One of many worst-kept secrets and techniques of the continuing NBA offseason was that the Cleveland Cavaliers and veteran guard James Harden principally had a handshake settlement relating to Harden’s eventual return to the Cavaliers.
It now seems that the Cavaliers and Harden have made issues official.
How a lot did the Cavaliers give James Harden to return?
On Thursday afternoon, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Harden and the Cavs agreed to a brand new three-year, $97M contract with a participant choice for 2028-29 and a commerce kicker. The information is hardly stunning, as Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Seller shared again in Could that Harden would choose out of his earlier contract after which “obtain a brand new multi-year deal from the Cavs as a part of a wink-wink, nudge-nudge pre-existing settlement” this summer season.
The Cavaliers acquired Harden this previous February as a championship-or-bust transfer. Cleveland later blew a 22-point lead en path to shedding Recreation 1 of the Jap Convention Finals to the New York Knicks, and the Knicks in the end swept the Cavaliers. New York then went on to win the NBA Finals.
Earlier within the offseason, the Cavaliers and Donovan Mitchell agreed to a four-year, $273M maximum contract extension that included a participant choice for the 2030-31 marketing campaign and a full commerce kicker. Extra not too long ago, it was learned on Wednesday that Cleveland had acquired Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets in a multi-team commerce that additionally concerned the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards.
Cavaliers vs. 76ers may change into an epic showdown
As Charania famous, the Cavaliers at the moment are on monitor to function a beginning lineup of Harden, Mitchell, Watson, Evan Mobley and fellow large man Jarrett Allen after LeBron James selected to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers in free company.
To match, the 76ers plan to begin James, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and V.J. Edgecombe. After the Harden information went public, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Knicks because the betting favorites at +340 odds to symbolize the Jap Convention within the 2027 NBA Finals. The Sixers have been second on the checklist at +380 odds, whereas the Cavaliers have been fifth at +900 odds.
