Cavs Stick With Harden Despite Doubts | Cleveland Cavaliers News

James Harden is staying with the Cleveland Cavaliers after declining his $42M player option, inking a new deal worth $28–30M annually — a savvy move that saves the team money and avoids NBA penalties. Despite a disappointing playoff exit and Harden’s age (37) and recent subpar postseason play, the Cavs remain committed to their core, believing Harden’s impact — including helping them reach the second round for the first time in years — is worth the investment. The front office’s faith in this strategy, even after trading Darius Garland, mirrors teams like the Knicks who built success through roster stability. This new contract gives Cleveland flexibility to pursue other upgrades in free agency while keeping their championship hopes alive. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f09f65add5dce7a7