AP sources: Harden agrees to three-year, $97M Cavaliers deal

He previously declined a $42.3 million option

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 231 min read

What happened: The contract includes a player option for 2028-29 and a trade kicker. Two people close to the agreement confirmed the terms to the Associated Press on Thursday.

Why it matters: The deal keeps James Harden in Cleveland entering the 2026-27 season and resolves the Cavaliers' biggest remaining contract decision. The player option gives Harden control over the third year, while the trade kicker could increase the cost of a future move.

By the numbers: The $97 million total averages about $32.3 million per season. Harden will enter his 18th NBA season after declining a $42.3 million option for 2026-27.

What to watch: A formal contract announcement and signing are the next steps before training camp.

Sources

WOWK 13 News 2026-08-22T19:04:17.244723+00:00

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