NBA Rumors: Cleveland Cavaliers' Plan with James Harden

Harden's immediate impact has convinced the franchise to consider his long-term presence. As reported by Ashish Mathur from Cavaliers Nation, the club's intention is to extend the player's contract once the season concludes. It is anticipated that Harden will decline his player option for the upcoming season and sign a new deal with Cleveland, who acquired him on February 4 from Los Angeles.

The player's current contract includes an option valued at $42.3 million for the next season, with only $13.3 million guaranteed. In this scenario, both parties could agree to an extension for two seasons and $75 million, also including a player option for the 2027-28 season.

Immediate Performance on the Court

In his initial games with the Cavaliers, Harden is averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game, with an impressive 45.2% accuracy in three-point shooting. This performance supports the franchise's bet on a player with a top-tier résumé: an eleven-time All-Star and former league MVP.

Despite his outstanding individual career, Harden's main challenge remains in the postseason. Throughout his 17-year career, he has not been able to translate his success to the highest competitive level. Since his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012, he has only advanced past the second round of the playoffs twice and has never led a team as a starter to the NBA Finals. In his 2012 presence, he did so as a sixth man, behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Now, forming a duo with Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers are confident that Harden can finally take that definitive step and break his historical postseason barrier. The franchise is ready to make a strong bet on this.