In the event James Harden declines his player option with the LA Clippers, he will have the privilege of seeking interviews with other teams to gain a glimpse of a potential future home. He will certainly have some criteria in the back of his mind, and if another team can come up to his standards and says yes, the former MVP could sign the dotted line with no hesitation.
This sequence is identical to Paul George’s last summer, where he teamed up with Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers after they portrayed just as much interest in signing him to a four-year, $212 million contract.
Furthermore, George demonstrated that more money often leads to more problems. This is something for Harden to consider as he develops his list of priorities for next season and thereafter.
However, Harden should note that if he declines, meets elsewhere, and shows more interest in staying home, he will receive less money than he anticipated. LA knows the market value on him is thin compared to other superstar guards, but if he prefers to stay, this would have confirmed the team’s knowledge.
Though the more important key is to prevent a disaster with the Clippers’ front office, Harden will likely not be content with what is in store. Just like George and any other big free agent name, he wants to win while receiving a fortune.
The interest in James Harden is thin, which could lead James Harden to sign for less than he desires
Paying James Harden a respectable amount of money in free agency is fair, but the LA Clippers’ offer will be far off from what Kawhi Leonard is receiving($49-50 million). He may want that type of money over several seasons, but because of minimal interest from rivals, the eleven-time All-Star may sign an offer sheet he believes he is worth more than with the Clippers.
There are other stars of lower tiers being paid pristine cash, but the future levels of consistency with Harden are holding the Clippers back from paying their superstars equally. No one knows how he will flourish after two seasons at 37, so it is smart to propose a reasonable and economical agreement to avoid a bad contract.
Ultimately, to stop the bleeding before it occurs, Harden’s best bet would be to maximize his earnings with the Clippers and accept less money. This decision may not sit right with him, but it provides proper financial security and stability for a year or more following the next season.