Apr 29, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets during game five of the first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

James Harden's Predicted NBA Contract With LA Clippers

Originally posted on Los Angeles Clippers on SI
By Grant Mona | Last updated May 14, 2025 8:20 PM ET

The Clippers are heading into an offseason where there is more certainty than the previous one. After a 2024-2025 season where the Clippers finished 50-32 and 5th in the gauntlet that is the Western Conference, there still are questions.

Kawhi Leonard returned in early January and propelled the Clippers to become a contender in the West alongside James Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac. Although the season ended with a Game 7 loss in Denver at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, the season was widely considered a success.

With the acquisitions of Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn, along with the reacquisition of Nicolas Batum, the Clippers finished with a top 5 defensive rating in the regular season. James Harden was named an All-Star and is widely considered to be named to an All-NBA team as well.

However, Harden's seven-point elimination game was a brutal end to a comeback season for the 35-year-old. He now has a $36.3 million player option for next season, and a new report from Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley expects Harden to return on a slight discount.

“Harden, who has a $36.3 million player option for next season, played well enough to opt out in anticipation of receiving a slight pay increase," Buckley wrote.

James Harden is expected to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers this offseason on a 2-year deal for around $75 million, per @ZachBuckleyNBA.

“Harden, who has a $36.3 million player option for next season, played well enough to opt out in anticipation of receiving a slight pay… pic.twitter.com/RkvoWoYLra
— APHoops (@APH00PS) May 14, 2025

He continued, "He just shouldn't plan on trying to find that money elsewhere, since he'd be an awkward fit for Brooklyn or Detroit. Look for the 35-year-old to run it back on something close to a two-year, $75 million deal."

Harden and the Clippers have found a sound partnership since linking up in the fall of 2023, posting back-to-back 50-win seasons albeit two early playoff exits.

With the contract of Kawhi Leonard running through the 2026-2027 season, Lawrence Frank and the Clippers' front office seem to want to line both players up to expire financially at the same time.

This would open up a ton of cap space in the 2027 offseason, which seems to be the end goal for the organization to start a new era.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Clippers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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