Report: James Harden agrees to 3-year, $97M deal with Cavaliers

Field Level Media|published: Thu 20th August, 13:52 2026

May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) looks on in the third quarter against the New York Knicks during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Former NBA MVP and 11-time All-Star guard James Harden has agreed to a new three-year, $97 million contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, his agents told ESPN on Thursday.

Per his agents at Equity Sports, the deal includes a player option for the 2028-29 season and a trade kicker.

Harden's new deal comes one day after the Cavaliers reportedly acquired fellow guard Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets in a trade that also included the Los Angeles Clippers.

Harden, who turns 37 next Wednesday, declined a $42.3 million player option on his contract earlier this summer in a bid to secure a multi-year deal.

Cleveland acquired Harden from the Clippers at the February trade deadline and sent fellow All-Star guard Darius Garland to Los Angeles.

Harden averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists in 26 regular-season games for the Cavaliers.

He has averages of 24.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 1,221 regular-season appearances (1,007 starts) with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2009-12), Houston Rockets (2012-2021), Brooklyn Nets (2021-22), Philadelphia 76ers (2022-23), Clippers (2023-26) and Cavaliers.

--Field Level Media