Former NBA MVP and 11‑time All‑Star guard James Harden has signed a three‑year, $97 million contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, his agents confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.
The agreement, negotiated by Equity Sports, features a player option for the 2028‑29 season and includes a trade‑kicker clause.
The signing follows a one‑day span after Cleveland acquired guard Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets in a trade that also involved the Los Angeles Clippers.
Harden, who will turn 37 next Wednesday, passed on his $42.3 million player option this summer to lock in a longer‑term contract.
Cleveland obtained Harden from the Clippers at the February trade deadline, trading All‑Star guard Darius Garland to Los Angeles.
During his brief stint, Harden posted averages of 20.5 points and 7.7 assists across 26 regular‑season games.
Over a 1,221‑game career (1,007 starts), Harden averages 24.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists, having played for the Oklahoma City Thunder (2009‑12), Houston Rockets (2012‑2021), Brooklyn Nets (2021‑22), Philadelphia 76ers (2022‑23), Los Angeles Clippers (2023‑26) and now the Cavaliers.
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