough to keep them clear of the first apron and still accommodate Harden’s contract, according to Locked on Cavs’ Danny Cunningham. They cleared the decks, did the cap acrobatics, and made their bed for Harden. So, here’s the kicker: after all that maneuvering, after all that commitment, a surprising development hit Wednesday: Harden still hasn’t put pen to paper! It’s wild, right?
It’s clear both sides have totally worked toward an agreement, and the Cavs have done everything on their end to make it happen. So, what gives with the delay? Could Harden just be chilling, soaking up the last bits of offseason before making it official? Probably. For now, the word is there should be little reason to worry that the contract won’t get done. The Cavaliers have made a serious, significant commitment to Harden, and all indications are that the agreement will eventually become official. Still, for Cavs fans, that signature can’t come soon enough! Get it done, James, because everyone’s waiting for you to officially make history and kick off what promises to be an electric season for Cleveland.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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