Cavs, James Harden face a $42 million contract decision more complicated than it looks
The Cavaliers will have to work this out.
Cavs, James Harden face a $42 million contract decision more complicated than it looks originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Cleveland Cavaliers and James Harden aren't done yet this season.
The Cavs surely hope they're just getting started as they tip off their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Detroit Pistons . Harden will be counted on to impact games in the backcourt with Donovan Mitchell, with Cleveland hoping to feel validated in its surprise deal that sent Darius Garland to the Clippers to land Harden. But no matter what Harden does the rest of the postseason, the Cavs have a looming decision to make.
Harden's contract has a team option on it for next season at $42 million. And while in normal circumstances, that'd probably be an easy number for Cleveland to accept, their salary cap situation is more complicated. MORE: Anthony Edwards finally puts all the negative narratives to rest The Cavaliers would love to get under the second apron of the salary cap.
And to do that, they might have to move some money around. That might work out better for Harden anyway. "Harden had the right to block a trade to Cleveland in February but did not, approving the trade from his hometown LA Clippers," ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst wrote in a new article on Tuesday.