New Report on James Harden’s Future With Clippers

While Harden did return to a prime version of himself in the regular season, the playoffs were a rollercoaster for the 35-year-old point guard. In the seven-game series against the Nuggets, Harden's scoring dropped to 18.7 points per game, and he was a non-factor in the fifth and seventh games of the series.

A new report by HoopsHype's Michael Scotto revealed the Clippers plans for Harden with a player option looming this offseason.

"After earning an All-Star and All-NBA Third Team selection, Clippers guard James Harden is trending towards declining his $36.35 million player option," Scotto wrote.

He continued, "Both Harden and the Clippers are interested in continuing their partnership, sources say, with a growing belief that his next contract could keep him in Los Angeles through the 2026-27 season alongside Kawhi Leonard."

There is no doubt that Harden is a floor-raiser for a Clippers team that outperformed all expectations before the season. Harden, a California native, seems to want to end his career with Los Angeles.

If he declines his player option, it would be wise to suggest that he receive a contract similar to his current one, where he could be in range for $30 million to $35 million per year for two years, aligning with Leonard's deal.