For a veteran superstar who has accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars at the professional level, James Harden should be looking past financial gain this summer. What will mean more to him is a championship, and to make it that far, LA needs two things from him.
First and foremost, the Clippers need their second option not to be scared of the moment. Harden being full of fear is the worst thing that can happen to LA, and it was on display in game seven against the Denver Nuggets.
Furthermore, for Harden to even get a second chance at a fearless playoff mentality, he would have to be back in Inglewood, California, next season. This ultimately leads to the second request Harden will have to accept, and that is a restructured contract negotiated with Steven Ballmer and Lawrence Frank.
The Clippers are still committed to The Beard, rightfully so, as he posted 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 boards last season, shooting 41.0% from the floor and 35.2% from a distance. He also made the All-Star and All-NBA cuts, which is surreal for a 35-year-old.
Though Harden may not have an issue taking less money, the Clippers’ front office can use his lowered stock to bring him back for better value.
The LA Clippers can use where James Harden’s market stands as an advantage this summer
In the next few weeks, James Harden could stick with the money he is receiving by accepting his player option. There is no problem with this, outside of the LA Clippers being somewhat limited in who they can acquire in free agency.
However, Harden is a team player, and once his meetings with the front office are over, he could explore declining his player option and resigning to a deal worth $30 million annually that lasts through the 2026-27 season. This puts his term with LA to end in the same offseason as Kawhi Leonard.
Moreover, the Clippers could be the highest bidders for Harden. Most front offices with space will stay away from the former MVP because of his age and playoff history, which will lead Lawrence Frank to mark his offer down by any means possible.
Nonetheless, the Clippers’ front office has leverage they can use when discussing money with Harden. This leads to the answer, which is a discounted price, and it would peacefully end his 2025 free agency saga.