Harden will accept a salary cut, give up the player option for the champion, and re-sign a contract that is no more than two years

On June 3, ESPN salary expert Bobby Marks wrote an article about the issues related to the renewal of the Clippers and Harden. He believes that Harden's abandonment of the $36.35 million player option is more in line with the Clippers' plan. This season, Harden returned to the All-Star and was selected for the Best Team. The Clippers deserved to raise Harden's salary and renew his contract. But now, the Clippers plan to leave in the future and release larger salary space together, wanting Harden to give up the player option and re-sign.

Marks wrote: "The Clippers are financially flexible to provide Harden with a raise and remain below the luxury tax line. Harden and Batum ($4.9 million) must decide whether to execute the contract for next season before June 29." That is to say, even if Harden has a salary increase contract, it can be kept below the luxury tax, and the Clippers have flexible salary space to sign. Harden played 79 regular season games this season, bringing the Clippers back to the playoffs, and is also the only one this season, with a great value for money of $35 million.

But if Harden chooses to execute the next season's player option, he will not be eligible for a contract renewal, and he will have to wait until next season is over before renewal, and the Clippers may give up on him. "The most likely scenario is that he will give up the $36.3 million player option and the two sides reconvene a new contract. Given that Leonard still has two years of contract and Harden will be 36 in August, his new contract should not exceed two years (the 38-year-old veteran rule can sign up to three years)." Marks wrote.

Harden's leadership of the team back to the playoffs has been overshadowed by his sluggish performance in G5 and G7 in the playoffs, making many people feel that Harden should give up his player option and re-sign the contract. Recently, many media have also revealed that Harden has the idea of ​​giving up the player option and signing again, and has given up his salary again for the championship.