Clippers star reportedly staying on two-year extension

James Harden has reportedly decided to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers as the two sides are closing in on a two-year, $70 million contract extension just as the free-agent signing period begins on Sunday.

While the deal is a two-year contract, it reportedly features a player option in the second year.

That takes care of one big potential headache for the Clippers this offseason and guarantees they should have Harden and Kawhi Leonard when they open their new arena for the 2024-25 season.

The future of Paul George, the other member of L.A.'s Big Three, remains uncertain after he opted out of his contract to test the free-agent market.

Harden, 34, is clearly not the same dynamic scorer that he was in the prime of his career when he was winning scoring titles and was one of the most dominant scorers in the league. His 16.1 points per game during the 2023-24 season was his lowest total since he was a bench player in Oklahoma City nearly 15 years ago.

Despite the drop in overall offense, he can still be an effective player who can make an impact, especially off the pick-and-roll and as a three-point shooter.

After joining the Clippers in a trade this past season, he went to average more than five rebounds per game and led the team with 8.5 assists per game. He also appeared in 72 games, his highest total since the 2018-19 season.