A win-win choice! Will the Clippers consider signing another 1+1 contract with Harden this summer?

ESPN salary expert Bobby Marks talked about the issue of renewing the Los Angeles Clippers’ contract with the team’s backcourt core James Harden in a recent article. Marks said: The Clippers have high financial flexibility, they have the option to offer Harden a raise and are still able to keep their total salary below the luxury tax line. In addition to Harden, the Clippers also have Nicolas Batum who may become a free agent. He needs to decide whether to execute the $4.9 million player option in the US contract next season before June 29.

Marks continued to write: Considering that if Harden chooses to execute the player option in his contract for next season, he will not be eligible to renew his contract with the team with a (1+1) contract. Most likely, he would choose to give up the $36.3 million player option on his contract next season, and the two sides would re-convene a new contract. Given that Kawhi Leonar's contract will expire two years before it expires, and Harden will turn 36 in August this year, the term of his new contract should not exceed two years (the 38-year-old veteran rule can be signed up to three years).

In the NBA regular season this season, Harden played 79 games in 82 games, averaging 35.3 minutes per game, averaging 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks, and 4.3 turnovers and 2.1 fouls, shooting percentage of 41%, three-point shooting percentage of 35.2%, and free throw shooting percentage of 87.4%. In the playoffs, Harden played 7 games in total, with averaging 39.4 minutes per game, averaging 18.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1 block, and 3 turnovers and 2.3 fouls, shooting percentage of 43.6%, three-point shooting percentage of 36.4%, and free throw shooting percentage of 81.8%.

Harden's performance in the NBA regular season this season is still relatively stable, especially at the beginning of the season, he was able to help the team stabilize his record with Leonard absent. Considering that Harden's playing time and attendance rate are very high, it is not easy for him to maintain a stable level. However, in the playoffs, Harden's performance did seem very unstable, and in key games, he also lost the chain again, which to a large extent directly led to the team's loss in the playoffs. Given Harden's age and his performance in the playoffs, it is also unrealistic for him to get a big contract in the free market this summer. Staying with the Clippers may be a more reasonable choice for him and the team?