James Harden will remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the long term. The former MVP has agreed to a new three-year contract with the club worth more than $90 million. The entire amount is guaranteed.
This is according to ESPN insider Shams Charania. The agreement has not yet been signed, but the deal is considered a done deal. James Harden will turn 37 next Wednesday and is expected to officially sign with the Cavaliers then.
This brings an unusually long negotiation period to a close. At the end of June, Harden declined his $42.3 million player option for the 2026–27 season. Instead, both sides negotiated a longer contract with a lower annual salary.
Under the new agreement, the 11-time All-Star will earn an average of about $33.3 million per season. At the same time, Cleveland gains additional financial flexibility compared to the original option. In return, Harden secures his contract through 2029 and joins an exclusive circle.
In the same league as LeBron, Durant, and Curry
His total earnings from NBA contracts will rise to approximately $511 million as a result of the new deal. This makes the guard only the fourth player in league history—after LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry—to surpass the $500 million mark.
Furthermore, according to Charania, Harden will become only the second player to sign a contract with more than $90 million in guaranteed salary at the age of 37 or older. Previously, only LeBron James had achieved this.
