If we go back to the trade deadline, we find that James Harden wanted out of the LA Clippers. Not because he didn’t like the environment or felt a better opportunity was elsewhere, but because the Clippers’ front office was not willing to commit to his services for the long run. Rightfully so, why would they? He is 36 years old and will soon begin to show signs of decline, just like any player does with age.
However, according to Jake Fischer of “The Stein Line,” Harden’s new deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers is “expected to max out at no more than two guaranteed years.”
That term is certainly not deep into the future, which makes his departure from the Clippers look ironic, if anything.
James Harden didn’t get what he wanted because of the playoffs
Age was one of the two main reasons the LA Clippers did not want to get stuck in a long-term contract with James Harden. The other reason? His performances in the playoffs, when the lights turn brightest and his team needs him more than ever.
The majority of Harden’s success with the Clippers came in the regular season. That’s by no means a bad thing, but wisely, Lawrence Frank would rather have someone with a heavy salary on the books that’s either young or a playoff riser. Hence, a 26-year-old Darius Garland showed up in the picture.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers, the reasoning for them only wanting Harden for the next two years seems to be the same.
The former MVP had a pretty shaky run to the Eastern Conference Finals. For example, in the win-or-go-home game versus the New York Knicks, Harden shot 2-8 from the field, 0-6 from three, and logged five turnovers.
It gets worse; in game seven against the Detroit Pistons, despite the Cavaliers’ win, Harden’s true colors were brought to the spotlight, as he dropped a whopping nine points on 2-10 shooting.
These numbers are awful, and if Donovan Mitchell weren’t by his side scoring and playmaking at a high level, Harden’s atrocious numbers would’ve put Cleveland in a position to get knocked out of the playoffs a lot sooner.
Nonetheless, the Cavaliers are smartly playing Harden’s next contract. Like the Clippers, they saw how he looks when the stakes are high, and when you pair that with his age, as he turns 37 in August, two years guaranteed is the best he’s gonna get.
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