Harden is set to sign a two-year, $50 million deal? Team reporter: The extension framework may have been agreed upon when he joined the Cavaliers.

On May 30, Beijing time, Cavaliers reporter Bob Finnan reported that Harden is expected to sign a two-year contract with the Cavaliers worth approximately $25 million per season. He indicated that the framework for this extension may have been preliminarily set when Harden was traded to the Cavaliers at the deadline. The full report is as follows:

Those hoping that Cavaliers point guard James Harden would pack his barber tools and return to California may be disappointed. The team is currently preparing to finalize an extension with him this summer. The extension plan is likely to proceed in the following manner:

Harden holds a player option for the 2026-27 season worth $42.3 million. He must decide by 5:00 PM ET on June 29 whether to opt out and become an unrestricted free agent. Based on the current situation, he is almost certain to opt out.

If the 36-year-old veteran exercises his player option, only $13.3 million of next season's contract is partially guaranteed, with the guarantee deadline set for July 12. He would only make this choice if he intended to leave, and there are currently no signs that he wants to depart Cleveland. After the Cavaliers were eliminated by the Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Harden made it clear that he is 100% willing to stay with the Cavaliers.

This extension framework may have been tentatively agreed upon when he was traded to the Cavaliers at the deadline: a two-year contract worth approximately $25 million per season. This deal would meet the "Beard’s" salary expectations while keeping the Cavaliers' total payroll below the second luxury tax apron.

As a result, Cleveland would have greater flexibility for trades. The team is planning to pursue a major deal this summer, including targeting Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Despite his age (he will turn 37 in August), Harden has been crucial for the Cavaliers this season. In 26 regular-season games, he averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 0.85 steals, shooting 46.6% from the field, 43.5% from three-point range, and 84% from the free-throw line.

In the playoffs, his numbers dipped slightly. Over 18 playoff games, he averaged 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.7 steals, shooting 41% from the field, 29.9% from three, and 83.1% from the line, with an average of 4.7 turnovers per game—a career high.

Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell is also expected to sign an extension this summer. After the team was swept by the Knicks, he stated bluntly: "I want Harden to stay."

"He helped take this team to a level it had never reached before," Mitchell said. "We still have a whole season to play together. He's determined to win a championship."

Mitchell also noted that Harden's value is often underestimated. "People tend to overlook his leadership, all his great qualities, and the inspiration he brings to his teammates. His greatness is vastly underappreciated. He changed the way basketball is played in ways nobody had before, and his influence extends far beyond the court. Few have accomplished what he has—Stephen Curry, Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan—and Harden is among them."

"We rarely talk about his greatness and character. The season he won MVP, he played alongside Joel Embiid. In Brooklyn, the team was one step away from the Eastern Conference Finals; he just had a hamstring injury, bad luck. After news of his finger injury came out, nobody mentioned it again—no one focused on the mental toughness he showed playing through pain. Even while injured, he still performed consistently. It’s unfair. The current media environment only values championships, so many ignore his abilities. He's been in the league for 17 seasons, and it hasn’t been easy. In his 36-year career, he’s faced peak Warriors teams multiple times, and those moments are gradually forgotten—people don’t see his contributions to the game of basketball."

Currently, Harden is tied with Jazz legend Karl Malone for the most playoff wins without a championship: 98. He also holds the active-player record for the most playoff games without a title, with 191.

In response, Harden said: "I’m still pushing forward—that’s all I can do. Keep fighting until I can’t anymore."