The Cleveland Cavaliers took their offseason from solid to great by adding Peyton Watson. He’ll quite literally be perfect alongside Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen in head coach Kenny Atkinson’s system.
However, the Cavaliers followed up Watson's addition by paying James Harden a three-year, $97 million contract, with over $90 million guaranteed. That is, without a doubt, a mistake, and one they’ll wish they could take back, as the former MVP will be earning a pretty penny at the age of 40, which will easily be regarded as one of the worst salaries in the league.
On top of that, what did Harden do to earn a lucrative three-year deal from Cleveland? Not really much, especially in the playoffs. This only adds insult to injury to the mistake the Cavaliers just made.
James Harden is not worth paying the top dollar for the next three years
Right now, even with the constant postseason disappointments, James Harden is still one of the best point guards in the league. He’ll be able to facilitate the offensive side of the ball for Kenny Atkinson, take a lot of pressure away from Donovan Mitchell’s shoulders, and do wonders for the scoring of Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
To top it off, when there’s a key absence, Harden will show up ready to give the opposing team nothing but efficient buckets.
But the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t just sign Harden for right now. They secured him until one of the final stages of his career, when he’ll be 40 years old, on the verge of retirement.
By that point, there’s a strong possibility all Harden will be able to offer is a high IQ, good playmaking, and solid scoring. The burst, speed, and athleticism will have likely decreased tremendously, just like it does with almost every other player at the age of 40.
Still, the Cavaliers will be stuck paying Harden a good bit of money.
The worst part? If they try to trade him, they will get turned down by everyone, unless they attach a valuable asset, like a rising young player or an unprotected first-round pick. No one is willingly going to want to take on Harden’s contract without any real benefits.
That said, keeping Harden on the books for the next three seasons, at the salary he’s being paid, was not a good idea. This is a decision the Cavaliers’ front office will heavily regret making.
The Cavaliers officially re-signed James Harden to a high salary, and in the future, they’ll wish they could rewind time to do things differently.
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