James Harden is re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a three-year, $97 million contract, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
The future Hall of Famer has a player option and a trade kicker in his new deal.
BREAKING: James Harden has agreed to a new three-year, $97 million contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with a player option and a trade kicker, agents Mike Silverman, Troy Payne and Brandon Grier of Equity Sports told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/b9jnBykly8
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 20, 2026
The Cavaliers acquired Harden from the LA Clippers last season for Darius Garland. Harden averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists per game for Cleveland in the regular season and 19.2 points and 5.5 assists per game in the playoffs.
Cleveland beat the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons to reach the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time since 1992 without LeBron James on the roster. The New York Knicks, who won the 2026 championship, swept the Cavaliers in the conference finals.
James almost came back home this summer, but he ended up signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson will start Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen next season. The Denver Nuggets, Cavaliers and Clippers have agreed on a trade that will send Watson to Cleveland and Max Strus to Los Angeles. As part of the multi-team deal, Denver will receive an unprotected 2031 Cavaliers first-round pick and a 2032 Sacramento Kings second-rounder.
Watson will sign a new four-year, $88 million deal to join the Cavaliers. The deal includes a player option and a trade kicker.
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Harden has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, 76ers, Clippers and Cavaliers. He holds career averages of 24.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game in the regular season and 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game in the playoffs.
Harden is still looking to win his first NBA championship. He went to the NBA Finals in 2012 with the Thunder, who lost to James and the Miami Heat in five games.
A top-75 player of all time, Harden has made 11 All-Star teams and eight All-NBA teams. He won the 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year award with the Thunder and the 2017-18 MVP with the Rockets.
