IF Harden doesn’t sign with Cavs, who could afford him???

[Boonicus]

Pretty straight forward…..who else could/should sign/trade for him?

[mademan]

Any team with a midlevel would take him at that amount, but i dont think anyone else besides Cleveland can actually afford more.

[Warspite]

Every team has a min salary spot.

[babyjax13]

I would love to see him in Miami. Obviously it would have to be a minimum deal and I am not sure how would do that. I suspect he is just letting Cleveland make some moves to create space for another player before resigning. They likely have an agreement in place already.

[theBigLip]

I would love to see him in Miami. Obviously it would have to be a minimum deal and I am not sure how would do that. I suspect he is just letting Cleveland make some moves to create space for another player before resigning. They likely have an agreement in place already.

It seems common knowledge that there was some kind of agreement before the trade that Cleveland would extend him. That gets reinforced when Harden isn’t shopping himself once free agency opened.

I think this is going to be an overpay by Cleveland and their championship window might be closing.

[Fo-Real]

Recently opened a deli/Restaurant in Scottsdale AZ, said he lives here. Don't see him wanting to take the min to stay home or if the Suns would like to try that.

[jbk1234]

There isn't a plausible scenario where Harden doesn't receive more from the Cavs than what the market will offer at the end of this summer. Next summer might be a different story.

[Texas Chuck]

There isn't a plausible scenario where Harden receive more from the Cavs than what the market will offer at the end of this summer. Next summer might be a different story.

Your wording seems to suggest he is coming back to the Cavs for less than the mid-level. I'm assuming I'm misunderstanding you, but if I'm not, I disagree stongly than Cleveland would lowball him thinking that saving that money is better than a content James Harden. But you are always side team over player, so maybe you think being penny wise here is smart?

[jbk1234]

There isn't a plausible scenario where Harden receive more from the Cavs than what the market will offer at the end of this summer. Next summer might be a different story.

Your wording seems to suggest he is coming back to the Cavs for less than the mid-level. I'm assuming I'm misunderstanding you, but if I'm not, I disagree stongly than Cleveland would lowball him thinking that saving that money is better than a content James Harden. But you are always side team over player, so maybe you think being penny wise here is smart?

LOL, I wish. I meant to type "doesn't receive more." I think the over/under is $30M per at two seasons with guaranteed money in a third year if he's asked to take less than $30M per. I'm particularly nervous about guaranteed money in a third year as it makes pivoting next summer more difficult than it would with Harden as an expiring rental.

[Bentley1225]

The Cavs have major leverage but I wouldn't be surprised if he's convinced to take a 1 year minimum with Miami or Golden State.

[jbk1234]

The Cavs have major leverage but I wouldn't be surprised if he's convinced to take a 1 year minimum with Miami or Golden State.

The Cavs made their bed and they're going to have to pay him now. They could've messaged differently coming out of the Knicks series and negotiated off of the $16M number the Clippers sought fit to guarantee on the last year of the contract they gave him, but that's not what they did.

[Bentley1225]

The Cavs have major leverage but I wouldn't be surprised if he's convinced to take a 1 year minimum with Miami or Golden State.

The Cavs made their bed and they're going to have to pay him now. They could've messaged differently coming out of the Knicks series and negotiated off of the $16M number the Clippers sought fit to guarantee on the last year of the contract they gave him, but that's not what they did.

Seems like the goal is to amortize a total number over 4 years to a) minimize cap hit in year 1 and b) make year 4 a portion un-guaranteed.

The issue that would arise is the Cavs aren't going to bid against themselves but have to be careful committing long term (ie. 3 guaranteed years)

I would offer 4 years, $100 million, flat cap hits of $25 million first 3 years and $6 million guaranteed on year 4 team option. He then gets $81 million guaranteed over 3 years ($27 million per seems fair market value all things considered).

[gswhoops]

The Cavs have major leverage but I wouldn't be surprised if he's convinced to take a 1 year minimum with Miami or Golden State.

I would be

[jbk1234]

The Cavs have major leverage but I wouldn't be surprised if he's convinced to take a 1 year minimum with Miami or Golden State.

The Cavs made their bed and they're going to have to pay him now. They could've messaged differently coming out of the Knicks series and negotiated off of the $16M number the Clippers sought fit to guarantee on the last year of the contract they gave him, but that's not what they did.

Seems like the goal is to amortize a total number over 4 years to a) minimize cap hit in year 1 and b) make year 4 a portion un-guaranteed.

The issue that would arise is the Cavs aren't going to bid against themselves but have to be careful committing long term (ie. 3 guaranteed years)

I would offer 4 years, $100 million, flat cap hits of $25 million first 3 years and $6 million guaranteed on year 4 team option. He then gets $81 million guaranteed over 3 years ($27 million per seems fair market value all things considered).

The Cavs should not be offering guaranteed money in year 3 period. Now if it's a minimal guarantee in a third year to get him to come down for a bigger move, okay I guess. I'm just not convinced that Harden's market this summer was north of $25M over two years anyway and I suspect the pay cut talk is mostly spin.

[LarsV8]

Houston has a huge need for on ball creation.

Come on home James.

[zimpy27]

Harden about to be the new face of Quicken Loans

[gswhoops]

Houston has a huge need for on ball creation.

Come on home James.

In a different universe where Harden and the Cavs hadn't already agreed to a new contract, FVV plus assets for Harden wouldn't be the worst concept for a deal.