James Harden re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers was inevitable. Still, when the news came out that he signed a 3/$97m contract, I couldn’t help but shake my head in perplexity. Why does this keep happening? Year after year, contenders keep fooling themselves into thinking that James Harden is something that he is not, a winner. Yes, he will get your team to the playoffs but once you are there, you are on your own. It’s a vicious cycle. A team trades for Harden, that team wins a lot of regular season games, Harden tanks the playoffs when things get hard (even if he wins you a couple in the process), team pays him, he wants out, traded.
This has happened, a LOT.
Houston Rockets (2012-2020)
On October 27, 2012 the Rockets traded for Harden, sending several players and two 1st round picks to the Thunder. This was an objectively great trade for the Rockets. Harden transformed the Rockets into a contender and even won 65 games in 2017-18. He routinely failed to show up in the playoffs though. He signed a 5/$78.78m extension when he arrived in Houston, then a 4/$118m extension in 2016 followed by another 4/$171m extension the following year. The Rockets attempted to sign him to a max $200m+ extension in 2020, but he declined and demanded to be traded. He made the playoffs every year in Houston, but his final 6 seasons ended in the following mostly lopsided defeats:
- 2015 v. Golden State
- Game 5: 104-90 (Harden 2-11)
- 2016 v. Golden State
- Game 5: 114-81
- 2017 v. San Antonio
- Game 6: 114-75 (Harden 2-11)
- 2018 v. Golden State
- Game 6: 115-86 (Harden 10-24)
- Game 7: 101-92 (Harden 12-29, 2-13 from 3)
- 2019 v. Golden State
- Game 6: 118-113 (Harden 11-25)
- 2020 v. LA Lakers
- Game 5: 119-96
Brooklyn Nets (2021-2022)
Harden decided he wanted out of Houston to ring chase (nothing wrong with that) with his friends Kevin and Kyrie in Brooklyn. This resulted in what many believe was Harden actively not trying and tanking games. They acquiesced to his trade demand on January 14th, 2021, sending him to the Nets in exchange for four 1st round picks and four pick swaps. Brooklyn actually wanted to sign him to a max extension, but he declined again. The union lasted one season after the team narrowly lost to the future champ Bucks in 7 games.
- 2021 v. Milwaukee
- Game 6: 104-89 (21-point game with 4 minutes to go)
- Game 7: 115-111 in OT (Harden 5-17)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022-2023)
Harden’s old friend Daryl Morey was in Philly now and wanted to reunite. Harden infamously greased the trade wheels by seemingly gaining weight overnight and barely trying. On February 10, 2022, the Sixers sent Ben Simmons and two 1st round picks to Brooklyn for him. The Sixers made it to the second round of the playoffs and were tied at two before barely being competitive in games 5 and 6 against Miami:
- 2022 v. Miami
- Game 5: 120-85 (Harden 5-13)
- Game 6: 99-90 (18-point game with 4 minutes to go) (Harden 4-9)
Still, the Sixers signed him to a 2/$69m extension. This was a discount from what he probably could have received and the Sixers used the extra money to sign some of Harden’s friends. Joel Embiid would win the MVP thanks to Harden, but the playoffs ended again in the 2nd round but to the Celtics this time:
- 2023 v. Boston
- Game 6: 95-86 (Harden 4-16 and 0-6 from 3)
- Game 7: 112-88 (Harden 3-11)
Los Angeles Clippers (2023-2026)
After a tumultuous offseason saw the Sixers not give Harden the contract he believed he was promised, he demanded a trade. On November 1, 2023 he was sent to the Clippers for a 1st round pick and another swap (plus had to send a 1st to the Thunder). Despite an embarrassing end to his first season in LA, the Clippers resigned him to a 2/$70m contract. Things didn’t get any better in year two:
- 2024 v. Dallas
- Game 5: 123-93 (Harden 2-12)
- Game 6: 114-101 (24-point game with 5 minutes to go)
- 2025 v. Denver
- Game 7: 120-101 (30-point game with 5 minutes to go)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2026- )
Seemingly out of nowhere and just when the Clippers were starting to play well, they traded him to the Cavaliers for Dariu Garland and a 2nd round pick. Rumor has it that he wanted an extension and the Clippers didn’t want to give it to him. Surprise, surprise, the Cavs were crushed by the Knicks in the Conference Finals:
- 2026 v. New York
- Game 4: 130-93 (Harden 2-8, 2 assists)
Granted, he made it to the Conference Finals, but he wasn’t exactly good against Detroit in the previous round. they won in 7 but lost at home in close out Game 6 and Harden particularly was bad in the clincher going 2-10. Still, like clockwork, 3/$97m.
Harden was 23 when he got to Houston, 31 in Brooklyn, 32 in Philly, and 34 by the time he got to LA. Cleveland traded for him at 36 and paid him just a few days shy of his 37th birthday. He’s not getting better at this. Why did you do it Cleveland?
Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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