The Cleveland Cavaliers just locked up Donovan Mitchell for $273 million. The obvious follow-up question was always going to be about James Harden. And the answer, according to everyone around the league, is that he’s not going anywhere.
Harden declined his $42.3 million player option and hit free agency. That move looked risky on the surface. But it was actually the first step in a longer game. By opting out, Harden gave the Cavs room to negotiate a new multi-year deal while also freeing up some cap space. Cleveland sits about $37.9 million under the second apron right now. That number matters.
The Windhorst Take
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst basically laid it out flat. Harden will re-sign with the Cavs. And the structure of that new contract is designed to push the team out of the second apron entirely. That’s not just a side benefit. Windhorst framed it as the organization’s long-term plan.
“James Harden is going to re-sign with the Cavs, and when he re-signs with the Cavs, his new contract is gonna take them out of the second apron, and that’s what their long-term plan is,” Windhorst said.
The Cavs got swept by the Knicks in the conference finals. Harden took a lot of heat for disappearing in that series. Fans online were loud about wanting him gone. But the front office clearly sees things differently. They’re building around Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Harden fits into that core.
LeBron in the Background
Of course, none of this happens in a vacuum. LeBron James is still out there. The Cavs are reportedly pursuing him hard. His agent Rich Paul confirmed Cleveland is on the list of teams LeBron is considering. Paul specifically mentioned the roster mix and LeBron’s history with the organization as big factors.
“Mitchell, Harden, Mobley, Allen. Dan and Grant, which is the Gilberts. Plus Koby Altman. He was there when LeBron won there. Big, big, big X-factor,” Paul said on his podcast.
So Harden’s contract is probably tied to what happens with LeBron. If Cleveland lands LeBron, Harden’s deal gets structured one way. If they don’t, it gets structured another. Either way, the Cavs are trying to stay out of the second apron. That gives them roster flexibility down the road.
Harden is 36 and his playoff reputation isn’t great. But the Cavs are betting that a full season with Mitchell and a healthy supporting cast changes the math. They might be right. They might be wrong. But the plan is clear.
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