Trevor Ruszkowski / USA TODAY Sports Images
If there was any doubt that the Rockets are James Harden‘s team, there should be no question who the alpha is in Houston moving forward. The shooting guard and the team have agreed to a four-year, $118MM renegotiation and extension that could keep him under contract through 2020, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports. The arrangement was announced during a press conference by team owner Leslie Alexander moments ago. “We are building a new core and we are excited about locking James Harden in for a long time,” GM Daryl Morey said (Twitter link).
The arrangement provides Harden with a raise on his 2016/17 and 2017/18 salaries using cap space, plus adds two additional years at the maximum salary, Wojnarowski notes. Harden had two years and approximately $34.6MM left on his existing deal, and the renegotiation gives him nearly $10MM (2016/17) and $11MM (2017/18) raises and two extra years at $30.4MM and $32.7MM, respectively, the scribe relays. In total, the Rockets are going to fork over an additional $83.5MM over the next four years to Harden. The pact also includes a player option for the 2019/20 season, Wojnarowski tweets.
Harden, 26, is a four-time All-Star and two-time first-team All-NBA selection. He appeared in all 82 regular season games for the Rockets this past season, averaging 29.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 38.1 minutes per outing. His shooting line on the campaign was .439/.359/.860.
Say what you want about defense the man has been extremely beneficial to this team and deserves every penny. He is definitely a solution not a problem and I personally think that they overachieved with the WCF season and last years team was more reflective of their talent level so they need to go out and add more talent compatible with his game. Also Lawson was a bust and outside of Beverly they had no guards. Jet is too old and McDaniels is more of a wing
Sure, you can find players who compliment Harden’s game. Good luck winning a championship with him though. He’s too selfish to share the ball and too lazy to play championship caliber defense on a consistent basis. He and Westbrook are essentially the same player.
He plays no defense because he gives all the energy to offense. No one else can create their shot besides Harden on that team then maybe besides Anderson.
Smart way to keep him committed to the team and not have any wandering eyes for another team out there.
So the Rockets get one additional year of control for $51.4 million? They definitely outbid themselves there.
I hope his beard starts a brush fire
Harden and Westbrook are NOT the same type of player. Westbrook is winning player who plays defense while Harden is a me player all the way. He gives up as many as he scores with his indifference to defense. He is a turnstyle.
Capella will be a busy man at the rim next season. The rockets really doubled-down on being an offense-first team with the moves they’ve made so far this offseason. It’s hard to imagine their record being any better than it was last season.