Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden has declined his player option with the team to sign a more valuable deal, as he plans to sign a two-year contract worth $81.5 million.
Harden's time with the Clippers could be considered fruitful in some ways. Having been paired with a superstar in Kawhi Leonard, the duo led the Los Angeles side to a respectable 50-32 record, finishing fifth in the East.
Considering that Leonard missed a large portion of the season again, due to injury, the Clippers guard shouldered the majority of the burden for the team. By doing so, he established himself as a vital cog in Ty Lue's system.
The 35-year-old's track record of contracts has been rather intriguing over the past few years. Harden's contract with the Philadelphia 76ers was a two-year, $68.6 million deal in the summer of 2022. After he opted into his contract in 2023, he was traded to the Clippers, where he signed another two-year, worth $70 million last summer.
It is apparent that with each progressing contract, Harden has tried to place a greater value upon himself. Considering his output of 22.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists last season, this would be justified as well.
The fact of the matter is that the 35-year-old was one of LA's most reliable players. Having played in 79 games in the season, his most since the 2015-16 season, Harden was a consistent contributor and leader for the team, especially in Leonard's absence.
Unfortunately, the 11x All-Star also did significant damage to his reputation in the playoffs. In a crucial Game 7 situation, Harden had one of his quietest performances of the season, putting up seven points, five rebounds, and 13 assists.
His tentative approach towards offense in a game that demanded more assertiveness was criticized by the media. Needless to say, it had a massive impact on his stock, particularly due to his reputation for fading in big, close-out games.
The upcoming offseason emerges as a leap of faith for the Clippers organization. Considering that Steve Ballmer has made massive investments in developing the brand, with the addition of a new arena as well, the team needs to provide results.
In light of this, the team's ongoing efforts in roster building will be a promising sign. The larger concern is whether Harden is still an asset worth investing a large percentage of the team's cap space in.
While also keeping recent controversies and scandals in mind, the Clippers would be well-advised to consider other alternatives towards reinforcing their roster.
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