Report: Cavs, James Harden expected to agree on two-year deal

There may be more to come between James Harden and the Cavaliers.

According to Ashish Mathur of Cavaliers Nation, Harden is expected to decline his player option and re-sign with Cleveland on a new deal this offseason. One potential framework floated is a two-year contract in the $75 million range, with a player option in the second year, Mathur wrote, citing sources.

Harden, a former MVP and one of the league’s most accomplished guards, has appeared in 20 games with Cleveland since arriving in a February trade from the Clippers.

The early returns have been strong. He’s averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 8.1 assists while shooting efficiently across the board. The Cavaliers are 15-5 in games he’s played.

More importantly, the fit has looked natural. Harden and Donovan Mitchell have developed chemistry quickly, giving Cleveland another layer alongside Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

There’s still a lot to play out, of course. A lot will likely be determined on what happens in the playoffs.

Still, if things continue trending this way, a new deal would make sense for both sides.