May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) drives the ball up court in the second quarter against the New York Knicks during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) drives the ball up court in the second quarter against the New York Knicks during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
After declining his $42.3 million player option for 2026-27, NBA veteran James Harden is the best remaining free agent on the market. At 36, the star shooting guard could sign anywhere of his choosing, but the consensus is that he’s set to rejoin the Cavaliers this summer. The only question is when.
Under normal circumstances, Harden would have been re-signed weeks ago, but he still doesn’t have a contract as of mid-August. As reports surface of Harden’s waning patience, some fans have started to worry, but it’s apparently all part of the plan.
“The Cavaliers remain in constant communication with James Harden and his agents on a new contract to return to Cleveland while they strongly pursue two free agent forwards — restricted Peyton Watson and unrestricted Jonathan Kuminga — made more viable with Friday’s trade,” wrote Shams Charania on X.
James Harden has a history of messy breakups, and the fear in Cleveland was that he might feel disrespected by being kept waiting for so long. Since he first became a free agent at the start of the summer, most of the big-name players have already signed new contracts, including LeBron James, Bradley Beal, Draymond Green, and Walker Kessler. For Harden, being unsigned this late into the summer is unfamiliar territory, but it’s a situation of his own making.
If he had desired, the Cavaliers would have already re-signed Harden, but that would have destroyed their already limited financial flexibility. Instead, Harden has agreed to postpone his deal so that his team can land one of two free agents: Peyton Watson or Jonathan Kuminga.
In Watson, the Cavaliers would get an elite two-way swingman to shore up the wing and add versatility to the rotation. The 6’8″ veteran averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game last season, and he would be an ideal fit with Cleveland’s stacked roster. The only catch is that he’s a restricted free agent, meaning the Nuggets can match any offer sheet. So far, the price has been too steep for any team to afford Watson, but Denver could be swayed to lower their ask if more time passes without a deal.
The Jonathan Kuminga situation is even more uncertain. Since the Hawks declined his team option for next season, he’s had conversations with various teams about a potential contract. He hasn’t heard an offer he’s willing to accept right now, but the Cavaliers remain hopeful that he might settle on a short-term deal. In 36 games last season, he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on 47.6% shooting.
Whether it’s Kuminga, Watson, or someone else entirely, the Cavaliers clearly have plans to add to their roster after a run to the East Finals in May. But their plan only works if James Harden cooperates, and he’s been a total team player so far. How much longer he’s willing to wait is anyone’s guess, but it helps that the Cavaliers have been in constant communication with the star and his camp. If they didn’t have a clear pathway to make notable additions, they likely wouldn’t bother asking Harden to stay unsigned.