With a $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season, Cleveland Cavs veteran James Harden is expected to agree to an extension ahead of free agency. Harden’s recent legal troubles won’t interfere with negotiations. However, recent deals across the league include the new contracts of Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu.
Harden and the Cavs are expected to reach a contract extension within the next week, according to The Stein Line’s Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
“A deal we continue to expect in coming days after the likes of Reaves and Minnesota’s Ayo Dosunmu verbally agreed to new contracts with their incumbent teams before the start of free agency as the NBA’s latest labor agreement now allows: Cleveland should soon have a verbal agreement on a new multi-year deal with James Harden, who has been expected to swap his $42.3 million player option for next season (which is only partially guaranteed for $13.3 million) for a longer pact,” Stein and Fischer reported.
The terms of Harden’s new deal with the Cavs will be announced soon.
James Harden expected to reach a new deal with Cavs
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The Cavs are reportedly on the verge of signing James Harden to a new contract ahead of the 2026-27 season. While the champion 2016 Cavs celebrate their 10-year anniversary, the current Cavs will look to build off their 4-0 sweep of the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Securing Harden remains a top priority for the Cavs, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.
“James Harden will opt out and get a new contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers,” Siegel said.
Harden, who was traded by the Clippers mid-season, will enter his first full season with the Cavs.