James Harden Wants to Stay With Cavaliers Despite $42.3 Million Option After 4-Game Sweep
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 26
James Harden Wants to Stay With Cavaliers Despite $42.3 Million Option After 4-Game Sweep
16 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 26
James Harden said he "100%" wants and expects to return to Cleveland after the Cavaliers were swept out of the Eastern Conference finals by New York.
The decision now centers on Harden's $42.3 million player option after a February trade from the Clippers brought him to Cleveland for Darius Garland and a second-round pick.
20.5 points, 7.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 26 regular-season games showed his impact, but he failed to score 20 in any game against the Knicks and finished Game 4 with 12 points and five turnovers.
Donovan Mitchell also tried to quiet offseason uncertainty, saying he loves Cleveland and believes the group has "unfinished business" even as he becomes extension-eligible this summer.
Cleveland's 37-point home loss to end the series is likely to intensify scrutiny of a talented core that reached its deepest playoff run since 2018 but again fell short.
With a record payroll and few options, can Cleveland's star duo actually build a championship team?
After a humiliating sweep, could a shocking LeBron James return be the Cavaliers' only way forward?