ESPN: Harden is expected to take a pay cut to re-sign with the Cavaliers this summer and remain with them next season.

According to a joint report by ESPN senior reporters Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, Cleveland Cavaliers star James Harden is expected to take a pay cut to stay with the team this summer.

James Harden, 36, is a versatile guard standing 1.96 meters tall and weighing 100 kilograms. He entered the NBA in 2009 as the third overall pick. He has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Clippers, during which time he has won numerous honors, including six All-NBA First Team selections, 11 All-Star appearances, one Sixth Man of the Year award, three scoring titles, and two assist titles.

Since being traded to the Cavaliers in February, Harden has played 26 regular season games, averaging 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in 33.8 minutes per game, with a field goal percentage of 46.6% and a three-point percentage of 43.5%. Harden's role in the Cavaliers' eventual fourth-place finish in the Eastern Conference playoffs cannot be overlooked.

The Cavaliers have now advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals. As the Cavaliers' playmaker, Harden averaged 20.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game in the first round of the playoffs against the Toronto Raptors.

Previous reports indicated that Harden would not exercise his $42 million player option for the 2026/27 season. This choice would mean he would enter free agency this summer, but Bontemps and Bwindhorst disagree.

Both reporters agreed that Harden's decision was actually a prelude to contract extension negotiations. His decision not to exercise his veto power when he was traded from the Clippers to the Cavaliers in February was seen as a significant signal that both sides intended to continue their cooperation.

Bontemps and Bwindhorst went on to point out that Harden is currently interested in securing a long-term contract by taking a pay cut. They then cited an Eastern Conference executive who said, "This is the best way for the Cavaliers to avoid paying the super luxury tax without drastically cutting their payroll. The Cavaliers will offer him a higher salary than available in free agency. They are very likely to reach an agreement."

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